Latest news with #SuperAger
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
95-year-old ‘SuperAger' reveals 9 daily habits behind her long and healthy life
Source: Science Friday At 95 years old, Sally Froelich embodies a lifetime of stories, achievements, and wisdom. Her journey began in 1950 when she started working at Macy's Department Store in New York City. Her charisma and ability to connect with people eventually led her to Bloomingdale's, where she was hired to interview patrons during breakfast events; a unique role that catapulted her into the media spotlight. Her warm interactions and natural curiosity became the foundation for 'The Sally Froelich Show,' a talk show that aired for over 20 years, engaging audiences with candid conversations and relatable topics. 'The guests would talk to me, and the audience would ask questions. It was a lot of fun,' as reported by Healthline . TV host Froelich joins ' SuperAgers study ' to explore the science behind healthy aging Among the many topics she explored on her show, one series remains especially close to Froelich's heart: 'The Vital Years.' Launched when she was around 60 years old, the series focused on the challenges and joys of aging in later adulthood — including second marriages, staying active, health concerns, and grandparenting. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Today, these conversations feel more relevant than ever, as Froelich participates in an innovative research project aiming to unlock the secrets of healthy aging. Froelich is one of 600 participants in the SuperAgers Family Study, run by the American Federation for Aging Research. This study is no small effort — it seeks to enroll 10,000 individuals aged 95 and older who are in good physical and cognitive health. But it's not just about the SuperAgers themselves. The study also includes their adult children and the spouses of those children who don't have SuperAger parents. 95 year old woman shares 9 secrets to a long, healthy life Although she may have longevity genes on her side, Froelich also practices many of the healthy lifestyle habits recommended by experts: Eat mindfully 'I eat three meals a day. I don't overeat,' she says. A balanced diet helps maintain energy, weight, and immune function. Avoid harmful habits She never smoked and drinks only in moderation. Research shows smokers are three times more likely to die prematurely of cardiovascular diseases. Maintain a stable weight Froelich proudly notes that her weight hasn't changed in 50 years, even though her body shape has. This stability helps reduce strain on joints and organs. Stay physically active A lifelong sports enthusiast, she continues to golf 2–3 times a week and exercises six days a week — including stretching, sit-ups, and weight training. Engage your brain Froelich keeps her mind sharp with bridge, audiobooks, and TV. Mental stimulation supports cognitive health and memory as we age. Stay socially connected She dines out weekly, sees her children regularly, and checks in with her grandchildren via Zoom. Social interaction is linked to lower rates of depression and dementia. 'If I've been hanging around the house a lot, I just go out and walk around the block,' she adds. Find joy in the everyday Her advice? 'Do what you want to do and things that make you happy. Eat ice cream and delicious chocolate.' Practice self-care 'Keep your hair done, your nails done… and have someone tell you if anything looks off,' she says. Looking after your appearance can boost mood and confidence. Reframe how you think about aging Research shows that positive perceptions of aging can extend life by up to 7.5 years. 'It's not just about living longer — it's about living better,' says Dr. Leipzig. Why SuperAgers and their children hold the key to healthy aging 'They are just as important as the SuperAgers because we need to draw comparisons in the frequency of the genes,' said Dr. Sofiya Milman, Director of Human Longevity Studies at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The goal? To discover which genes are responsible for helping people live long, healthy, and disease-free lives. Past research suggests that certain genes may play a key role in exceptional longevity — including those that influence HDL cholesterol and growth hormone regulation. Dr. Milman and her team have found that genetics often outweigh lifestyle factors when it comes to reaching the age of 95 and beyond. 'We found that [SuperAgers] didn't differ in smoking, alcohol use, diet, or exercise compared to their peers — and yet, they lived significantly longer,' Milman explained. How healthy habits can delay age-related diseases Even if you didn't win the genetic lottery, lifestyle choices remain critically important. While only 0.1% of Americans live to age 95 or older, the rest of the population can still dramatically reduce the risk of age-related diseases by adopting healthy habits. 'It's unlikely that a healthy lifestyle alone will get you to 95,' said Milman, 'but it can delay the onset of illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. ' According to Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, geriatrician and author of Honest Aging, genetics account for about 20–40% of longevity, while the remaining 60–80% is shaped by your environment and life experiences — including your childhood nutrition, education, access to healthcare, and even the neighborhood you grew up in. She also highlights the concept of 'weathering' — the idea that chronic stress from systemic disadvantage, particularly among African American women, can impact long-term health outcomes. Also Read | Waking up with a headache? It could be a silent sign of high BP, experts warn
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
A 95-year-old superager shares 9 secrets to her long life
