Question: What is old age and why are we so afraid of it?
Robert Butler: Well, elderly I think is really a word that should be applied to people more or like 80-85 and above. Otherwise, I prefer older persons because most older people actually remain vigorous and healthy until they begin to reach their 80s.
Robert Butler: People are afraid of death very much, but also the accompaniments of aging, that [Inaudible] it be independent, being physically ill, being compromised, not be able to walk properly, not having your balance, all of those are fearful things including of course cancer and heart disease.
Robert Butler: Well, the brain is very critical. If we have our mind, if we have our ability to think, if we recognize our loved ones, that makes a huge difference in our lives.
Question: How can we slow the process?
Robert Butler: Well, we can't the stop clock yet. We may be able to slow it, but we can't stop it. This is something I developed in my book The Longevity Revolution that it is possible now to actually slow aging. So, what we can do now is largely, within our own making about 25% of what happens to us and the length of our life is related to genes. 70-75% is us. Don’t smoke. Moderate alcohol. You should probably eat off the salad plate instead of the dinner plate. Modest intake of food and certainly, exercise, not just aerobic exercise, but also working those muscles and that is about it. Having a purpose in life, having passion, something to get up for in the mornings, something that makes a difference. People actually live longer. Also, if you have a body relationship, sometimes moral support system or social network that also leaves to a longer, healthier life. Women in particular do better in that regard. We men may have the old boy network and help each other get jobs, but we are not as capable of intimacy and closeness, dealing with grief, and we don't do as well as in having a healthy community or body of people to help us.
Recorded on: Mar 17 2008
Discuss
Alexandr Ivanin on December 16, 2008, 5:08 AM
Well my friend, you forgot most important reason for long life u2013 being reach. And still you general advice as it is: eat, drink less %u2013 live longer. But what for? You know, in my days in university I eat fatty foods, drink heavily and it use to be a good diet for me. I could do it five times in a row with the right girl easy. That%u2019s what I call vigorous and healthy. Being a sportsman I exercise a lot and had energy for all of it.
Now days I consider my energy level is 25 of what it used to be. My vision is deteriorating but brain is still functioning well.
Also I do not afraid death, but I do not want to be crippled by anything including old age. You independents come from social
inequalities and dependents of poor young people of/for money.
I%u2019m not trying to be aggressive, just disagree.
Judging by 300 articles and advice to eat less you choose quantity of years over quality of life.
National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health is simply institute of dying and deteriorating health.
It%u2019s trying to resolve social aspect of the problem (long life expectancy in a %u201Cgold billion%u201D) and only on side of the old people with complete disregard of impact on young and future of society.
I%u2019m sure most old people will gladly give up all to be young again. To have back that energy and young wishes and exercise for pure fun of it not out of fear of death. Even a chance of young life is better than waiting for inevitable %u2018vigorously and healthy%u2019.
To finalize: To be young again vastly more important than to live long.
I concentrate my work on this issue and have some progress with it.
With respect, Alexandr
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