How 5 Longevity Researchers Stave Off Aging

One donates blood every couple of months. Another skips breakfast and lunch three days a week.

(Photo Illustration by Jeffrey MacMillan for USN&WR)

Hair grays, skin sags, hearing dulls. The signs of aging are obvious, but scientists are learning that the aging process may not be written in stone. We asked five longevity researchers to tell us what (if anything) they do to improve their odds of a healthy, long life. All stress that not enough is known yet for them to suggest that others should follow their lead.

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I'm now 86 and the only drug I take is Hidroclorotiazide. My blood
sugar is between 86 & 100, blood pressureis 120/70 but I do have some loss of memory. When I was in my 30s I ran 9 miles almost every day but some times I had to work. I drove Long line over the road Truck for 40 years. And retired at age 82. But I still do a lot of walking, with my wife at least 6 days a week. I feel relly good and sleep just fine at night. In fact I seem to be really healthy,
I also help a lot of my neighbors with there chores and enjoy helping people. I have no problems with my prostate even though sex got up and left me. Had a triple bypass but take no medication as they caught it before I had a stroke in 2004 I was ony in the hospital for 3 days. And feel really fine with no apparent problems.

Roy Nichols of AZ 9:59PM May 21, 2012

Yep yep yep.
She is right. Look, at her and compare her to the previous guy. She is 55 and looks like she could be 20 years younger than that. The guy who eats all those grains and fruits and runs 6 miles a day looks every bit of 52 if not older.
She is clearly on the right track.

Ken of NC 9:03PM March 19, 2012

Bad ideas
He is doing exactly the wrong things.
The problem with caloric restriction is that it doesn't really translate well to humans. The body adapts, and whatever advantage he got from stress response (e.g. autophagy) will be gone.
Beyond that, he's eating the wrong thing. Grains and high glycemic foods make up the bulk of the calories he does it, which means that his insulin levels are spiking, and insulin is a primary aging component.
And then there is the exercise. LSD exercises (Long Slow Death) are exactly the opposite of what is needed. His body has already adjusted to the running, so he's not really getting any benefit from it. All he is doing is raising his oxidative stress load, while subjecting his joints and bones from repeated pounding and stress.
Intermitten fasting can be a good thing, but only with a proper diet and proper exercise. What he should be doing is to get most of his calories from protein and fat (70-80%) on the rest from vegetables. No grains and few fruits.
For exercise, he should engage in intense, anerobic exercises that last no longer than 30 minutes a day. That way he can release HGH and build muscle.
As it is now, he's on the road to an early grave, not a long one.
Ken
kenStech

Ken of NC 8:59PM March 19, 2012

How 5 Longevity Researchers Stave Off Aging

One donates blood every couple of months. Another skips breakfast and lunch three days a week.

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