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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 Eighty-two percent of the survey respondents said their dietary habits had improved or stayed the same, compared with 50 years ago.
While 40 percent of the respondents said they turn to newspapers for news and current events, 68 percent rely on television.
So, what do experts call the keys to successful aging?
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While good genes can help you live a longer, healthier life, balancing your genes with a healthy lifestyle is also important, doctors say.
"Maintaining good health behaviors throughout one's life may lead to longer survival and better health," said Dr. Dellara Terry, co-director of the New England Centenarian Study and assistant professor at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Terry lists avoiding smoking, exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet (with reasonable portions) among health behaviors to aim for. She also advocates exercising your mind.
"In the context of 'use it or lose it,' " Terry said, "there is an increasing body of evidence that suggests exercising one's brain may in fact benefit one's health."
Terry and her colleagues are currently following more than 1,000 centenarians to see how genetic and environmental factors contribute to their health and longevity.
While you cannot have complete control over how long you will live, having good health habits, following your health care providers' advice and staying socially and mentally engaged will go a long way in improving the quality and -- perhaps -- the quantity of your life, the experts said.
More information
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about healthy aging.
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