Study identifies five midlife health factors linked to longevity

A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has identified five cardiovascular risk factors in midlife that significantly correlate with reaching age 90. Researchers tracked 2,690 healthy men, born between 1919 and 1934, for an average of 40 years.

The five key health indicators assessed at a median age of 42 include: non-smoking, a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 25 kg/m², systolic blood pressure under 140 mmHg, total cholesterol levels below 6.0 mmol/L, and blood glucose levels below 9.0 mmol/L.

The findings demonstrate a clear correlation between these factors and lifespan. Individuals meeting none of the criteria had only a 6.8% chance of reaching age 90, with an estimated average lifespan of 73.8 years. In contrast, those who met all five criteria had a 41.9% chance of reaching age 90, with an estimated average lifespan of 84.7 years.