Our Generation Florida

It’s Never too Late to Live Longer

By Diana Orem
Consider the following hypothetical scenario. If you were given a short list of health guidelines and were told that you would live longer if you followed those guidelines, would you follow them?  Assuming that you would want to live a few extra years, your answer is probably a resounding yes.  However, research on compliance with medical advice and lifestyle changes has repeatedly shown that by and large, people often do not follow important health-related advice.
Back to the list, which as it turns out, is not so hypothetical. A recent study conducted in the U.K. found that there are four key behaviors that can extend your life up to 14 years. The report, which made headlines in early 2008, states that moderate alcohol consumption, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and consuming 4-5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily can add years to your life. In their sample of over 20,000 people aged 45 to 79, researchers found that individuals who adopted all four of these behaviors lived 14 years longer, on average, than individuals who adopted none of them.  Though this report has health implications for people of all ages, the authors of the study said that middle- to older-aged people should take heed because it is not too late to make changes that could have a lasting impact.
Granted, some of these recommended lifestyle changes might be more difficult to conform to than others. For instance, it is likely going to be more challenging for a life-long smoker to quit smoking than for a junk food enthusiast to incorporate some fruits and veggies into their diet.  But apart from altering chemically addictive behaviors, most of the other recommended changes are not particularly difficult. Most do not require a large time commitment, are affordable, and some are even pleasant (wine anyone?).  So why doesn’t everyone adopt these behaviors immediately? Furthermore, why do we readily forward information like this to friends and family, but fail to take heed ourselves?
When considering these questions, many obvious explanations come to mind. Most of us are creatures of habit and have some difficulty adjusting to new routines. Issues of motivation are also likely to play a role. Another possibility is that we have habituated to the daily bombardment of health advice from the media by simply ignoring it. But, as we age there could be something else going on that influences our decision making. According to socioemotional selectivity theory (SST), the relative importance of different types of goals changes as a function of perceived time left in life. For younger people, the future is perceived as open-ended; thus younger individuals tend to prioritize goals that optimize the future. In terms of health choices, this may involve being more informed about health issues as well as greater adherence to exercise and dietary regimens. In contrast, as we age and time horizons are constrained, our motivation shifts. At this point, present-oriented and emotionally comforting goals become more relevant. In the health domain, this translates into goals aimed at alleviating aversive symptoms, avoiding information with potentially negative implications, and instead seeking information that enhances our emotional well-being.
While these possible attitude shifts certainly are not universal, there is research showing that many older individuals do tend to make health-related choices in line with the predictions of SST. Basically, if you only have a short time left to live, why worry about lifestyle changes? Most of us have at some point heard a similar sentiment uttered by an older relative. But, even though our attitudes might shift, we are still capable of overriding a tendency to turn a blind eye to important health-related information. Research indicates that across all ages, there are factors that predict compliance to health recommendations. Among these, confidence in the source of the information, whether that is a doctor or the media, seems to play an important role. Positive attitudes and openness towards new experiences (think trying yoga for the first time) are also key.  Additionally, making a ‘public’ commitment to change can be helpful. Even if that means telling one other person, such as a close friend or spouse, that you are making an important change can help make you feel more accountable for following through. Finding friends who are committed to changing with you can also make a difference. Taking small steps might help ease the transition as well. Even if it’s too late to start a second career as a professional snowboarder, it’s never too late to start whipping up a fruit smoothie in the morning (plus they taste great!).