Five Top tips for Staying Young or Ageing Well?

Five Top tips for Staying Young or Ageing Well?

Dorothy one of our reporterslistened to a radio programme recently which featured Professor Andrew Steptoe, Head of Behavioural Science and Health at University College London. He leads the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) which has been carrying out research on the ageing process since 2002.

The Professor gave five top tips to help us "stay young".

Find purpose in life.

This varies over our lifetime. As we age, we may no longer be in full-time work and/or have a family to look after but we can still find ways to feel worthwhile. It could be volunteering, looking after an elderly relative, gardening or perhaps having a hobby that you enjoy. It's just something that gets you out of bed in the morning.

Research has shown that those of us who feel we are doing something worthwhile, tend to feel healthier, have good social relationships and are less likely to feel depressed.

Keep close to your family and friends.

There's evidence that people who are socially isolated or lonely are at greater risk of a range of health problems as they grow older and are much more likely to suffer from stress.

It's a good tip to remember to look after your relationships and friendships.

Consider joining a group or taking up a new activity (I'd highly recommend joining a U3A) and remember, you can go on making new friends no matter how old you are.

Sleep well now for better brain health in later life.

Physical activity together with adequate sleep go a long way to help prevent, or slow down, cognitive decline. There is plenty of advice available to improve your sleep length and quality so try to find out what works for you. Try to aim for between 6 and 8 hours of sleep a night.

Ignore social stereotypes of ageing (age disgracefully)

Society still has some negative views about age. Some people may see the older generation as being slow, annoying, having poor mental function etc. etc. These attitudes can have a negative effect on our wellbeing and the way we age.

Research shows that those of us who agree with these negative stereotypes do actually age less well. You don't need to die your hair purple but it's beneficial to "think yourself younger".

I always cheer when I see someone on TV who's doing a parachute jump for the first time! There's an element of "you're only as old as you feel" and "you're only as old as others make you feel".

Engage in cultural activities.

Professor Steptoe mentioned going to a concert or a museum on a regular basis. It's as much about being curious as anything else. There's so much going on around us. It could be a visit to a gallery or an exhibition, but it could also be arranging a visit to the beach and taking notice of what's going on. The message is - keep being curious!

This is a very simplified version of a programme that lasted 38 minutes. If you want to find out more, search for Just One Thing with Michael Mosley - Stay Young Special with Professor Andrew Steptoeon BBC Sounds.