New Scientist has a big section this week on How to live to be 100. Beneath the headline there’s nothing unusual. If you do the well-known right things you’ll live longer, but reaching 100 is all in the genes.
One study cited in the article gives the hard facts. Somebody tested a group of 500 Ashkenazy Jews who reached 100. They compared their lifestyles with the general population of Ashkenazy Jews. No differences in drinking, smoking, diet, exercise, or social connections. Just the right combination of genes and luck.
Polistra's Mill 