Test your anti-ageing knowledge

1

How many minutes of meditation do you need to counteract mental decline? A 10

B 30

C 60

A Useful for far more than just keeping your stress levels on an even keel, a short session five days per week is enough to counteract age-related cognitive decline, according to a mindfulness study. Focus in on your breathing for 10 minutes, if mantras aren’t your thing.

2

The exercise that adds the most years to your life is…? A RUNNING B WALKING C SWIMMING

C Not only has taking to the water been proven to reduce joint pain and stiffness while improving muscle strength, but the University of South Carolina also found that regular swimming adds lengths to your lifespan, with those who take the plunge having a 50% lower mortality rate compared with runners and walkers.

3

How much influence do genetics have on your longevity?

A 25%

B 50%

C 75% D100%

A While it’s great to be mindful of your family history, your fate is far from sealed, according to a Nature Reviews Neuroscience analysis. Diet and lifestyle changes can all help you outsmart your genes.

4

You should do which of these to reduce age-related inflammation? A TAKE A WALK IN THE PARK B LISTEN TO MUSIC C VISIT AN ART GALLERY

A, B& C Becoming more cultured can boost your body’s defence system. A University of California, Berkeley study found that positive emotions such as awe, elicited when taking in nature, music or art, can lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in your cells – associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s.