The Four Keys To Longevity - BMO

/ReportU.S. EDITIONThe Four Keysto LongevityThe BMO Wealth Institute provides insightsand strategies around wealth planning andfinancial decisions to better prepare you fora confident financial future.July 2014

/ReportJuly 2014U.S. EDITIONFamous comedian George Burns was once quoted as saying, “If you live to be one hundred, you’ve got itmade. Very few people die past that age”. By 2050, it is estimated that there will be more than one millioncentenarians living in the U.S.1 For most people, planning for retirement or their later years is focusedmostly on finances and how they will spend their time. However, ensuring they spend those years in goodhealth is something that many overlook. The times are certainly changing, with medical advances andtechnological breakthroughs, planning for retirement and living longer needs to be more holistic.In 1970, average life expectancyat birth in the United Stateswas 71 years. In 2014, it is79 years; and by 2050, the U.S.Census Bureau projects thataverage life expectancy will be84 years.2 Today, according tothe National Institute on Aging,there are over 40 million peoplein the United States aged 65 orolder, accounting for about13 percent of the totalpopulation. In 1900, there werejust 3.1 million older Americans,or about 4.1% of the population.3The vast majority of babyboomers—those born between1946 and 1964—are on aquest to improve their oddsof living longer than previousgenerations. They not only wantto live longer, they want to livehealthily, happily and morefinancially secure than everbefore. Although there is nomagic potion to ensure a longand healthy life, there are somenotable accounts of individuals,families, and even wholecommunities that have defiedthe aging odds.The holy grailof longevityIn one such amazing story,Stamatis Moraitis, a Greekveteran of World War II,narrates how he was diagnosedwith lung cancer in the 1960s2 – The Four Keys to Longevitywhile living in the UnitedStates.4 He decided to forgochemotherapy, and insteadreturned to his birthplace,Ikaria, the island where“people forget to die”. Moraitisabandoned his western dietand lifestyle and embracedthe traditional island culture.His American doctors hadtold Moraitis he had only ninemonths to live, yet after movingto Ikaria he was still living—cancer free—45 years after hisoriginal diagnosis. Accordingto the story, he never hadchemotherapy, took drugs orsought therapy of any sort. Allhe did was move home to Ikariaand embrace the local lifestyle.He claimed he even outlivedhis U.S. physicians who,decades earlier, had predictedhis imminent death as theonly plausible outcome of hisdevastating diagnosis.Moraitis is not alone when itcomes to longevity on the islandof Ikaria. In fact, Universityof Athens researchers haveconcluded that people on Ikariaare reaching the age of 90 attwo-and-a-half times the rate oftheir American counterparts.5Stark differences in theirlifestyle are apparent, evento a casual observer. Stressfactors such as daily schedulesdon’t exist on Ikaria. Althoughthe average Ikarian regularlyIf you pay carefulattention to the wayIkarians have lived theirlives, it appears that adozen subtly powerful,mutually enhancingand pervasive factorsare at work.Dan Buettnerauthor of Blue Zones

/ReportJuly 2014U.S. EDITIONperforms vigorous activities,it’s never considered exercise.The island has a symbioticattitude characterized by equalacceptance and accountabilityfor everyone. Keeping up withthe neighbors on the islandof Ikaria translates into goodhealth, happiness and wellbeing for all.Many traditional cultures with astrong ethnic heritage like Ikariaembrace the simplicities of life.The Ikarian diet is also a factor.It features fresh vegetables,fruits, herbs, spices andlocal honey, which are allproducts of weekly harveststhat every citizen contributesto and benefits from, therebymaintaining a social structurethat literally nurtures the entirecommunity. The legacy of anIkarian lifestylemay be the closest we have cometo discovering the holy grailof longevity.Obviously, the fast-pacedculture and appointment-drivenlifestyles of most Americansisn’t conducive to tending toabundant gardens or taking dailynaps, both of which providehealth benefits and are commonpractices in Ikaria. However,by recognizing what works inother cultures, it may be possibleto find an acceptable middleground to tip the scales in favorof a long and healthy life—nomatter where you live.Unlocking the door tolongevityTo try to further understand thekeys to longevity, a survey wasconducted by Pollara on behalfof the BMO Wealth Institute torecord and analyze the viewsof 1,000 Americans on variousaspects of aging.6The wide-ranging surveyquestions were focused aroundfour aspects of life that manyexperts in the field of agingconsider to be the keys tounlocking the mysteriousdoor to longevity.Mind Memory Emotions InformationProcessingBody Mobility Sensory AgingFinancial Financial Planning Retirement IncomePlanning Risk ManagementKeys to LongevitySource: Alexis Abramson, Ph.D.3 – The Four Keys to LongevitySocial Role Shifts Lifestyle Changes CommunityAging is an inescapableprocess – aging well isa conscious choice.Alexis Abramson Ph.D.Gerontologist

