Eight ways to help you live for decades longer explained - from sleep to diet
Eight lifestyle factors have been identified as the key secrets to living decades longer.
US scientists analysed health data on 720,000 military veterans and found low physical activity, opioid use, and smoking had the biggest impact on lifespan - linked to a 30-45% higher risk of death.
Stress, binge drinking, poor diet, and poor sleep hygiene were each associated with around a 20% increase in the risk of death.
And a lack of positive social relationships was associated with a 5% increased risk of dying.
Author Xuan-Mai Nguyen, of Carle Illinois College of Medicine, said: "We were really surprised by just how much could be gained with the adoption of one, two, three, or all eight lifestyle factors.
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"Our research findings suggest that adopting a healthy lifestyle is important for both public health and personal wellness.
"The earlier the better, but even if you only make a small change in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, it still is beneficial."
The first research that looked at lifestyle habits used data from medical records and questionnaires collected between 2011-2019 from 719,147 people enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program.
It found that men who scored well against all eight lifestyle factors at age 40 were predicted to live an average of 24 years longer than men who did well on none.
For women, having all eight healthy lifestyle factors in middle age lived 21 years longer.
A second study showed consuming more than half a tablespoon of olive oil per day is linked to a 28% lower risk of dying from dementia, compared with those who never or rarely eat the oil.
Scientists analysed dietary questionnaires and death records collected from more than 90,000 Americans over three decades, during which 4,749 people died from dementia.
It also found that replacing just one teaspoon of margarine and mayonnaise with the equivalent amount of olive oil per day was associated with an 8-14% lower risk of dying from dementia.
Researcher Anne-Julie Tessier, of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, said: "Opting for olive oil, a natural product, instead of fats such as margarine and commercial mayonnaise is a safe choice and may reduce the risk of fatal dementia."
However the researchers admitted that people who regularly consume olive oil instead of processed or animal fats tend to have healthier diets overall.
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Professor David Curtis, of University College London, commented: "This kind of observational study will often report an association between a factor and an outcome but that does not imply any causal relationship.
"There are many, many differences between people who consume olive oil and those who do not and it is never possible to fully account for all possible confounding factors.”
The two studies, which have not been peer reviewed, were presented at Nutrition 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, in Boston.
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