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Longevity is a hot topic these days. We\u2019re obsessed with anti-ageing as if getting older should be avoided or even reversed at all costs! Of course, we can\u2019t do that and I\u2019m not sure we\u2019d really want to. But today\u2019s guest brings valuable insights about what we can do, to make sure we age healthily and happily.\n\nProfessor Rose Anne Kenny is a medical gerontologist, Regius Professor of Physic and Chair of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin. She\u2019s the Founding Principal Investigator of Ireland\u2019s largest population study of ageing (TILDA) and the author of the international bestseller\xa0Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life.\n\nIn today\u2019s conversation, Professor Kenny reveals that while 20 percent of ageing is genetic and can\u2019t be changed, 80 percent is epigenetic \u2013 in other words, we have the power to influence how quickly or how slowly we age.\n\nHer number one recommendation is to have good quality friendships and relationships throughout our lives. Then follow a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and reduce stress. Nothing too surprising, perhaps. But what might surprise you is just how far reaching the effects of these relatively simple measures can be \u2013 and how much what you do in your 20s can impact your 80s.\n\nWe talk about how to avoid metabolic syndrome and why it\u2019s important to know key biological markers throughout life. We discuss the benefits of community, family, volunteering and inter-generational friendships, and the undercurrent of ageism that prevails in society.\n\nLoneliness increased threefold during the pandemic, according to the TILDA study, and it\u2019s left some people feeling afraid to reconnect. Yet isolation is known to cause inflammation, suppress immunity and speed ageing.\n\nProfessor Kenny believes we should flip convenience on its head when it comes to exercise. Instead of taking the easy option which means moving less, we should look at the \u2018harder\u2019 options, such as taking the stairs or carrying heavy bags, as convenient ways to build activity and strength training into our lives. She also shares excellent advice on sex and intimacy, sleeping better, laughing more, and finding purpose all around you.\n\nThis is a wonderful and practical conversation that is going to give you a variety of simple ways to play the long game when it comes to ageing. And the empowering message is that it\u2019s never too early or too late to start.\n\nSupport the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts\xa0https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to\xa0https://fblm.supercast.com.\n\nThanks to our sponsors:\nhttps://hunterandgatherfoods.com/livemore\nhttps://drinkag1.com/livemore\nhttps://naturalmat.co.uk/livemore\n\nShow notes\xa0https://drchatterjee.com/400\n\nDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.\n\nHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.