At 95 years, Sally Froelich is a participant in the SuperAgers Family Study conducted by the American Federation for Ageing Research. This study aims to recruit 10,000 individuals aged 95 and older who are in good physical and mental health, often referred to as 'SuperAgers.' Dr Sofiya Milman, a leading expert on ageing, highlighted to Healthline the significance of this study in understanding the biological factors that contribute to longevity. The research also includes the children of SuperAgers and their spouses, who do not have SuperAger parents. Dr Milman explained in the interaction that comparing these groups is essential for identifying the frequency of certain genes that may contribute to longevity. While adopting healthy habits undoubtedly contributes to overall well-being, the extent to which these changes can extend life expectancy is a subject of ongoing research, argued Dr Shuchin Bajaj, general physician and Founder Director of Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals. He emphasises the importance of lifestyle factors in promoting health and longevity. However, he cautions that individual results may vary due to genetic predisposition, underlying health conditions, and other factors. Froelich's life offers valuable insights into the habits that have contributed to her long and healthy life: Balanced Diet: Sally emphasises the importance of eating three meals a day without overeating, which helps maintain good health. Avoid Smoking and Excessive Drinking: She believes that avoiding smoking and moderating alcohol consumption are key to a longer life. Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Sally's weight has remained stable for 50 years, though she acknowledges changes in her body over time. Regular Exercise: She maintains an active lifestyle, golfing two to three times a week, exercising daily, and incorporating strength training into her routine. Mental Engagement: Sally keeps her mind sharp by playing bridge weekly, listening to audiobooks, and watching television. Social Connections: Staying socially active is a priority for Sally, who regularly meets friends, spends time with her family, and stays connected with her grandchildren. Finding Joy: Sally advises doing things that make you happy, such as enjoying ice cream and chocolate, which adds a touch of joy to daily life. Self-Care: She emphasizes the importance of looking after one's appearance, grooming her hair and nails regularly. Positive Attitude Toward Ageing: Sally believes that having a positive perception of ageing can enhance the quality of life. Froelich's approach to life, combining genetics with healthy lifestyle choices, provides a blueprint for longevity and well-being. Early adoption of healthy habits is often encouraged as preventive measures tend to be more effective than corrective actions, Bajaj said. Nonetheless, positive changes made at any stage of life can yield benefits.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Want to live to a healthy old age? Here's what a top doctor does based on hard science
Editor's note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life's mysteries big and small. You can listen to episodes here. Who among us wouldn't want to live a good life well into our 90s, especially if we could do it disease-free while still being as witty and spry as Betty White, as eloquent as Toni Morrison or as civically engaged as Jimmy Carter? But you'd need good genes to live that long, right? Not necessarily, according to Dr. Eric Topol, founding director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California, and former chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. For almost 20 years, Topol has been studying a group of 1,400 Super Agers, or people who reached the age of 80 and beyond without developing one of three common, chronic, age-related conditions (cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative disease), as part of the Wellderly study. To his surprise, when his team conducted whole-genome sequencing on all the Wellderly study participants, the researchers found nothing genetic, across the board, that conferred an age and health advantage. Topol's new book, 'Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity,' explores the other factors at play and the science that backs them up. He examines lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and sleep. He also looks at new technologies including the following : polygenic risk scores that sift through a person's DNA to quantify disease risk; the new science of 'omics' (for example, proteomics to analyze the complete set of proteins expressed by a body) that can be used to produce organ clocks measuring how fast our individual organs are aging; and artificial intelligence to synthesize all available health data points. All these technologies show promise in helping more people, if not reach Super Ager status, then achieve a longer health span by either delaying the onset of disease or aggressively treating conditions to prevent progression and complications. Topol, who will soon turn 71, practices what he preaches. 'I hope to be (a Super Ager),' he told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, recently, on his podcast Chasing Life. 'If I can get another 10 or 15 years without an age-related disease, that'd be great. And I've really doubled down on the things that I can do to help get there.' Exactly which steps has the doctor-scientist who studies Super Agers taken to increase his odds of reaching their ranks? You can listen to the full episode here. 'I made extensive changes from the research, once we learned that it isn't in your genes … to achieve healthy aging, free of cancer, free of cardiovascular disease and free of neurodegenerative disease,' Topol said. One of the biggest changes Topol said he made was to his exercise routine. 'I used to only do aerobic exercise, and as a cardiologist, that was my thing,' he said. 'Now I do balance training and strength training (as well). It's an extensive difference. … And so, I'm more strong and fit than I've ever been.' In fact, exercise is so important that Topol ranks it as No. 1 on the list for anyone who wants to get started on the path of a longer life. 'It's free. And if you're not doing anything, if you're a sedentary, then start with walks, brisk walks if you can, and keep increasing it,' he said. 'Challenge yourself (with) hills and pace … if you are working up a sweat, that's a really good sign.' (Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.) To get your upper body in shape, he recommends resistance bands, and to improve balance, he said to practice standing on one foot, then the other. 'These are all free or cost minimum,' he said, noting that with a few inexpensive items you can do this at home, no gym membership required. 