What do you think helps people to age well?

Yes it's very good exercise. But it has to be proper gardening, not just a bit of deadheading of pots you bought ready planted at the garden centre.

I think its also contact with nature, growing things.

This is my mother too. She's just turned 90. My Dad died just before Christmas 2021 and I was worried that she would just grind to a halt. She does her own cleaning (I've offered help but she refused) and gardens each day, although she does have someone who comes to cut the grass. She can still do the Telegraph cryptic crossword in less than 30 minutes, and does more exercise via her gardening most days than I do. Her mantra is "use it or lose it".

Most of it is down to genetics, but apart from that, keeping the mind sharp by doing things like crosswords, learning a foreign language, and some form of exercise. Every little bit helps. Although having said that, at age 73 I often struggle to find the right word for something.

I think it's mainly good genes and good luck as well as keeping active and busy, not abusing your body with too much with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, upf etc but mainly good genes imo. My grandma lived until 99 with no exercise and a pretty curmudgeonly attitude to life. She never smoked but ate and drank what she liked and she liked a tipple.

Even the Dr who did her PM surmised she had some great genes (after they killed her on the Liverpool pathway which took ages).

Weights, weight bearing exercises, show over and over again building muscle and retaining muscles wards of frailty

Decline is inevitable, lifestyle and luck will influence the rate of decline.

I think being happy is actually one of the most important things. Also having social connections.

MIL is 98 (and a half) and still lives independently in a house. She has always been a walker and a gardener - including growing her own fruit and veg (although that's reduced a lot now). She is also computer literate which helps massively with her ability to live independently. She maintains an enthusiastic interest in current affairs and listens to podcasts. Alcohol (moderate but regular intake) has always been part of her life.

Taller people have less heart disease.

Yes, it’s got something to do with the fact that shorter people have fewer cells and lower risk of cancer.

I think it’s a correlation. It’s got something to do with the fact that the taller you are, the more cells you have, and the more they have to replicate, so it’s harder to repair tissue, and you’re more exposed to free radicals etc. Shorter people with fewer cells are more resistant to cancer.

Of course there are lots of other factors. People in the Netherlands are probably thinner than us and live healthier lifestyles!

My Nanna walked 2 miles a day up until she was mid 80s, she danced and she kept her mind active with puzzles and read a lot. Unfortunately dementia took hold when she was in her 90s but she had a good active retirement and enjoyed every minute. Staying active and socialising whilst also challenging the brain seemed to work for her.

Friends dad is 91. A glass of buckfast everyday and a fried breakfast is keeping him going. I assume it's good genes.

Drinking lots of water. Minimal or no alcohol. Cutting out sugar and processed foods. No fizzy drinks. Healthy meals in moderation. Walking daily. A positive attitude. Learning something new all the time. Gardening and fresh air. Organic food where possible and lots of fresh fruit and veg. Not eating meat. I have noticed vegetarians seem to age a lot better if their diet is good. Dancing or yoga.

Yes he was a conniving fucker all his life that’s what kept him going

Often read on here about frail/ elderly parents and now in my early seventies find it somewhat depressing to think about what the future might hold. I still teach on supply a couple of times a week and invigilate at the local sixth form. These go some way to keeping me active as well as on line fitness classes and strength training. I’m actually fitter now than ever before. Long may it last but I think working helps keep me young.Diet wise I have never been one for processed foods I prefer to cook from scratch and love fruit and veg. Pert of my five a day does however come in a glass and is derived from grapes. 😁

Jeffery Archer stayed active right up to the end. No slow decline.

When it comes to living independently for longer, as well as keeping physically fit I think maintaining social links is really key. Particularly keeping in the habit of meeting new people and trying new things. My observation is that those who have rarely socialised outside family and friends made in their youth find it very difficult in later life when their partner/old friends/siblings etc pass away or become frail themselves, and are more likely to become isolated and reliant on a few remaining family members. Whereas those who are in the habit of trying new social clubs/hobbies etc and meeting new people are more likely to keep a wider social group and adjust how they socialise as their abilities/needs change.

As an example, since she retired in her mid 50s my DM has only socialised with family and old friends and has stuck to the same hobbies. She had opportunities to try new things but was always 'too busy' running around after family members etc. Most of her old social contacts are now dead or infirm, and she isn't physically able to do her old hobbies. It's such a long time since she joined any social group or met anyone new that she finds it too daunting and refuses, so she's dependent on a few younger family members who are also juggling work/children etc. This means she spends a lot of time at home alone, which is really not good for her mental health. By contrast, MIL (who is a similar age to DM) has always prioritised socialising and since FIL passed has decided to always say yes to any social offers unless there's an incredibly good reason. So she meets new people all the time, goes to lots of clubs etc and has picked up new hobbies that fit what she can do at her current age (rather than giving up because she can't do what she did when she was 30). Both were of a similar fitness level etc in their 60s (in fact I'd say my DM was probably a bit more physically active and had a better diet) but now MIL looks and acts 20 years younger than DM.

Keeping active and social worked well for my lovely dad who stayed generally well and "compos mentis" until 3 weeks before he died. Turns out he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. However he was age 96 1/2 so had had a good innings (his phrase). He was still driving short journeys and doing his own gardening and cutting the grass, pacing himself so he did a bit every day.

My dad lived until 90 - he ate well, was an avid reader and loved gardening in his large cottage garden. He and my mum had lunchtime drinks with two friends every day!

We have adopted their approach in retirement (apart from the lunchtime drinks!) - very active, my husband is a walker and me an obsessive gardener. We see our grandchildren regularly and are active with them on days out, both avid readers and the big one, trying to maintain peace of mind as much as possible. Everything in moderation - we eat well, husband cooks from scatch most days, our weight is average, plenty of hobbies and social contact. Our for coffee/maybe a couple of times a week. Keeps life interesting.

Companionship, activity and good wholesome food.

Agree with this. Both my DPs had reasonably healthy diets, did Sudoku, walked etc. etc. and both are in a care home with dementia. Unfortunately they maintained their bodies a little too well so are now trapped in them with failed minds.

The one thing that I think they could have done differently was they idolised thinness. Not anorexic or anything but of the generation where being fat was deemed to be a moral failing and DM secretly proud of her tiny waist. They both now have severe osteoporosis which is horrible to live with, so more protein and some weights for me.