The 90+ Study was initiated at UC Irvine in 2003 to study the oldest of the old, the fastest growing age group in the United States. More than 1,600 people have enrolled, making this one of the largest studies of the oldest-old in the world.
Participants in The 90+ Study were once members of The Leisure World Cohort Study (LWCS) that began in 1981. Researchers had hoped to find out what allowed people to live to age 90 and beyond. Neuropsychological testers and neurological examiners now study participants in Laguna Woods at the Clinic for Aging Research and Education (CARE), looking at diet, activities, medical history, and numerous other factors. A series of cognitive and physical tests are given to determine how well people in this age group function.
On May 4, 2014, The 90+ Study was featured on CBS’s “60 Minutes” hosted by Leslie Stahl. You can watch the full episode and learn more about The 90+ Study at UC Irvine with the links at http://bit.ly/17WzdfY.
What does this study have to do with wine? Among the major findings was the discovery that the participants who drank moderate amounts of alcohol lived longer than those who abstained. Both men and women who drank two or more drinks per day had a 15 percent reduction in risk of death.
The benefits of other lifestyle practices were also confirmed, including not smoking, participating in activities, and having a normal body-mass index. Along with moderate alcohol drinking, each of these practices was associated with reduced cardiovascular death in elderly men and women, even those aged 80 years and older.
There are a number of other scientific studies that support these findings, but wine drinking may not be advisable for everyone, and each individual should consult with their doctor about the effects of wine consumption on their health.
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