'So work on that and then other things will start to fall in place. … If you exercise more, you'll sleep better, too.' Which brings us to the next major change Topol made. 'I realized how important (sleep) is because of 'glymphatics.' That was a new insight in the book: about deep sleep and getting these waste products out of your brain,' he said, referring to the recently discovered glymphatic system, which helps flush out waste products in the brain and central nervous system, much like the lymphatic system does for the rest of the body. 'I was a poor sleeper,' he confessed, so he worked 'extensively' on improving the different factors that could impact it. 'Things like … what do I eat? And when do I eat? Also hydrating, mostly early in the day … to have less interrupted sleep.' He added that for him fasting is 'detrimental' to his sleep, as are both exercising or eating a big meal too late in the evening. And, do not give short shrift to sleep regularity, Topol advised. 'I used to go to sleep all over the place (in terms of time), and now I'm very regimented, except for maybe one night a week,' he said, noting that this tweak was 'phenomenally effective' in levelling up his sleep game. As for diet, Topol (who hasn't touched red meat in 40 years but does eat fish) said he wasn't surprised the evidence showed that a plant-based diet with enough lean protein 'prevailed as the best.' 'What was interesting, though, is how toxic (and) pro inflammatory ultraprocessed foods were,' he said, adding that he does everything he can to minimize UPF — which he jokingly calls UFOs, or alien food . 'It's hard to get it to zero, but I've (made a) conscious effort.' Topol said he also increased his protein intake 'some,' due to his age and because he started strength training, 'but I don't go to toxic levels that are advocated by others, that have no evidence (and) that are pro-inflammatory.' He said he keeps protein to about 90 grams a day for his 180-pound (82-kilogram) frame, by adding nuts, legumes (including beans) and more fish, even canned tuna in water, to his diet. 'I generally eat a salad every night,' he said. 'Now I'm a little more conscious about having something with it. … But (it's) not the protein craze that's being advocated by some of the extremists.' What about supplements and vitamins? 'I don't rule out that they could help (if) you have a specific deficiency — if for some reason your vitamin D is very low, or your vitamin B12,' Topol said. But 'for healthy people who are not symptomatic (and) who take good care of themselves,' he said, 'there's no data to show that these provide any benefit' much less an antiaging one. 'I think they're a waste of money, and some of these supplements have potentially adverse effects,' he said. 'It's just infuriating because they're not regulated, so (marketers) can say anything, and people believe it and buy it.' When it comes to consuming alcohol, Topol said he keeps his drinking 'light,' to fewer than seven drinks per week, after which the risks start adding up quickly. He said it doesn't seem to affect his own sleep, but it might impact that of others, so he recommends watching out for that. Another top-of-the-list item: mental health and stress management. Topol mainly turns to exercise to help navigate both of these elements, but he said being out in nature is another often-overlooked route. 'The nature prescription is part of the book. There really is something to this,' he noted, adding that he takes advantage of San Diego's climate and location to do plenty of hiking and walking. 'It's good for mental health, it's good for stress and anxiety, just to be out in our environment.' It's never too late to start any or all of these lifestyle adjustments, Topol said. 'These diseases take 20 years at least (to develop). So, you get even more (bang) if you start in your 40s and 50s or 60s … but if you start when you're 70 (or) 80, you're still going to derive years of healthy aging, maybe not quite as many, but still,' he said. And because these common, chronic, age-related conditions — cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases — do take so long to fully manifest, Topol said we have time to intervene to change their trajectory. But to fully leverage that latency period before the symptoms of a disease appear, it's important to be aware of personal risk, so people and their doctors (and society more broadly) can focus prevention and early detection efforts on the right people at the right time. 'Knowing one's risk — that's the next part, which is: we're going to prevent these three diseases in the future. We can now, and we're going to even get better at that,' Topol said. Topol said he learned from his polygenic risk scores that he's at high risk for coronary artery disease, despite not having a family history. So, he has focused on getting his LDL cholesterol down. 'I've gotten it low, and perhaps I got more aggressive about that. I've checked my other lipids, like Lp(a) (lipoprotein[a]), so I feel like I've done everything I can to go into high prevent-mode for that.' Topol said wants to get his immunome (all the genes and proteins of his immune system) mapped, to measure how well his immune system is functioning. It's a measurement he believes will one day soon be commonplace for everyone. He already has data on 'every virus I've ever been exposed to and every autoantibody that I have.' He also plans on having his organ clocks measured, because different organs (such as the heart and brain) age at different rates, putting people at higher risk for certain diseases. 'I think it's going to be very helpful, because then I'll know (how) my heart organ clock correlates with my risk of heart disease. 'So those are some of the things I've done and/or I want to do,' he said. 'It's an extraordinary time in medicine, because we have a path to prevention,' Topol said, 'because of the way the science of aging (is developing), with these metrics like organ clocks and protein biomarkers and our genetics — all these layers of data — we are going to be able to prevent these diseases. And that's exciting. We've never done that before.' We hope these insights help you extend your health span. Listen to the full episode here. And join us next week on the Chasing Life podcast when we dive into the mysteries of memory. CNN Audio's Eryn Mathewson contributed to this report.
