Ninety is now the new 80 for senior citizens

UBC doctor explains medical advances in treating age-related diseases with activity

Dr. Larry Dian (left) chats with Jane Johnston, a receptionist at the Tapestry
Foundation, at Vandusen Gardens in Vancouver, May 31, after his lecture on
successful aging. Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic 

Alistair Burns's latest article finds out why 90 is now the new 80:

Can 90 years old be the new 80 for seniors? So contended Dr. Larry Dian, a specialist in geriatric medicine and a clinical professor at UBC, when he presented his findings on the subject May 31 at Vandusen Gardens in Vancouver. His lecture was titled, "Successful Aging: Is 90 the new 80?"

"There are plenty of healthy 80-year-olds but fewer healthy 90-year-olds. Living into one's 90s depends on a lot of factors beyond our control," said Dr. Dian.

His thesis maintained that for many people who live to an old age, three keys things were apparent: a healthy lifestyle, an upbeat personality, and what he termed luck: good genetics drawn from one's gene pool.

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.