David Attenborough
This Friday, David Attenborough turns 100 – a birthday that less than 0.03% of people alive today have celebrated and which he attributes to… luck.
David Attenboroughbeloved British presenter attributed his long and healthy life to one key factor: pure and simple luck.
That’s right! Without false modesty, on the sidelines of his 90th birthday in 2016, Attenborough said that the reason he remains cognitively and physically capable, when so many of his loved ones suffer with age, “is not Christian virtue, just luck”.
Interestingly, scientific evidence suggests he may be right… at least to some extent.
A launch of genetic data causes us all to start the game of life from different positions, which means that, in truth, some people are more likely to live longer.
When Attenborough was born, life expectancy in the UK was around 58 years. Today, it is higher than 79.
Clearly, there are changes we can make that could improve our chances of living longer. In recent years, there has been a growing fascination with “longevity” research to discover which of these healthy habits are most important – writes.
Some scientists, cited by the same magazine, estimate that reaching 90 years of age can be explained by 30% genetics and 70% health behaviorssuch as diet or physical activity.
Attenborough’s own life is in line with what science is revealing. He is active, socially and physically, and remains remarkably busy for someone his age. In the past, he has addressed the possibility of reform, saying he fears the idea itself.
The is the largest and most comprehensive study of centenarians and their families in the world. Its researchers discovered that the exceptional longevity tends to run in families, indicating a strong genetic component.
But there may also be intergenerational factors parenting or from personality in play.
The study suggests, for example, that the children of centenarians are more likely to have a strong sense of purpose than the general population, and this has been associated with lower rates of illness, disability and cognitive impairment.
However, making it past age 90 isn’t entirely due to healthy habits and a positive outlook on life. Only individuals with the genes stronger ones seem to reach a certain point.
Some scientists estimate that surviving to 110 years old, the age of a supercentenarian, could be approximately 70% genetic.
Let us look, as an example, at Maria Branyaswho lived until he was 117 years old, in Spain, and who owned a .
According to a recent report, Branyas was born with rare genetic variants associated with longevity, immune function, and cardiovascular and neurological health.
Still, Branyas also maintained a healthy social life, remained physically active and followed a Mediterranean dietall factors also associated with slower aging.
Recent evidence suggests that some “super-aged” people benefit from a combination of genes, lifestyle and… luck.
In the UK, the rate of centenarians like Attenborough has almost doubled in the last twenty years. This is probably due to a combination of modifiable factors, such as medical advances, lifestyle changes and population growth.
