Meridian World: Using Gadgets, Leading Active Life & Eating Well Help Increase Lifespan

WORDS OF WISDOM

Pop culture helps elders live long

Using Gadgets, Leading Active Life & Eating Well Help Increase Lifespan

New York: Staying in touch with pop culture, the latest trends such as iPods and text messaging, and a dinner date with actress Betty White are keys to living a long life, according to people who know — centenarians.
    Being socially active, having a healthy diet, exercising and getting enough sleep also won’t hurt. “If I could leave any message, never stop learning. Period. That’s it,” said Maurice Eisman, a centenarian who lives in Maryland.
    Eisman was one of 100 centenarians questioned in a poll about the secrets of longevity. Laughter and prayer were also important, along with staying connected to family and friends and keeping up with current events and gadgets. Eight per cent of centenarians said they had sent text or instant messages, compared to one percent last year. And 12% are using iPods, 4% more than three years ago, the GfK Roper survey for Evercare showed.
    Nearly 100,000 centenarians are living in the United States, and the number is expected to climb to more than 601,000 by 2050, according to the US Census Bureau.
    “I think everybody should have something to say in what’s going on in their life and not just take everything for granted,” said Marie Keeler, 101, from Minnesota. White, the octogenarian star of a popular Super Bowl commercial, was the top choice of a dinner date for most of the centenarians.
    Many centenarians said they kept up with popular culture by listening to music or videos through computers, and 11% said they had watched a video on YouTube. Thirty per cent said the recent recession was more severe than the Great Depression, 40% walked or hiked every day and 1% used Nintendo’s Wii Fit. Three quarters ate a healthy diet daily and nearly a third opted for organic foods. REUTERS