Longevity

Definition

• Is sometimes used as a synonym for

"life expectancy" in demography or

known as "long life", especially when it

concerns someone or something lasting

longer than expected

• Longevity has been a topic not only for

the scientific community

Present life expectancy

• Various factors contribute to an

individual's longevity. Significant factors

in life expectancy include gender,

genetics, access to health care,

hygiene, diet and nutrition, exercise,

lifestyle, and crime rates

• Developed countries: 77–83 years Canada: 81.29

years

• Developing countries: 32–80 years Mozambique:

41.37 years

• Population longevities are increasing as life

expectancies around the world grow:

• Spain: 79.08 years in 2002, 81.07 years in 2010

• Australia: 80 years in 2002, 81.72 years in 2010

• Italy: 79.25 years in 2002, 80.33 years in 2010

• France: 79.05 years in 2002, 81.09 years in 2010

• Germany: 77.78 years in 2002, 79.41 years in 2010

• UK: 77.99 years in 2002, 79.92 years in 2010

• USA: 77.4 years in 2002, 78.24 years in 2010

Longevity and lifestyle

• Evidence-based studies indicate that longevity is

based on two major factors, genetics and lifestyle

choices. Twin studies have estimated that

approximately 20-30% of an individual’s lifespan is

related to genetics, the rest is due to individual

behaviors and environmental factors which can be

modified. In addition, it found that lifestyle plays

almost no factor in health and longevity after the age

of 80, and that almost everything in advanced age is

due to genetic factors.

• Study of the regions of the world known as

where people commonly live active lives past

100 years of age, have speculated that

longevity is related to a healthy social and

family life, not smoking, eating a plant-based

diet, frequent consumption of legumes and

nuts, and engaging in regular physical

activity. In another well-designed cohort

study, the combination of a plant based diet,

frequent consumption of nuts, regular

physical activity, normal BMI, and not

smoking accounted for differences up to 10

years in life expectancy