Attitude is huge player in aging

April 04, 2011 at 12:31 PM

How we feel about ourselves and our ability to adapt to an accumulation of challenging life experiences may be as important — or more important — than health factors in determining if we survive to be 100 years old, according to research from the University of Georgia.

The research used data collected as part of the Georgia Centenarian Study, one of only two centenarian studies in the country, to measure psychological and social factors in addition to genetics and health of so-called expert survivors. It is published in the current edition of the journal Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research.

A total of 244 people 100 years or older were studied between 2001 and 2009. The research found that critical life events and personal history, along with how people adapt to stressful situations and cope with them, are crucial to explaining successful aging.

What is happening to you matters, but more importantly, it is your perception of what is happening to you that is really important for your individual health.

A majority of past research on the oldest of the old focused on health factors, but the researchers found that centenarians’ feelings about their own health, well-being and support systems, rather than measures such as blood pressure and blood sugar, are strong predictors of survival.

Personality also determined how well the centenarians reacted to life stress and change and, therefore, whether they were as happy in their old age as they were when young. Healthy 100-year-olds had personalities described as open and conscientious. Neurotic personalities tended to be less healthy, the study found.

An individual confronted with a stressful situation can either find a quick emotional solution or ruminate on the problem. One is destructive in terms of general well-being and the other is adaptive.

Other research drawing from the Georgia Centenarian Study compared physical function of the elderly living in the community with those living in retirement facilities and found that physical activity decreased by approximately one-third when community residents moved to retirement facilities. By understanding physical decline in functioning, caregivers can help maintain a high quality of life for the centenarian with appropriate support.

Although still rare, centenarians are a growing segment of the population. There were an estimated 50,454 in 2000, but the number is expected to rise to more than 800,000 by 2050, making accurate information about their well-being increasingly important.

One reality that occurs all over the world is that women live longer than men. In industrialized countries such as the United States, France and Japan, five to six women reach 100 years for every man who does. Only Sardinia has a one-to-one ratio. At the opposite extreme, 13 South Korean women live to be 100 for every man. Let's stay active together.

Upcoming

Tuesday

• 9 a.m., Get up and Get started Exercise with Evie.

• 12:30 p.m. Cards and Duplicate Bridge.

Wednesday

• 8:30 a.m., Wood carving club.

• 9:30 a.m., Tai chi classes (newcomers welcome.)

• 12:30 p.m., Pinochle and cribbage tournament; Duplicate Bridge.

• 1 p.m., Stitching Bees. Bring your handiwork.

• 1 p.m., Open chess. Bring a friend.

Thursday

9 a.m., Get up and Get started Exercise with Evie.

11:30 a.m., Eye clinic; free.

12:30 p.m., Cards.

1 p.m., Bingo.

1 p.m., Open chess.

Friday

9:30 a.m., Tai Chi

12:30 p.m., Cards

Weekly card results

Monday bridge tournament results for March 21, with two tables playing:

First, Bud Higgins; second, Mabel Vaale; third, Jaynard Johnson; fourth, Carolyne Higgins; fifth, Mary Johnson.

Tuesday afternoon "500" tournament results for March 22, with four tables playing:

First, Helen Broitzman; second, Lois Anderson; third, Gene Rauen; fourth, Beulah Luthe.

Pinochle

Jaynard Johnson.

Wednesday bridge tournament results for March 22

First, Sheryl Ehkle and Fred Langlock; second, Dick Hansen and Larry Crowe; third, John Allen and Jaynard Johnson; fourth, Bud Higgins and Jim Fisher.

Weekly "500" tournament results for March 25, with four tables playing:

First, Helen Broitzman; second, Dennis Bray; third, Fran Bolstad; fourth, Lois Anderson.

Weekly cribbage tournament results for March 23, with 3 1/4 tables playing:

First, Mable Vaale; second, Loretta Nelson; third, Lorraine Low.

Friday bridge tournament results for March 25, with four tables playing:

First, Ella Rouhoff; second, Larry Larson; third, Jaynard Johnson; fourth, Arnie Lang; fifth, Dick Hansen; sixth, John Allen.

Friday cribbage tournament results for March 25, with 1 1/2 tables playing:

First, Dorothy Peterson; second, Loretta Prantner.

Semcac daily meals

Tuesday

Chicken pot pie.

Wednesday