The science of living longer

According to the Stanford Center on Longevity, close to half of 5-yearolds today will live to 100. With billions of dollars going into medical research and gene therapy in the field of aging, it is not a stretch to think that you may live into your late 80s or 90s.

From a financial planning standpoint, this will prompt all of us to save more and possibly spend a little less as we approach our retirement years.

A free planning tool you can use to assess your life expectancy is available on livingto100.com. Developed by Dr. Thomas Perls, it asks a series of questions about your family history and your lifestyle. With any luck, your health span or record of good health will match your life span.

Yale assistant professor and “True Age” author Dr. Morgan Levine has found that genetics only plays a 10 percent to 20 percent role in determining your lifespan. In her research, Levine found that some of the biggest factors in aging are determined by behaviors such as drinking, smoking, exercise, diet, sleep and stress.

That said, one of the largest factors when determining longevity is social economic status. Life expectancy is reduced by nearly 10 years for those who are lower on the socioeconomic ladder. Similar to that of a smoker, being poor is a major factor in determining lifespans.

Levine is a proponent of determining biological age vs. chronological age. In her book, she provides several ways to determine how well your body is aging as a system versus the actual age on your drivers license. This provides you a way to assess how you are doing each year from a biomarker standpoint. For example, if you set a goal this year to eat less red meat and to work out an extra day each week, in theory your biological age could improve vs. your actual age. In a way, you are slowing down your aging process.

The next frontier in expanding our lifespans and improving health lies with technology. Some of the topics you can research on anti-aging fall into the categories of genome sequencing, CRISPR, gene therapy and liquid biopsies, among

others. These areas of “reprogramming” and cell editing offer hope and wonder to anyone who is interested the science of aging and living longer, healthier lives.

Like many of you reading this column, I am working on staying healthy into my 90s. That said, it’s probably not a bad idea to remember the wise advice from John Lennon to “count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.”

Financial Planner professional, founder and financial advisor at Connecticut Capital Management Group, LLC, 2 Schooner Lane, Suite 1-12, in Milford. He can be reached at 203-877-1520 or through www.connecticutcapital.com. Connecticut Capital Management Group, LLC “CCMG” is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strateg y discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. “CCMG” may discuss and display, charts, graphs, formulas and stock picks which are not intended to be used by themselves to determine which securities to buy or sell, or when to buy or sell them. Such charts and graphs offer limited information and should not be used on their own to make investment decisions. “CCMG” and Connecticut Benefits Group, LLC are not affiliated.