3 takeaways from a cardiologist and ‘SuperAgers’ researcher on how to live longer and healthier

After nearly two decades, the team was surprised. “We did not find these genetic variables that we thought we might find,” Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and founder of the Skrips Institute for Research, told, who conducted the study, luck.

This group, which includes more than 1,000 people with an average age of 87, who refers to Topol as “The Weldenly”, helped scientists reveal a new meaning for “excellent” – which gives much more lifestyle than he previously thought.

“There is only a small ingredient here already genetically. It has been exaggerated,” says Topol. “I felt satisfied personally because I have a terrible family history. I felt satisfied, this, hey, I may not be able to suffer from the same diseases.”

The latest book for Topol, Super Agers: Evidence -based approach, It is the coronation of decades of work and highlights the main factors for living for a longer period.

In a world where longevity has become more than a well -being, dominated by an increasing number of companies that offer surveying, tests and lifestyles, and more, Topol is eager to overcome noise. “We have a lot of things that are not found there, and some are terrible,” he says, only heads the sale of complementary subscriptions, and the full MRI for the body, and not a widely recommended medications under the guise of experts.

For Topol, the opposite of the age of aging or the longevity width is not the goal; Instead, the focus focuses on reducing the risk of chronic diseases that become more common with age.

Here are three fast food from the Topol years of excellent monitoring:

Can I reflect aging with exercise?

Exercise is the old health pillar and for a good reason. Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, helps maintain active brain and fights cognitive decrease, and reduces the risk of falling and weak fall.

Topol says about cancer, heart disease and dementia, and highlights that it is the most effective way to maintain the immune system and fighting disease.

As a heart disease doctor, Topol always motivated exercise to reduce the risk of heart disease. Since the study of “Wellderly”, it encourages the addition of strength training, including grip exercises and the training of resistance, to counter the muscles associated with age, loss of bones and improving balance and mobility.

Can the Mediterranean diet slow down?

The Mediterranean diet is the standard diet in many blue areas in the world. Topol says that the diet, which consists of whole foods, colored fruits and vegetables, lean meat, whole grains, olive oil, and lower milk, is the most protection diet from chronic diseases. Research indicates that the diet is associated with improving bone, heart and brain health, as well as a low risk of cancer.

“It is the best subsidized diet,” Topol says of his research on aging so far. “It has been proven that this diet is always winning.”

The diet also removes ultra -treated foods, or what Topol refers to the name of nutritional bodies, which, when consumed routinely, can increase the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and stroke, and lead to premature deaths.

Cracking preventive tests

Age -related diseases are usually advanced in 20 years. Topol says that many people do not realize their risk of age -related diseases, and therefore, they do not make lifestyle changes that can help reduce these risks.

“How will we be able to predict very reliable and when, and from, and what from these circumstances will we be at risk so that we can prevent them for the first time?” He asks. He says more preventive tests will be prevalent.

While the traditional health system treats patients after their illness, Topol hopes that medicine and progressive technology will help determine the risks of people, allowing them to control early. If someone realizes that they have a growing risk of Alzheimer’s disease, using the brain watch or blood test to detect the amyloid plaques associated with the disease, it may be more willing to adopt a healthier lifestyle, says Topol.

“We can advance it, so that you never have to face this disease in your life,” he says. “We can move significantly by preventing age -related diseases.”

A copy of this story was originally published on Fortune.com On May 23, 2025.

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