Growing Old Doesn't Have to Be Scary

Science has unlocked innumerable possibilities for people to live better lives. From the rapid development of a highly effective COVID-19 vaccine to constant advances in medical treatments, living without suffering has become an attainable goal for groups who never would have dreamed it possible even a few years ago.

While few people would argue against the idea of living better, a sizable percentage are nervous when faced with the prospect of living significantly longer, specifically to 100 or beyond.

In 2018, news outlet Axios conducted a poll with SurveyMonkey on Americans’ longevity preferences. Americans largely agreed they would like to live longer than the average life expectancy. Specifically, 69% percent of men said they would like to live past the age of 77, and 57% of women said they would like to live beyond 81.

However, when presented with the question of living past the age of 100, their enthusiasm cooled. Just 22% of respondents said yes unreservedly, while 29% said no and 48% said it would depend on how much pain they experienced and whether they could live independently.

More anecdotally, you can see evidence of this longevity skepticism whenever the topic of living longer comes up. Dan Buettner, whose research on aging undergirds much of the work of Blue Zones Project by Sharecare, occasionally posts stories of sprightly centenarians from his travel and research to his social media accounts. Despite evidence that these folks are living happy, healthy lives, some commenters ruminate as to why anyone would want to live that long.

Is some of the hesitation rooted in assumptions that old age is an innately painful, scary experience?

Perhaps, but it doesn’t have to be.

Through his research, Buettner discovered nine core principles, the Power 9, that separate the world’s centenarians from everyone else. Note that these are all lifestyle-based; the Danish Twin Study established that only about 20% of how long the average person lives is determined by genes. Centenarians who follow these principles don’t just live a long time; they live well.

1. Move Naturally – you don’t have to pump iron, run marathons, or join gyms. Instead, the world’s longest-lived people live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it.
2. Purpose – Why do you wake up in the morning? Knowing the answer is worth up to seven years of life expectancy.
3. Down Shift – Everyone experiences stress, but the longest-lived people have routines that help shed their stress, whether it’s remembering their ancestors, praying, taking a nap, or doing happy hour.
4. 80% Rule – The world’s longest-lived people eat until they feel 80% full. The 20% gap between not being hungry and feeling full could be the difference between losing weight and gaining it.
5. Plant Slant – Do you eat a meat-heavy diet? Research shows introducing a plant slant to our plates, particularly through the use of bean-based dishes, can be key to longer living. Meat is still welcome, but it is served an average of five times a month and in small portion sizes.
6. Wine @ 5 – People in all blue zones except one, drink alcohol moderately and regularly, with friends and food.
7. Belong – The longest-lived people almost universally belong to a faith-based community. Denomination doesn’t seem to matter.
8. Loved Ones First – Successful centenarians put their family first. This means they kept aging parents and grandparents nearby or in the home. They commit to a life partner and invest in their children with time and love.
9. Positive Pack – The world’s longest-lived people choose social circles that support healthy behaviors. Research from the Framingham Studies shows that smoking, obesity, happiness, and even loneliness are contagious. So the social networks of long-lived people have favorably shaped their health behaviors.

Through Blue Zones Project by Sharecare (BZP), nearly 60 communities across the U.S. have operationalized these best practices. By convening and motivating key stakeholders – from local health systems to foundations to local governments, employers, and volunteers – local Sharecare staff lay the foundation for critical cultural, public policy, and built environment shifts. Through Sharecare’s virtual care platform, community residents can make the best practices an integral part of their daily routine, allowing community well-being transformation to happen at scale.

BZP efforts make room for individuals to focus on the things that matter most to longevity. For instance, 103-year-old Ruth Anderson lives in a Blue Zones Project-approved retirement community that encourages residents to live out the Power 9. Anderson attributes her longevity to her optimism, her sense of community, her desire to contribute and be a productive member of society, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and the occasional glass of Manischewitz wine. Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since January, she continues to live a fulfilled life and is looking forward to traveling again with her daughter, who lives in Seattle.

Blue Zones Project communities also benefit at a macro level. As a result of their efforts, towns and cities can report improvements in key metrics, including community pride; key health indicators, such as the smoking or obesity rate; medical costs; local grant dollars; renewed economic activity; workplace productivity and absenteeism; and positive publicity.

Imagine if more people had the tools and knowledge to live long, happy lives. Maybe then growing old wouldn’t seem so scary.

To learn more about BZP and its previous successes, visit bluezonesproject.com.