Aging gracefully

Chicago Tribune: What’s the secret to longevity? Frances Emily Baldwin of Great Britain said it was the daily fried egg sandwich, and she lived to be 114. Other centenarians swear by a nightly cocktail, a sense of humor, an occasional cigar. Oh, and stay away from doctors.

Gerontologists offer a sterner prescription for those who aspire to triple digits: Exercise. Eat right. Do the daily crossword. Get a dog. And for God’s sake, stop driving.

Scientists say it’s not all about lifestyle and environment. Extreme longevity runs in families, meaning some people are genetically predisposed to old old old age. This suggests they live longer despite their vices, not because of them. (Sorry.)

Want to know if you’re one of those lucky people? A team of New England researchers has developed a model that can help predict whether a person will live into the late 90s or beyond, according to a study this month in the journal Science. The team identified 150 genetic markers that are associated with longevity. They also found 19 genetic “signatures” that could predict diseases such as dementia or hypertension. They hope to post an online test that will help people assess whether they are genetically blessed, or not.

People are living longer and longer, thanks to medical advances, fried egg sandwiches and who knows what else.

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