What is the science of Healthy Ageing?
We are going to jump straight to the point – the key to healthy ageing is social connection!
A comprehensive study by Julianne Holt-Lunstad and colleagues analysed 148 studies. The outcomes of over 300,000 participants were explored across an average period of 7.5 years. In this study they found that individuals with adequate social relationships had a 50% greater likelihood of survival compared to those with inadequate social relationships. In fact, poor social relationships were ranked as the #1 ‘true’ risk factor for premature death, exceeding many other well-known risk factors for mortality including obesity and physical inactivity.
This research is further supported by the Harvard Study of Adult Development. This is one of the world’s longest studies of adult life, with initial research starting in 1938. Of the 268 original participants, including John F Kennedy, 19 participants are still alive today, all in their mid-90s. Robert Waldinger, the director of this study, concludes that “close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives. The people who were most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80. Loneliness kills – it’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism. Good relationships don’t just protect our bodies: they protect our brains”.
What can I do to promote healthy ageing?
Whether we admit it or not, we are all afraid of ‘getting old’. However, it is important to remember that age itself is not a disease. It is the other conditions, such as dementia or arthritis, commonly associated with ageing that limits our ability to ‘age well’.
But, what if you knew that living a healthy lifestyle consistently and early on could reduce your risk of developing these associated conditions that impact you later in life?
When it comes to the science of healthy ageing, there are things we can do now to improve our overall health, independence and quality of life as we get older.
Our top tips for healthy ageing include:
- Undertake routine hearing tests every 3 years (or as indicated by your audiologist) over the age of 50
- Protect your hearing from noise damage
- Go out and catch up with friends frequently
- Avoid a sedentary lifestyle
- Dancing and social sport groups ("social exercise") is healthier than exercising alone
- Eat a flavanoid rich diet (i.e., mediterranean diet)
Make health a habit now!
Looking after your social, mental and physical health, early on, is very important to ‘ageing well’.
We offer a range of services, including: audiology, dietetics, exercise physiology, remedial massage and group classes that can help you to live a healthy lifestyle. Our end goal is for you to live a long life, free of pain or debilitation.
Our team is also very passionate about getting out and educating our community about the science of healthy ageing. This blog post is just a teaser of the larger version of our healthy living community presentation. If you are part of a social club or community group that would like to have us visit, feel free to contact us on (07) 3310 4494 to arrange a time for us to come to you. Our community presentations are FREE, as part of our commitment to raising health awareness and literacy among the general population.
References:
1. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/population-groups/older-people/overview
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2910600/
3. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/