Social engagement key to longevity, says UC Irvine geriatric neurologist
90+ Study looks at adding healthier years to the life span
IN THE NEWS: UC Irvine geriatric neurologist Dr. Claudia Kawas recently spoke with News 12 in Augusta, Ga., about her findings from the long-running 90+ Study that analyzes lifestyle information collected from large groups of older adults over time, comparing habits to outcomes like longevity and health span. She is the lead investigator.
“The study’s strongest signals reflect well-known fundamentals — staying physically active, eating a balanced, varied diet, maintaining a positive outlook and staying engaged with other people.”
Kawas said exercise was associated with longevity, but she was struck by how strongly everyday engagement outside formal exercise routines appeared to matter.
The study of more than 2,000 seniors is the longest continuing research effort exclusively focused on the health and lifestyles of this population group. It has been featured on the news program 60 Minutes twice.
Kawas is a geriatric neurologist and a professor of neurology at UC Irvine School of Medicine and a professor of neurobiology and behavior at the UCI School of Social Sciences. An associate director of the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), her clinical interests are dementia and memory disorders, geriatric medicine and geriatric neurology. She has published more than 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts.
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