Research
Mixed
Avoidance of midlife risk factors (overweight, hyperglycemia, hypertension, smoking, excessive alcohol, low grip strength, high triglycerides, low education, unmarried status) is associated with a significantly higher probability of exceptional survival (survival to age 85+ free of major chronic diseases and impairments) in men.
Focus on managing midlife health markers. Maintain a healthy weight, control blood pressure and blood sugar, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, stay physically active (grip strength is a proxy for physical robustness), and consider social connections. These factors collectively determine your odds of living a long, healthy life.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
High grip strength and avoidance of overweight, hyperglycemia, hypertension, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption were associated with both overall and exceptional survival.
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort (n=5820), long follow-up (40 years), but observational design limits causal inference.
Source
Midlife Risk Factors and Healthy Survival in Men
Bradley J. Willcox et al. · JAMA · 2006
DOI 10.1001/jama.296.19.2343
cohort · n=5820Cited 240×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
Related findings · Mixed
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