When Helen Reichert celebrated her 100th birthday, she didn’t cut back on her guilty pleasures. Known for her wit, she famously said that her doctors, who advised her to quit smoking, had passed away long before she did. Helen lived nearly a decade more, defying health conventions. Stories like hers often spark the ultimate question: What matters more for a long life—genes or lifestyle? The answer may surprise you.
Experts agree that the key to reaching your 80s or 90s lies mostly in your hands, but hitting the century mark might depend on winning the genetic lottery. Here’s what you need to know about how much control you really have over your lifespan.
Lifestyle: The Driving Force to 80 and Beyond
For the majority of people, making it to their golden years depends on how they live their lives. Research shows that adopting healthy habits can add decades to your lifespan. A study involving over 276,000 veterans identified eight habits that could extend life expectancy by as much as 24 years. These habits include:
- Eating a balanced diet.
- Staying physically active.
- Getting quality sleep.
- Managing stress effectively.
- Building strong social relationships.
- Avoid smoking, drug abuse, and excessive alcohol consumption.
If you adopt these behaviors, you could live to around 87—almost ten years longer than the average U.S. life expectancy. However, even with a squeaky-clean lifestyle, living past 100 is still unlikely for most people.
Dr. Sofiya Milman, a professor of medicine and genetics, emphasizes, “Even if you do everything right, reaching 100 still requires some genetic help.” This raises the question: What role do genes play in determining who lives a century or more?
