BS: the secret of longevity

Subject: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 04:00 AM

I have just watched a TED.com video on a longevity study by Susan Pinker (sister to evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker)

The message is: the biggest predictor is the close, friendly society you live in, and close relationships with family and loved ones.

Fakebook (eg) just doesn't cut it. Video conferencing is unlikely to have any effect unless you both look the camera squarely in the lens, but she speculated.

And diet was not on the list of predictors. But I would bet "some diets" is on the list of predictors of shorter life span. As is stress.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Jos
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 05:47 AM

I have noticed that reports of centenarians' "secrets of a long life" frequently include a daily glass of sherry, or whisky, or some similar morale booster.
It's worth a try.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 09:30 AM

My great grandad reached 90 back in the mid 1960s.

The family attributed his longevity to a daily tot of navy rum,
Who knows how long he might have gone on for if he hadn't fallen and broke his hip...???

He holds the record in our family.
No other men in my immediate family have made it to 70.
Or women past 80.

However, my mum is 85 and despite first stages of dementia is going on ok....

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 09:33 AM

We speak on the phone twice a day, and I make sure every call ends with mum laughing...

That I'm sure is a positive benefit to her health and well being.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Murpholly
Date: 22 Aug 17 - 05:13 AM

My grandfather played crown green bowls into his nineties. When yet another much younger man dropped dead on the green he finally said he was giving up because he did not want to upset his fellow bowlers. he went down hill from that moment on ending in a care home. When he died they wanted to do a post mortem because they said he should not have gone but we knew he had given up living when he had given up his bowls - moral of storey, be blowed to your fellows, keep following your pleasure.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 22 Aug 17 - 08:55 AM

the secret of longevity is taking a drop of uisge beatha [ the water of life ] every day.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 22 Aug 17 - 09:05 AM

"the secret of longevity"
Easy - don't die until you have to.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Aug 17 - 12:24 PM

What about your clichéd, satirical-stereotype hypochondriac?

You know the kind.
I recall the tale of one of my great-great-grandmothers.
A drama queen.
"I may not be here to-morrow, my dear...."

and she proceeded to outlive all her able-bodied caretakers.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Jos
Date: 24 Aug 17 - 09:26 AM

It is only fair to point out that there are a fair few people who have a drop of their favourite alcoholic treat every day, but who fail to live past ninety. So it isn't guaranteed.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 24 Aug 17 - 10:50 AM

I think the crucial balance might be drinking enough daily to prolong longevity but not so much to fall over and break a hip at 90...???

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: meself
Date: 24 Aug 17 - 02:54 PM

And it is only fair to point out that there are many who live past ninety without taking a nip daily, or even annually, for that matter ....

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Ed T
Date: 24 Aug 17 - 07:53 PM

My Mom lived to 101.
She never drank alcohol, coffee, nor smoked.
She had a normal diet, meat, fish, boiled veggies and potatoes type. She loved baked goods, a never avoided fatty meats. Gene wise, he parents had a normal life span (80s).
She had a good sense of humour, listened to music a lot, didnt watch tv, never paid attention to the daily (bad) news. Her mind was quite good to near the end.
No idea what her secrets was. Maybe the luck of the draw.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Aug 17 - 08:08 AM

Claude Choules was the last surviving WWI combatant, dying at the age of 110. When he was asked what the secret of long life was, he simply said that you had to keep breathing. He was a harmonica player too. Perhaps that's something to do with it. I hope so. 🤞

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: gillymor
Date: 25 Aug 17 - 08:29 AM

Then there's the Great Highland Bagpipe which causes some to pray for a merciful end.☺️

Not me though, I like Scottish pipe tunes as long as I'm not too close to the pipes.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 25 Aug 17 - 12:46 PM

I put it down to being born a long time ago......

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Aug 17 - 08:21 AM

In a short story of mine, telomeres and the villainous synthetic telomeres were the sole determinants of how many regenerations we will naturally have - or artificially have.

Of course access to the end cap telomere treatments were only afforded to the multi billionaires.

( with the advent of CRISPR ) it has to be rewritten.

If you have no idea what I am saying - good.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Ed T
Date: 26 Aug 17 - 09:58 AM

Critical step found in DNA repair, cellular aging This research may lead to a tool to address age related cancers?

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Aug 17 - 08:26 PM

The horse and mule live 30 years
And nothing know of wines and beers.
The goat and sheep at 20 die
And never taste of Scotch or Rye.

The cow drinks water by the ton
And at 18 is mostly done.
The dog at 15 cashes in
Without the aid of rum and gin.

The cat in milk and water soaks
And then in 12 short years it croaks.
The modest, sober, bone-dry hen
Lays eggs for nogs then dies at ten.

All animals are strictly dry:
They sinless live and swiftly die;
But sinful, ginful, rum-soaked men
Survive for threescore years and ten.

And some of them, a very few,
Stay pickled til they're 92.

~ Charles Duffy

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: meself
Date: 28 Aug 17 - 12:17 AM

Hmmm ... how 'bout tortoises?

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: gillymor
Date: 28 Aug 17 - 04:23 AM

The Tortise abstains from wines and beers,
And lives almost 200 years.
(Poor fellow)

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Aug 17 - 05:33 AM

That's a turtly different issue.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Fossil
Date: 28 Aug 17 - 07:40 AM

Personally, I intend to live forever. Or die trying...

