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Why Do Some People Live So Long?

From diet to personality, researchers say many longevity factors are at play.

Credit: (Dariush M/Shutterstock)

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This article was originally published on Dec. 27, 2021.

Run an Internet search on “longest living humans” and you’ll be met with an impressive list of people who reached 117, 118 and even 122 years of age. However, with the global life expectancy at birth hovering around 72, many of us would likely be happy to make it to 90 in good health.

Often, genetics and other factors beyond our control affect the amount of time we have on this Earth, but healthy habits such as a good diet, regular exercise and seeing your doctor regularly can go a long way too, experts say. While all factors affecting longevity would be too numerous to list in one article (and include everything from one’s education level to the quality of sleep you’re getting), we focused on a few key longevity factors.

Research in humans and animals indicates that being born into ...

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