Public Health

Study IDs factors that help elderly thrive

November 15, 2008 on 7:00 am | In Uncategorized | NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older adults who have never smoked, drink moderately and keep a positive outlook on life are more likely to stay healthy and happy for years, new research suggests.

In a study that followed more than 2,400 older adults for a decade, researchers found that 8 percent maintained "exceptional" health over time. These so-called "thrivers" had no significant disabilities and considered themselves happy and interested in life.

At least part of their secret, researchers found, seemed to be in lifestyle choices and other modifiable factors. Thrivers were more likely than their peers to have never smoked, to drink moderately -- up to one or two drinks a day -- and have relatively low stress levels and a bright outlook.

The study, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, differs from past studies that have focused on risk factors for poor health in old age.

It came from the opposite approach -- asking what factors promote exceptional health -- and looked at multiple dimensions of health, including emotional well-being, explained lead researcher Dr. Mark Kaplan, of Portland State University in Oregon.

It suggests that decisions made early in life -- like refusing to smoke, dealing with stress and limiting alcohol to moderate levels -- can make an important difference not only in how long people live, but in the quality of their old age.

So it's "never too early" to start thinking about the long-range impact of lifestyle choices, Kaplan told Reuters Health.

But it's never too late, either, he added. Although never-smokers fared better in this study than former smokers did, for example, it's known that quitting reduces smokers' risk of lung cancer and heart disease.

The findings are based on 2,432 Canadian adults who were between the ages of 65 and 85 at the study's start. Each completed health surveys every two years over a decade. By the end of the study, 8 percent were considered thrivers, while 47 percent had at least a moderate disability, such as problems with their hearing, mobility or mental function.

The rest of the study group had either died or had entered a long-term care facility.

The researchers looked at a range of factors that could affect healthy aging. The ones that stood were never smoking, moderate drinking and low distress levels, as well as higher income.

"Many of these factors can be modified when you are young or middle- aged," co-researcher Dr. David Feeny, of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, said in a statement.

"While these findings may seem like common sense," he added, "now we have evidence about which factors contribute to exceptional health during retirement years."

SOURCE: Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, October 2008.

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