Longevity

A cohort study of 6985 adults showed that life purpose was significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Based on a study published in https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2734064 Individuals with the highest sense of purpose had a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with the lowest. In addition, at a February 2025 U.S. Senate hearing on aging, Blue-Zone researcher Dan Buettner testified that people who can articulate a strong life purpose live about 8 years longer than peers who feel rudderless (MedPage Today. 2025 Feb). Purpose is thought to curb chronic stress, promote social engagement, and motivate healthy daily habits, all of which lower cardiovascular and metabolic risk.

A study published in 2024 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000291652366280X?via%3Dihublast analyzed the lifestyles of more than 276,000 male and female United States veterans, it found that adherence to all 8 low-risk lifestyle factors was associated with an estimation of >20 y of prolonged life expectancy at age 40. These factors include: eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, sleeping well, managing stress, having strong relationships, not smoking or abusing

opioids or drinking to excess. If the veterans adhered to all eight behaviors, the researchers calculated that they could expect to live to about age 87. Those that become over 100 years of age typically have special gene variants that experts think will help them live longer and avoid disease.