It’s not just nutrition that matters: eight traits promise a long life

People over 100 interviewed lived active lives well into their old age and showed a desire to participate intensively in daily life. “They were closely linked to life,” the researchers write. People over the age of 100 continued to work and exercise regularly long after retirement. The 100-year-old woman stated that she always went down by elevator, but always took the stairs. “To keep your legs in shape.” And all those surveyed were mentally active: They did crosswords, played cards, were active in reading groups or knitted.

Exchange with other people is a second factor to a long life. According to the researchers, it doesn’t matter whether the exchange occurs with friends or family, as long as the interaction is reciprocal. People with a strong social environment get help more quickly when they have problems and are more willing to help without expecting anything in return. As one 101-year-old man said: “I always helped in the village. Once I offered to look for a cow. “To do this, I had to walk for miles into the mountains alone.”

Those who devotedly complete their duties at work, in hobbies or in child care age better. According to researchers, it does not matter whether people work as cleaners, professors or shepherds. It is important for them to feel a sense of responsibility and duty. One 107-year-old woman interviewed put it this way: “I was always the one working to keep the family afloat.”

According to researchers, a feeling of control also keeps people young. People over 100 years old who took part in the survey were “convinced that they could influence the course of events in their favor” despite sometimes adverse circumstances. They acted independently and saw how their decisions affected their lives. This goes hand in hand with pragmatism. Those who adapt to the circumstances and seek the best possible path age better.

Staying curious strengthens the spirit as we age. People over the age of 100 surveyed all showed a desire to keep their brains in shape. Researchers talk about “the happiness of constantly learning new things.” The research showed that most people over the age of 100 read books every day. Others played cards every day, solved puzzles, actively kept up with political events, or traveled regularly. Like a 100-year-old woman who says that every year, when she was 80, she started traveling to new places, first to Paris, then to Rome, Berlin, Brussels, Warsaw, Jerusalem and Turkey.

Researchers identified a positive attitude towards life as the sixth characteristic. As Merino and Co. write, “It does not necessarily take the form of optimism and joie de vivre.” But it is in the form of gratitude for your own life, the acquaintances you have made, the friendships you have made, and what you have accomplished, despite repeated difficulties in life.

It also helps you deal with difficult situations properly and stay tough and resilient. “The people surveyed were all extremely resilient,” the researchers write. Those over 100 have seen a way to heal in difficult situations: during the Spanish Civil War, in times of Covid isolation, but also in abusive relationships or after the death of relatives. A 100-year-old woman said: “I have learned to deal with everything that comes my way and get out of every situation.”

According to the research team, mental performance is one of the best indicators of longevity. Those over 100 years of age could think abstractly, reason and plan. They tried to solve the problems of their long lives and they learned. Important traits that reflected their intelligence were curiosity, positivity, and pragmatism. They stepped in and remained agile and flexible into their old age.