Neurologist: Control anxiety with habits or seek professional help for a longer, healthier life

Neurologist Conrado Estol is urging people to shift their focus from simply extending lifespan to improving the quality of those years, particularly as human life expectancy increases. He stresses that individuals under 50 should adopt a preventive mindset, as reaching 90 or 100 years in good physical and cognitive health is achievable with early adoption of healthy habits.

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If anxiety cannot be controlled with habits, one must consult a professional; there should be no fear of well-indicated medication.

Estol challenges the conventional notion of "old age," suggesting it should become obsolete given current biological realities. He points out that a significant portion of individuals spend their final decade in poor health, a period he terms the "lost decade." To combat this, he emphasizes that a long and fulfilling life hinges not on quick fixes but on consistently practicing seven key healthy habits: managing stress, maintaining social ties, ensuring adequate sleep, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol intake, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly.

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Two-thirds of people reach and spend their last 10 years of life in poor or very poor health.

Beyond these habits, Estol underscores the importance of having a life purpose and maintaining optimism, dismissing these as mere clichés. He also cautions against the passive mindset often associated with early retirement, noting that many successful businesses are founded by individuals over 60. "What does the number of your chronological age matter?" he asks, suggesting that age is less about numbers and more about maintaining an active and engaged life.

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The seven pillars [for a healthy old age] are: control stress, maintain your social connections, sleep correctly, zero cigarettes, moderate alcohol, healthy nutrition, and exercise.