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Jos
Date: 28 Aug 17 - 02:36 PM

Most of the cats I have had lived way longer than 12 years.

I have been told that reindeer are very fond of alcohol - though they usually get it second-hand (nobody tells them not to eat the yellow snow). Could there be a connection with a certain reindeer having a red nose?

And then there are wasps. I have known them to get completely sozzled on over-ripe blackberries until they just fall off the fruit and lie on there backs on the ground waving their legs in the air and giggling.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: BobL
Date: 29 Aug 17 - 03:16 AM

Many's the time I've had to turf wasps off rotten windfall apples long after sunset ("Buzz off now you buggers, ain't you got no nests to go to?") - but what's the lifespan of a wasp, sozzled or sober?

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Aug 17 - 06:13 PM

Wasp workers, the ones you see around in late summer, live for no more than two or three weeks on average. Two of the little buggers stung me on the chest when I was innocently picking an apple a couple of years ago (I must have unintentionally annoyed them), but on the whole I mix it with 'em with impunity and they rarely bother me and I get cross with anyone who jumps and swats around in panic as soon as they see one. I love to see and hear them scraping the wood off my fence when I'm sitting in the sun. They are incredibly beautiful close up and I've taken some lovely photos of them. They work like Trojans in the early part of the summer, but the late summer ones are a bit redundant, so no wonder they join the Red Admirals on the windfalls getting pissed for free. 😂

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Mr Red
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 04:53 AM

If you have no idea what I am saying   I follow you, Pal.

FWIW ....................

A Canadian study in the "Lancet" (saw it in the Telegraph so it must be true!) has done a meta analysis of many research results into longevity and the finding is clear: fats are good for longevity.

The problem of worrying about fats (saturated or unsaturated) is that in an ignorant populous (and we are all pretty unsure, lets face it) is that reducing fat intake pushes people to compensate for the shortfall in energy with carbohydrates. And sugar features a lot then. And that favours excess!

The message is: balance and sufficiency. 35% fatty foods being the recommendation. To get the nutrition right.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Donuel
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 10:13 AM

Hello its Donald, this is quite a turn out here. Thanks for coming out.
My doctor tells me there is more to the secret of longevity than simply not dying. He says Golf is the secret.
I wanted to remind you that the Harvey Storm has ruined many golf courses, ruined many golf courses. Its sad. But Trump Golf resorts are all open and in beautiful shape, beautiful shape. From Mara Lago to New Jersey and even Scotland. Reserve your T time today. You will be glad you did.

For an upper echelon fee we have interment facilities on our Special 19th hole for those whose longevity is no longer in question. Many choices are available from our communal sand and ash bunkers on an Island green to plots between Fairways with inscribed Gold Trophy markers.

Remember at Trump Golf Resorts you can Golf Forever!

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: meself
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 10:37 AM

Oh no .... We've really got to find a way to make Trump cut back on the golf! More tweeting, less golfing, Mr President!

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: leeneia
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 12:15 PM

If your parents lived long lives, you probably will too.

Don't smoke.

Don't use a phone while driving.

Stay out of bars that only offer beer in cans. Such bars don't trust their violent clientele with heavy glass bottles. 'Nuff said.

Play or sing music at least once a day.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: meself
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 02:51 PM

What about bars like some of the ones here in Alberta that have signs at the door saying "No Knives Allowed" - can we assume that they're safer than the ones that apparently allow knives?

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: leeneia
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 05:06 PM

Well, yes. But I believe I would pass a bar with a sign like that right by.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Joe_F
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 06:54 PM

Mark Twain, on reaching the age of 70, attributed that achievement to sticking to a way of life that would kill anybody else.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: robomatic
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 07:07 PM

Mark Twain also commented on 'coming in' with Halley's Comet and being destined to go out with it also, which a movie biography made 'happen'. So destiny may be an opener AND a closer.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Donuel
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 08:18 PM

Twain remarked he required a bad habit like cigars in the same way a ship Captain needs cargo to throw overboard when the ship is about to sink.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 08:34 PM

Golf courses can be very dangerous, Donuel! More people die there than anywhere else.....! (Especially Drs, if you read the BMJ obit columns!)
My Dad lived to 93 and my Mum to 89, so hoping I've got a few years left yet,: and I don't smoke, as they did until fairly late in life before finally giving up.
What is scary is that life is becoming a round of funerals.. for people the same age as, or even younger than ourselves (just touched 70.) The big C as well as cardiovascular disease are the main death threats.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Donuel
Date: 31 Aug 17 - 08:39 PM

I take a longevity drug called metformin

never mind about the portrait in the attic.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Mr Red
Date: 03 Sep 17 - 06:54 AM

Forget the good walk spoiled

keep dancing. My protrait would have to be a dancing (nodding?) doll.

I recommend (in no particular order): Ceilidh/Barn Dancing, Contra, French/Eurobal, Scandi, Irish Set, Cajun & occ Latvian.

Trust me, they are brain exercise as well as cardio-vascular. If and whenever, I will die happy having worn out the body that way.

Subject: RE: BS: the secret of longevity
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Sep 17 - 08:43 AM

Some say play, dance and drink. With the addition of telomere CRISPR manipulation and Metformin like assistance, turning back the clock is no longer a fountain of youth myth. However without passion and a debt that is actively paid to society via each person's gifts, what is the point?

a word to the wise.