People have sought the secret of eternal life for as long as we have recorded history. Ancient Greeks believed that the demigods like Hercules and Achilles were immortal. The Chinese Emperor Qin sent alchemist Xu Fu to seek the secret of immortality. European alchemists believed that the Philosopher's Stone could create an elixir of life as well as changing lead into gold. Nowadays, we know there is no such thing as true immortality. Instead the science of longevity medicine seeks to help people live longer (and healthier) lives. But increasingly, exposure to environmental toxins including PFAS could stand in the way of true longevity.
Age related illness
The science of aging has progressed leaps and bounds in recent years. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most industrialized countries had seen life expectancy steadily climb for decades. But there are still four major diseases that affect the majority of the population as we age. Even when they don’t cut life short, they prevent us from living healthy lives as we grow old.
Cancer
There was a time when cancer was viewed as simply incurable. Fortunately, medical research has changed that and nowadays many cancers can be cured or at least pushed into remission. However, the treatments often make people extremely sick and can leave you susceptible to a host of other diseases.
Cardiovascular disease
As you reach your 50s, cardiovascular disease becomes the most likely cause of death. This includes cardiac arrests, strokes, and aneurysms can all lead to premature death. But there are also a host of less serious diseases like heart failure and angina that harm your quality of life.
Neurodegenerative diseases
One of the most painful things is watching a loved one degenerate mentally because of age-related dementia. Meanwhile, other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s can leave you unable to live a normal active life. No one wants to survive into their 90s if they have to deal with one of these diseases.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes used to be a relatively rare disease. But nowadays over 11% of the US population (some 38M people) are believed to have diabetes. And given the epidemic of obesity, there’s likely many millions more people with pre-diabetes. Diabetes causes all sorts of serious complications as you age. These include blindness, amputations, and nerve damage. It can also exacerbate or trigger chronic kidney and cardiovascular disease.
The 4 secrets of “super agers”
It’s well known that there are certain locations globally that have an unusually high level of centenarians. These have earned the nickname of blue zones. Scientists have long sought to understand what is different about these areas. Suggestions have included diet, lifestyle and (of course) genetics. But many of the suggested “hacks” to improve your longevity are hard to translate to other locations. So let's look at what leads to people living longer outside of those blue zones. According to some experts, so-called super agers can owe their long (and healthy) lives to 4 habits.
Keep active
Physical fitness is a key part of staying healthy. It reduces the risks of cardiovascular disease and other age-related diseases. It can also help boost your mood.
Challenge your brain
Just like your body, you need to keep exercising your brain. That could mean learning a new skill, doing crossword puzzles, or just reading new books.
Stay social
Many people become socially isolated as they grow older. But sociability is a common denominator for all super agers.
All things in moderation
Many people think abstinence is key for good health. But studies show that people who enjoy occasional drinks and sweet treats actually age better than those who abstain completely.
The role of environmental toxins
Exposure to environmental toxins can make it much harder to live a long, healthy life. Let’s look at some of the more common toxins and their effects.
PFAS
PFAS (per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances) are also referred to as “forever chemicals” because they linger for so long in the environment. They are now endemic across almost every environment on earth, including the polar regions. These substances are often water soluble and can even be found in rain or snow. They are linked to a whole host of medical conditions, many of which affect you disproportionately as you age. These include: cancers, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and potentially neurodegenerative disorders.
Microplastics
Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic that are created as plastic is broken down in our homes or the environment. Common sources include plastic fibers released when we wash our clothes, plastic fragments leaching from landfill, and the slow breakdown of plastic waste that is discarded into the environment. These fragments get progressively smaller and smaller and end up entering the foodchain. Research suggests that the long term effects of microplastics include inflammation, oxidative stress, and even damage to cells and DNA (leading to cancers).
BPAs
Bisphenol A is an additive used to change the properties of some plastics. Evidence suggests it can leach into your food if you use containers that contain BPA. It is also released into the environment when those plastics are disposed of incorrectly. BPAs have been linked to infertility, diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers. Although some manufacturers have stopped using BPA, they’ve simply replaced them with other bisphenols (BPF and BPS) that could also be potentially toxic.
Can reducing exposure help you live longer?
Research into the effects of environmental toxins is ongoing. Most of these toxins affect your body in complex ways and it can take years to see the effects. Traditional clinical trials aren’t really possible because of this. Therefore, scientists have to rely on large-scale epidemiological studies. Although PFAS compounds have been widely used for decades, research is only beginning to understand their impact on health and longevity. What is clear is that reducing exposure to these toxins can only be a good thing. That means:
- Only using PFAS- or BPA-free containers for your food, especially if you are heating the food in the container
- Fitting high quality water filters to remove PFAS and other contaminants from your drinking water
- Sourcing your food carefully to try and avoid contamination. For instance, farmed seafood may contain more PFAS and microplastics.
- Get tested for these compounds regularly.
Ultimately, it may now be impossible to avoid these environmental toxins completely. All we can do is try our best to limit our exposure and to focus on all the other ways we can live healthier, longer lives.
