Ten Secrets to a Long Life

For centuries there has been an ongoing search to identify the secrets of long life and healthy aging. Recently, multiple factors have been identified, including genetics, the introduction of antibiotics, vaccines, and public health, effective management of cardiovascular risk factors, advances in surgery, eliminating or modifying high-risk behaviors, family and social supports, eliminating wars and poverty, luck, exercise and nutrition, and psychological factors such as optimism and conscientiousness. To increase a maximum life span now estimated to be 115-120 years will involve manipulation of genes and the body's stem cells and the potential use of senolytic drugs (that kill old cells), which will need to be investigated. This is a worthy pursuit if these interventions will also maintain or enhance quality of life.