Change your lifestyle to live to a ripe old age

LONDON - New research shows that how you live your life and not your genes determine how long you live.

Those who did not smoke, consumed moderate amounts of coffee, were economically well off by 50 and also had low cholesterol had the greatest chance of celebrating their 90th birthday, according to a study in Sweden’s University of Gothenburg.

“Our study shows that hereditary factors don’t play a major role and that lifestyle has the biggest impact,” said professor emeritus Lars Wilhelmsen, referring to the study of 1,913 men that formed the basis of the research, the Journal of Internal Medicine reports.

“We’re breaking new ground here,” Wilhelmsen said.

“Many of these factors have previously been identified as playing a role in cardiovascular disease, but here we are showing for the first time that they are important for survival in general,” he added.

Mortality is not “inherited” but instead it is the sum of our own habits, according to the study.

“The study clearly shows that we can influence several of the factors that decide how old we get,” says Wilhelmsen.

“This is positive not only for the individual, but also for society as it doesn’t entail any major drug costs.”