HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

The National Institute of Statistics (INE) has identified three Madrid municipalities boasting the highest life expectancy in Spain for 2023. The Community of Madrid emerges as the region with the longest-lived population in the country.

According to Spain’s Ministry of Health's annual report, which analyses data from 2020 and tracks trends since 2006, the average life expectancy stands at 85 years for women and 79.5 years for men. While the general expectancy is impressive, one Catalan resident María Branyas, is 116 years old, making her the oldest person in the world. So what is the secret to preserving eternal youth?

The recipe for ageing well remains a mystery, yet certain daily habits are known to accelerate premature ageing. Factors such as chronic sleep deprivation, smoking, lack of physical exercise, and prolonged stress contribute to the process.

Interestingly, specific municipalities within the Community of Madrid surpass the national age average.

According to INE data, leading the list in life expectancy for Spain in 2023 among municipalities with over 20,000 inhabitants, Majadahonda takes the top spot as the place in Spain where residents enjoy the longest life, with an expectancy of 85.4 years. Second comes Las Rozas (85.3 years), Pozuelo de Alarcón (85.3 years), and Rivas-Vaciamadrid (85 years).

It's worth noting that these municipalities also boast the highest incomes in Madrid, averaging 35,671 euros, coupled with the lowest unemployment rates in the country. On the flip side, Ceuta, La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz), and Melilla lag behind with life expectancies of 79.2, 79.3, and 79.9 years, respectively.

In September of this year, during the annual conference of the American Society of Nutrition in Boston, a study based on medical records and questionnaires from 719,147 patients revealed eight habits linked to extended life expectancy. Men adopting all eight by age 40 could live an average of 24 years longer, and women, 23 years longer.

Despite genetic factors playing a role in surpassing the age of 100, individuals can adopt various habits to promote longevity and health.

The eight healthy habits that the researchers identified as related to a longer life expectancy were:

• Stay physically active
• Don’t Smoke
• Do not drink excessive alcohol on a regular basis
• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Maintain good sleep hygiene
• Learn stress management techniques
• Maintain positive social relationships
• Abstain from opioid use

Notably, there are also three habits that are strongly linked to a lower life expectancy, they are:

• Little physical activity
• Smoking
• Opioid use

Undoubtedly, crossing the 100-year mark requires a genetic component. S. Jay Olshansky, a professor of public health at the University of Illinois (USA), emphasises this, stating, "There is an upper limit to human longevity; you cannot live a long life without having won the genetic lottery."

However, according to various ageing experts there are numerous factors found in the lives of robust centenarians that individuals can embrace to extend their life and well-being, contributing to the number of healthy years lived.

Here are a few:

• Engage in a community
• Cultivate a sense of purpose
• Embrace spirituality (not necessarily religious)
• Effectively manage stress

So, while genetic factors play a role in longevity, the pursuit of healthy habits, a supportive community, and a purposeful life remain the key to unlocking the secrets of a longer and more fulfilling existence.

Sources

https://www.20minutos.es/salud/municipios-espana-mayor-esperanza-de-vida-5188079/
https://www.comunidad.madrid/en/noticias/2023/03/26/comunidad-madrid-cabeza-esperanza-vida-alta-union-europea-854-anos