Changing Aging

An interesting new study on China’s “oldest old” has been released by Duke University researcher Dr. Matthew Dupre and is available in the American Journal of Public Health.  (note: you have to have a paid subscription to access it)  He did the research while at the University of North Carolina and is now at Duke University Medical Center. 

Highlights of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study, which included a sample size of more than 13,000 people include:

- Fewer than 1 percent of of Chinese 80 and older are living in nursing homes.

- Most are free of chronic disease and not disabled or cognitively impaired.

- For urban men and women, living in larger households was associated with longevity, suggesting that residing with one’s children, or grandchildren, might extend lifespan.

- Most study participants said they “looked at the bright side.”

- Rural women - likely the most disadvantaged group in China - showed the greatest longevity benefit from being optimistic.  Most people in the survey have a positive outlook.

- Most also eat veggies, and a lot of them are poor, have little education and drink and smoke, challenging some of the advice we get in regard to living a long time.