Results of an ongoing UCI study suggest that moderate alcohol or caffeine consumption is helping people live well into their 90s. Photo: Fabio Alves/Unsplash
It’s amazing, really, to think about how many of modern society’s innovations boil down to a human obsession with delaying one’s end. Modern medicine, societies built upon the assurance of collective security, etc., etc. hint at an innate human desire toward self-preservation – an instinct, really, that’s universal throughout the animal kingdom.
Back to humans, though, a study at the University of California, Irvine has for the past fifteen years sought to understand the lifestyle habits of people who age well into their 90s, and it turns out moderate consumption of alcohol and caffeine may lead to a longer life.
Dr. Claudia Kawas, a specialist in neurology from the University of California, Irvine and her team began studying nonagenarians back in 2003 for a project called The 90+ Study. In a recent talk at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual conference in Austin, Texas, Dr. Kawas explained that of the nearly 1,700 study participants those who consumed about two glasses of beer or wine per day were 18 percent less likely to die early.
“I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity,” she said.
The study’s website also explains the same can be said for those who drank modest amounts of coffee daily.
In addition to these conclusions, Dr. Kawas’ research team drew conclusions supporting tried and true advice about moderate exercise and getting a hobby supporting longevity.
“Those who spent two hours a day on a hobby were 21 percent less likely to pass away prematurely, while 15 to 45 minutes of daily physical activity also reportedly reduced their risk of an early death by 11 percent,” explains The Independent.
All that to say if you’re looking to live (and hopefully surf) well into your nineties drink responsibly.
