According to research conducted by researchers from Osaka University, Japan, adopting modifiable healthy lifestyles is associated with prolonged life expectancy. This rule works for individuals even more than 80 years of age. Even if there are major comorbidities in each life stage since middle age. The findings of the research imply that improving one’s lifestyle is important for one’s increased lifespan. Even older patients and those with multimorbidity can increase their lifespan by adopting modifiable healthy lifestyles.
The researchers observed a prospective cohort of 20,373 men and 26,247 women aged 40-80 years. They assessed the following eight modifiable lifestyle factors:
1. Consumption of fish, fruit, and milk
2. Walking and/or participation in sports
3. Body-mass index (BMI)
4. Smoking status
5. Consumption of alcohol
6. Sleep duration
The researchers analyzed the impact of adopting modifiable healthy lifestyles on lifetime gain during the ages 40 to 102 years.
This study used a baseline survey from the JACC (The Japan Collaborate Cohort). It was a large research effort performed in 45 different locations in Japan from 1988 to 1990 and involved 49,021 people. The attempt aimed to find what variables led to cancer and cardiovascular disease death.
The questionnaire included questions on:
- 1. Diet
2. Exercise
3. Use of alcohol
4. Smoking status
5. Sleep duration
6. Body mass index (BMI)
The healthy activities were given one point each and the impact of bringing variations in these activities on lifetime gain was evaluated.
The study continued until December 2009.
8,966 people died during the median 21 years of follow-up. These 8,966 people included 3,683 men and 5,283 women. Life expectancy at 40 years for 7-8 points was 46.8 years for men and 51.3 years for women. The impact of adopting modifiable healthy lifestyle on gain in lifetime persisted over the age of 80 years and more (in people with 5 or more factors [especially men]).
Interestingly, the positive impacts were more pronounced in patients having major comorbidities and those having multimorbidity throughout all age categories.
The Study concluded that lifestyle improvements positively affected health even in the presence of chronic health conditions, and that the modification of selected lifestyle was likely to increase life expectancy.
