One thing that modern science is showing us is that we can have a dramatic impact upon our health and longevity! What we do may be as important a factor in how well we age as our number of years on the planet. This is new and exciting information!

Longevity is, at most, 25% predetermined by our genes; in other words, at least 75% is down to lifestyle factors that we have the power to influence. Put simply: We can lengthen or shorten our lives by the choices we make in how we live.

Some research is also tentatively suggesting that we may even be able to stave off dementia, or at least minimise the effects of the dementia process by adopting healthier behaviours.

According to medical and social research if we adopt a healthy lifestyle, even in middle age, we can add up to 14 years to our lifespan. And apparently it is never too late to start this process.

We are also being told:

• To actively prepare for the 50 – 80 year period of life
• That we are not the same as our parents because population abilities have changed, and consequently we should not make assumptions about this age range. It is different than it used to be in the past
• It is an outdated notion that you are old when you are in middle age

One of the most exciting findings is that a major protection against the ageing process is if we have a positive view of ageing, and experience ongoing states of well being.

Why is this important?

There is a need for people to do the best to preserve their health – if not for their own quality of life, at least to ease the financial burden on the health and social care systems. This issue has been recognised by governments of all the developed countries – hence the proliferation of research and information over the last few years.

There are increasing numbers of people who are living longer; life expectancy is improving dramatically:

• Between 2010 and 2050 the number of people in the world over 80 years old is expected to quadruple, and will constitute 4% of the total worlds’ population
• Between 2010 and 2030 the percentage of people over 60 in the UK will increase from 20% to 33%
• Between 2010 and 2030 the number of people over 85 years in the UK will double and will account for 5% of the total population
• The Department for Work and Pensions in the UK report that nearly 20% of people alive in January 2011 will survive until they are 100 years old
• By 2045 there will be more than 200 000 centenarians in the UK, compared to the 12 640 living in 2012
• The figures are similar for USA, China and Japan, and probably for all developed countries

Isn’t this good news?

Yes it is great if you have a happy and worthwhile life…and you are healthy, but……

• 20% of people over the age of 80 have some form of dementia
• 40% of Americans over the age of 80 have some considerable loss of physical abilities
• Increasing numbers of older people will have a massive impact upon the economy both in terms of sickness care and pension payments

Remember that it is not inevitable for you to become increasingly sick and unhealthy as you age. For instance, keep in mind that most dementia is not genetic in origin – in other words we have some control over whether we get it or not through the choices we make in how we live.

It is therefore essential that we take responsibility and learn how to:

1. Look after our health to minimise our risks of sickness and disease
2. Maintain sharp brain function
3. Lead a worthwhile, productive and happy life

Is it all about living longer?

The emphatic answer to this question is ‘No’. If you live a long, healthy and useful life then living longer is good, but just aiming to live longer – a kind of ‘fountain of youth’ mentality is not what this programme is all about.

What then is the aim? Perhaps some of the following could be considered important (you may be able to add things to this list, and in fact one of the principles in the programme will guide you in doing this):

Living better or more fully
Becoming better equipped to deal with whatever life may bring
Feeling good, being healthy, developing enjoyment and happiness
Doing good for others and society – being a useful person
Being able to love more
Achieving much (or all) of what you want before you die
Gaining insight into yourself and the truths of life
Becoming at peace with the world Improving, optimising, reforming or sculpting what you have
Developing wisdom
Slowing age related cognitive decline

Whatever aims you decide to focus on, the key idea to keep in mind and which guides this whole approach is that …

You have some control over your own future

and remember that this is true at whatever age or in whichever state you realise and accept this.

This programme is essentially a guide for how to age well; although it could be perceived as a life philosophy it is more than this since it is based on published evidence of what appears to work. There is a great deal more to find out but what follows is a good place to start.

The programme is aimed at people who want to try to ensure a healthy ageing process. There are no guarantees because the research is still in its infancy; it is about maximising your chances of maintaining healthy brain function, living happily, with purpose, and maybe even living longer.

Octavius Black and Sebastian Bailey state in their 2005 best selling book, Mind Gym that the 1980’s was about caring for our bodies, the 1990’s was about growth in spiritual matters and the 2000’s is about improving our minds. I would add that the next obvious step is to integrate all 3 approaches together. This is not a new idea – it is only in our Western reductionist culture that we have separated mind, body and spirit – it is an idea germane to oriental life approaches, and many other more traditional cultural life views.

Welcome to the start of a great adventure!