Topline fitness: A new fact-filled, fluff-free page of travel, fitness or wellness
Outline Queen once famously sang: ‘Who wants to live forever?’ That question no longer applies because these days the conversation is not about length of life but rather quality. Forget lifespan – the new buzzword in science is healthspan. In other words, how many years can you live in good health, free from disability or disease?
Front line Professor Rose Anne Kenny from Trinity College Dublin is the go-to expert for all things healthspan-related. Not only has she spent 14 years working on a major Irish study of ageing, she also wrote last year’s bestseller Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life.
Blood line Long, healthy lives run in families though, right? Well, yes, to a certain extent lucky genetics (and what happens to you in the womb) do make a difference, but the good news is, says Prof Kenny, a whopping 80 per cent is up to us – and it’s never too late to make changes. Relatively minor lifestyle tweaks can, she says, make big differences to your potential healthspan.
Party line A lively social life is a major contributor. ‘Social engagement, friendship and having a good laugh mitigate against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease or any other form of dementia in later life,’ Prof Kenny told the Zoe Science & Nutrition podcast. She compares loneliness to ‘thirst or hunger’: it ‘triggers chronic inflammation in the system’, which ‘underpins all the big diseases: cancer, heart disease, strokes, etc’.
Advice line Struggling to meet people? Try volunteering, says Professor Kenny, because it influences your biological health. The study has found that ‘those who volunteer have a better quality of life, less physical illness and less depression’. Check out volunteeringmatters.org.uk for opportunities or ask if you can help out at your local charity shop.
Professor Rose Anne Kenny from Trinity College Dublin is the go-to expert for all things healthspan-related. Stock image used
Struggling to meet people? Try volunteering, says Professor Kenny, because it influences your biological health. Stock image used
Action line Start pumping iron! One study found that poor grip strength was linked to sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) and dementia. Physician Peter Attia, author of Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity, says weight training is key and has put forward as evidence the fact that when you compare over-75s with good and with poor muscle strength, the survival and mortality difference is a massive 200 per cent. Combine exercise with socialising to really give your healthspan a boost; swap your YouTube yoga for a real-life class or meet a friend for a walk rather than a sit-down coffee.
Commuter line Keep going. Some people spend their middle age counting down the years to retirement, while others find leaving the workforce emotionally problematic. We’ve evolved to require purpose and control, according to the Irish study research, so forcing someone to retire can be bad for their physical health. If you’re not sure whether you’re ready to stop working, wind down your hours gradually.
Punchline We often joke that you are only as old as you feel but research shows it’s true. ‘Attitude and your perception of how you’re ageing determine your ageing process,’ says Prof Kenny. According to the Irish study, ‘People who felt they were their chronological age actually aged more quickly.’
Lifeline So who does want to live forever? The answer for the healthspan savvy is: ‘Length is not always the most important asset. It’s what you do with it that matters.’
