Randall Stickrod and Walter Bortz believe that everyone has the potential to live to 100, despite common “consequences of aging” that we as a society have grown to accept.
“We talk a lot about average life spans,” Stickrod said, “and the truth is a majority of people—that don’t have a genetic time bomb going off—have the potential to not only live until 100, but live well.”
Stickrod and Bortz’s new book, The Roadmap to 100: The Breakthrough Science of Living a Long and Healthy Life, places an emphasis on the key ingredients to longevity and happiness—health. Stickrod makes it clear that the book is based on recent research from real scientific breakthroughs.
In it, you won’t find information about the latest health gimmick, miracle drug or antioxidants in fruit that supposedly correlate to a long life. Stickrod explains how bogus those strategies are, and backs them up with real scientific breakthroughs.
“If any of those [gimmicks] were really true we would have this big revolution, and that’s not really what’s happening. It’s how people are living,” Stickrod said. “That’s what’s different about this book, our focus is on science, good science—the best stuff we know today.”
Although the book largely pertains to the baby boomer generation and the current issues of dementia and other “aging side effects” we see today, we can pull out useful information about things we can do at a younger age to ensure longevity.
Stickrod and Bortz talk about some ways of maintaining health that we’re all familiar with, as well as some we don’t think about—for the most part—as a society. Stickrod talks about being physically strong, posing an important question: Are you strong enough to be 100?
“We know about aging people falling down and breaking their hips,” Stickrod said. “Physical strength is important in maintaining lean muscle mass and keeping your metabolism functioning.”
Or what about leading a sexually active lifestyle, even up until your senior years? Before you start having traumatic mental images running through your head, Stickrod explains that science shows that being sexually active really does lead to a longer life.
“Sexuality is another key point that we don’t really talk about because it’s taboo,” Stickrod said. “Maintaining sexual health over the age of 60 is another key factor to overall health and longevity.”
Adding to that, even being a “necessary” member of society, or staying socially active can really help people live longer. The party doesn’t have to stop once you’re over the hill, guys.
“The thing about old age is—it’s not about mortality,” Stickrod said. “It’s about being progressively dependent on other people to do things for you like feed you and take you to the bathroom.”