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Golden century
Study reveals the secrets of men who live to 100 .
The largest study of ageing men in the southern hemisphere might give us some clues about the fountain of youth .
Australians are living longer and healthier lives . Over the past two decades , the number of people aged 85 years and over has increased by 117 per cent .
The long-term study from Western Australia has tracked the health of 12,000 men over a 25-year period , and the results could offer some insights into common health conditions such as diabetes and cancer and also provide some tips on healthy ageing . The study started in 1996 as a randomised trial of ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms .
They saw 12,000 men for the ultrasound , who also filled in a questionnaire about general health .
“ And we ’ ve been following those men ever since ,” said lead investigator and director of the Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing , Professor Leon Flicker AO .
There are about 1600 men still around and participating in the study . The youngest man left in the cohort is 89 years of age and the oldest is 105 .
So what have researchers learned from these men ? For one , when you get to that stage of life , worrying about your weight won ’ t be as important .
“ When you ’ re in your 60s and 70s and 90s , you ’ re better to be overweight rather than even normal weight ,” said Flicker .
And perhaps don ’ t worry about blood pressure so much either . If your blood pressure is less than 70 diastolic at an older age it ’ s much worse than high blood pressure . However , some things stay the same . Like physical activity . Exercise remains really important in preserving life throughout any age and may be even more important as you grow older . As does eating healthy , not smoking , and not drinking too much .
Flicker says that research such as this will be increasingly important as a larger part of the population hits 100 .
“ I think in Australia currently , there ’ s about 6,500 people over the age of 100 . In 40 years time there ’ s going to be 40,000 centenarians ,” he said . ■
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