Looking for Longevity

Maybe you saw the same story that I did recently, about the 91-year-old man who just completed a hike of the Appalachian Trail, a distance of 2,190 miles. He’d set a record as the oldest hiker to complete the trail in 2017, at the age of 82.  But in 2021 his record was beaten by an 83-year-old and, at 91, he reclaimed it.

Clearly, not all of us are destined for, or suited to, a hike of that nature.  It is not just physically and mentally grueling, it is pretty much devoid of our typical creature comforts so it takes someone with skills, commitment and determination to take it on.

But more and more we are seeing individuals, both in the media and in our lives, who are continuing a high level of physical activity as they get older.  It is no longer unusual to see runners in their 80’s or beyond as well as those who are playing sports, practicing yoga or maintaining a regular routine in the gym.

It is often said that “if you don’t use it, you lose it,” and that is true both mentally and physically. And there are a number of studies that bear that out. The well-known Framingham Heart Study noted that staying active during midlife and late life reduced the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 41-45%. A study from the John Hopskins Bloomberg School of Public Health also bears that out, showing that as little as 35 minutes of physical exercise per week was linked to a 41% lover risk of dementia.

Staying active is the number one predictor of longevity and maintaining cognitive abilities. Not only that, it is the one thing over which we have the most control.  There is no one regimen that we need to adopt, no one size fits all answer.  Rather, we need to find something that works for us as individuals.  Walking, cycling, chair exercise, weightlifting and so much more, the world of possibilities awaits.

Maybe you are inspired by the achievement of the man who just hiked the Appalachian Trail, and you are ready to strap on your hiking boots. And maybe for today you just lace up your sneakers and take a walk or put an exercise video on your screen. It doesn’t matter what you do, it matters that you do it.