If you wish live a long life, be optimistic and keep smiling as much as you can. The researchers who have found that people, who have high age, are often extroverts, have a happy life and see the the world around in a beautiful way.
The findings stem from the Longevity Genes Project, launched by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. All the participants in the latest study were over the age of 95, and all were of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish descent.
Study co-author Dr. Nir Barzilai, director of Einstein’s Institute for Aging Research and chair of its division of Aging Research admitted “We really were not sure what got them to their advanced age,”. “Was it their personality, or something more in their genetics?”
“Our findings that these centenarians share such positive personality traits suggest that they may be associated with longevity,” he added.
The team indicates that the United States is presently home to about 53,000 centenarians, take about .2 percent of the population. But precisely how genetics determine into the longevity formula remains something of a secret, as is how genetic predispositions that prefer certain personality traits might impact on the aging process.
To cope with the latter question, the authors first created a 98-point questionnaire that was made to screen for facts of key personality features.
It was then applied to 243 of those near 100 years old. Three-quarters were women, and all have the same ethnicity, which allowed the team to make personality comparisons among genetically similar individuals.
The result of the research: The majority of near-centenarians were found to be relaxed, friendly, conscientious and hopeful about life. The others also strongly confirmed that, an easy laugh and an active social life were observed to be a group norm, while neuroticism was obviously the exception. What’s more, feelings were more commonly shared as they arose, rather than stifled.
Dr. Thomas Perls, director of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University Medical Center, stated the results confirm several observations he and his colleagues have made in the past.
For example, Perls’ own team’s look at personality traits typically found among the children of centenarians suggested that “those who are high in neuroticism tend to dwell on things and internalize their stress rather than let it go,” he noted. “This can translate into increased risk for cardiovascular disease. High extroversion may lead to a better ability to establish social support networks – which is very good for older people – and to be cognitively engaged.”
These studies show people that they should do what they can to control their stress better so that it doesn’t manage them,” Perls added. “People usually know very well what activities help them reduce stress. For example physical exercise, yoga, tai chi, laughing a lot, reading or art activities. And, surely, enough sleep.” We just need time and energy to do these things.