Ageing and Options
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Despite its excellent medical research sector, the U.S. is not the only place to look for good data that really matters to my patients here in Naples.
A powerful new study from Japan in the journal Age and Ageing reaches a surprising and welcome conclusion: healthy choices can extend and improve your life whether you're in your 40s or even your 80s.
I say "powerful" because this study was carefully designed, took place over a long span of time, and gathered results from tens of thousands of participants. Its findings have been republished by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and that's a strong endorsement.
Here's what fixes my attention, and perhaps yours. It reinforces, with hard data, advice I often give my patients.
The study’s primary author said: “The results were very clear. A higher number of modified healthy behaviors was directly associated with great longevity for both men and women.” What's that mean? That the biggest gains for a longer, healthier life come from cutting back on alcohol, not smoking, losing weight, and increasing sleep. Benefits were strong even among those aged 80+, and even people with cancer, heart or kidney disease and diabetes -- in each life stage from middle age onwards.
The AAAS commentary includes this: "The finding that lifestyle improvements have a positive impact on health despite chronic health conditions and older age is an empowering one...The findings of this study will contribute to the design of future healthcare settings, public health approaches, and policies that work in partnership with patients to promote healthy lifestyle choices." It's more than worth asking your primary care doctor about.
Dr. Diana Macian is board certified in Emergency Medicine and has treated a wide range of medical issues. Before joining WellcomeMD, Dr. Macian worked in the Emergency Department at Naples Community Hospital on the frontline throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
She attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Science and completed her residency at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. While serving throughout the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict, she developed a passion for veterans’ healthcare issues and providing outstanding medical services to those who have served our country.