/ReportJuly 2014U.S. EDITIONThe four keys: body,mind, social andfinancialNormal aging involvesan ongoing physiologicaltransformation. As your bodyand mind evolve and adapt,it’s helpful to re-evaluate bothyour physical and your mentalstatus, and to determine whatchanges in your diet, exerciseregime and general lifestyle arerequired to promote ‘healthy’longevity. In addition, byputting the necessary toolsin place as soon as you can toensure that you have a strongretirement and financial planand a solid social structure, youare more likely to seamlesslyadjust to your senior years.Although it’s never too lateto make positive changes,keeping clear goals in sight iseasier when good habits areformed and incorporated over alifetime, rather than adopted asan afterthought. It’s critical thatyou devise a strategy that willhelp you remain vigilant aboutall aspects of your health, wellbeing, personal life and financialassets. By consciously nurturingthese four components, you canunlock your potential to achievea long and rewarding life.Key 1: The bodyThe master key that unlocksevery other doorGood health is one of the basicelements required to achievelong life; without it, everythingelse is diminished. Now is thetime to initiate the changesnecessary to maximize yourcurrent and future health status.Research conducted by Dr.Dean Ornish and his team atthe University of California,San Francisco concluded thatfollowing a program of “healthyeating, exercise and stressreduction can not only reversesome diseases—it may actuallyslow down the aging process atthe genetic level.”7In fact, longevity odds aregreatly influenced by yourpersonal lifestyle choices. Otheraspects of good health shouldinclude: A dequate sleep (7 to 8hours per night, and napsas needed). R egular stretching and deepbreathing to keep your jointsflexible and your bodyoxygenated. P hysical activity that includesboth high- and low-impactexercise at least 3 timesa week. D rink at least 8 glassesof water daily.4 – The Four Keys to LongevitySOluTIONSMost Americans (89%)have taken some stepsto help them live alonger life.BMO Wealth Institute survey

/ReportJuly 2014U.S. EDITIONAbove AverageBelow Average13%Average27%60%Above AverageBelow AverageAverageCurrent Level of HealthSource: BMO Wealth Institute survey by Pollara, March 2014 G enerous amounts of dark leafyvegetables, fresh fruits andwhole grains in yourdaily diet. E liminating or reducingthe amount of unhealthyfats, processed sugars andpreservatives in your diet. C onsuming a moderateamount of alcohol(e.g., just a glass of redwine with dinner).The BMO Wealth Institutesurvey noted that there is alwaysroom for improvement as westrive to increase our lifespan.The most common initiativesare eating healthily (53%),exercising (49%) and visitingtheir doctor regularly (47%).Young people reported that theywere less likely to visit theirdoctor regularly (33%).When asked how they wouldrate their level of health basedon their age, the majority ofsurvey respondents considered5 – The Four Keys to Longevitythemselves to be of averagehealth for their age (60%), withapproximately one-quartersaying their current level ofhealth was above average(27%). Approximately one inten (13%) considered theirhealth was below the averagefor their age. Men, and those inthe 18–29 age category, weremost likely to consider theircurrent level of health to beabove average.Key 2: The mindThe fundamental keyLiving your best life dependson a healthy brain. A recentarticle explores the best waysto improve your brain powerfor life.8 This article revealsthat functioning to our fullestcapacity is directly linked to thehealth of our brains. The articlesuggests that you incorporatethese four fundamental lifestylechanges to boost your brainpower.Living your bestlife depends on ahealthy brain.

/ReportJuly 2014U.S. EDITION C ognitive training: Memory,reasoning, and speed-ofprocessing exercises createa winning combination forcognition.Below is a complete list ofthe feedback received whenrespondents were asked fortheir biggest concern aboutliving to 100. A erobic exercise: Peoplewho exercise moderately tovigorously just once a weekare 30 percent more likelyto maintain their cognitivefunction than those who donot exercise at all.It’s a common myth that anolder brain is not as sharp asa young one. The good newsis that research tells us thatcomparisons between thehuman brain and computerssuggest otherwise. We musttake into consideration thatan older mind has storedand processed much moreinformation over the course ofa lifetime than someone in, forinstance, their 20s. Althoughthe information is stillaccessible, at some pointit begins to take longer toprocess, much like a well-usedcomputer’s hard drive. D on’t smoke: Non-smokersare nearly twice as likely tostay sharp in old age as thosewho smoke. M aintain social networks:People who work, volunteerand maintain close-knithuman bonds are 24 percentmore likely to preservecognitive function in late life.The brain, just like the musclesof the body, requires regularexercise to keep the mindsharp. Mature adults are risingto the challenge by adaptingto the technology wave andThe survey results revealedthat loss of mental abilitywas the biggest concern thatrespondents had about livingto 100 and beyond.Relying on others totake care of my health53Losing people I love52Medical costsRelying on others totake care of me financiallyNot being ableto enjoy activitiesNot being able to affordthe lifestyle I am used 1BoredomLiving with regrets2860Losing mental abilities38111960% of Americans werevery worried about losingtheir mental abilitieslater in life, and anadditional 28% weresomewhat worried.BMO Wealth Institute surveyThe progressive increaseof data may cause theolder brain to process allthe information a bit moreslowly, but we ultimatelycontinue to become moreintelligent with age.PercentVery worriedSomewhat worriedNot very worriedNot at all worriedBiggest Concerns About Living to 100Source: BMO Wealth Institute survey by Pollara, March 2014Not at all worriedNot Very worried6 – The Four Keys to LongevitySomewhat worriedVery worriedChristopher BerglandPsychology Today