Live long and prosper. It's not just Star Trek nerds who get a kick out of those words. We'd all like a few extra years. But just how do you build a life extension? We've cracked the code, and can now proudly present the lifestyle changes guaranteed to extend your time on earth.
By Dan Rookwood



Sing hallelujah!

The Lord works in mysterious ways. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh in the US have found that people who go to church are likely to outlive those who spend their Sunday mornings staring vacantly at the TV. "Involvement in any kind of religion can increase your ability to cope with stress," says study leader Daniel Hall. "It also helps you make meaning of your life."

Which means you're less likely to drink yourself into a stupor of a weekend, leaving you catatonic come Sunday morning. Bible bashing or doona hogging - it's your choice.

Years added 3.1



Work that brain

When it comes to your mental agility, the rule is: use it or lose it. According to a 2007 publication from Massachusetts General Hospital in the US, learning ways to strengthen and protect neural connections in your brain may help you delay cognitive decline.

Researchers also found old folk without dementia who keep their brains busy every day show less decline than the ones who sit around staring at the wall.

If you're struggling with the MH Brain Gym, you need to up your game. Visit ace.edna.edu.au for plenty of pointers towards adult education.

Years added 4.6


Floss with success

When you floss, you're not just cleaning last night's dinner out of your teeth; you're also unclogging your furred-up arteries. An American study by the Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry in Wisconsin, found that 80% of adults have periodontal disease - grotty gums to the rest of us - and most cases go undetected.

Which wouldn't be so bad, except that having a mouth like Captain Jack Sparrow can lead to a fate worse than a trip to the orthodontist.

According to the study leader, Dr Chris Kammer, men with a history of gum disease have a 63% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. He recommends between two and four visits to the dentist a year. It may be costly, but you're buying into the possibility of a cancer-free extended life.

Years added 6.4


Call yourself G.O.D.

What's in a name? Well a person's initials can apparently predict longevity, according to the Society of Behavioural Medicine.

Combing through 1969 to 1995 California death certificates, three San Diego psychologists found that 2287 people with initials such as A.P.E. didn't live as long as 1200 men with initials such as A.C.E.

The lifespan of men with positive initials such as J.O.Y., V.I.P., W.I.N. or W.E.L. was an average 4.7 years more than those with neutral initials. Those with negative initials such as I.L.L., R.A.T. or P.I.G. survived an average 2.8 years less than matched controls.

Visit the website of your state Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry for information on changing a dodgy name.

Years added 7.5

Watch Curb Your Enthusiasm

Humour can help us lead happier, healthier and longer lives, according to a 2006 study at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. They've proved, for the first time in history, that people with a sense of humour have a 30% higher probability of survival when severe disease strikes.

Laughter produces more protective hormones, regulates blood pressure, reduces the effects of stress and boosts the immune system. Taking all these benefits into account, Roizen has calculated that developing your capacity for laughter could add eight years to your life. Buy the comic genius of Larry David at ezydvd.com.au.

Years added 8

Buy a dog

The word from the men in white coats has long been that cats and dogs lower your risk of heart attack and stroke and increase the recovery rates of those who experience either.

However, in the battle of the beasts, it's the dog that is going to accompany you to a much-deferred grave. According to Deborah Wells, from Queen's University, Belfast, in the UK, people who own dogs tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than those who don't.

And dogs are more effective than other animals because they force their owners to take a daily walk, says Dr Marty Becker, author of The Healing Power of Pets.

Years added 9.4



Measure your pressure

Don't wait until something goes wrong before checking your pressure gauge. People who measure their own blood pressure regularly at home instead of just when they visit a doctor are more likely to keep it under control.

Buy the Omron IW1 wrist blood pressure monitor ($155; chemistaustralia.com.au) and test yourself every month. A person with low blood pressure (115/75mmHg) can live up to 25 years longer than a person with high blood pressure (greater than 140/90mmHg), according to RealAge.

If yours is too high, take action to reduce it. You know the drill: get regular exercise and cut down on fat, salt, booze and really, really scary roller-coasters.

Years added 25.2


Milk it

Bovine colostrum is cow's milk from the 24 hours after mum's popped out a calf. It's apparently nature's most potent anti-ageing supplement and many clinical studies claim it can do one or all of the following: increase energy, rejuvenate skin, reduce pain, improve allergies, build muscle, rebuild and repair the body and enhance moods. And it can also do the ironing while playing the banjo. Of course the benefits have been synthesized by Big Pharma. Get the right stuff here: myopure.com.au.

Years added 7.2


Find yourself a partner for life

Get divorced and you don't just stand to lose half your house; your ex will also be costing you years of your newly solitary life. A 2004 study at Rockefeller University in New York suggested that the stress of divorce could accelerate the ageing of white blood cells. On the other hand, life-long happiness really does do what it says on the tin.

"Long-term, loving relationships can make your real age as much as 6.5 years younger," says Roizen. Throw regular sex into the equation and you give yourself an extra year's worth of under-the-cover action. Admittedly, regular sex and long-term faithful relationships don't always go together, but you never know your luck.

Years added 7.5



Hit the beach

People who rarely see the sun are at risk of never seeing the light of day ever again.
The bright sparks at the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University in the US have thrown new light on seasonal affective disorder, revealing that it can often lead to more serious depression-related problems such as alcoholism and even suicide.

A week on a beach should lift you out of a dark mood. In one study, just 30 minutes of bright-light therapy a day for five consecutive days was enough to alleviate depression in half of the participants. If you want to buy a big, fancy, life-extending light bulb, go to lighttherapy.com.au.

Years added 1.7

Join a football team

Unchecked stress levels can have a physiological effect on the body and may contribute to ageing. Social ties (eg, having to turn up every Saturday morning with a hangover to play football) provide a coping mechanism for stress.

An Australian study of 1400 elderly men and women concluded that those who had the highest number of close friends ended up living the longest. "A supportive social circle can make you 3.5 years younger," says Roizen.

The added benefits of regular exercise in further reducing stress, keeping muscles and joints supple and strengthening heart and lung function can easily double this. And why not throw in some juicy half-time oranges as an added vitamin C bonus?

Years added 7


Move to another country

If you think the grimy air of Australia's big cities is hitting your health, you could move overseas. But be careful where you choose.

A study by the European Commission puts the mortality rate from air pollution across Europe on a par with road accidents. Poor-quality air is thought to result in more than 32,000 premature deaths in the UK each year, reducing life expectancy by up to a year. On the other hand, Ireland's air quality was rated second best in Europe behind Finland.

But if you really want to prolong your life, try living in Andorra - it tops the world's lifespan table with an average age of 83.

Years added 1.4



See a GP

Prevention is better than cure, proaction beats reaction - we've heard it all before. But being typical blokes we ignore warning signs until they turn into flashing emergency lights.

A study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows 25 per cent of Australian men have not seen a doctor for a year. And according to Dr Ian Banks, author of the Haynes Man Manual, "Four in five men wait too long before going to see their GP and as a result treatable illnesses like diabetes, depression and erectile dysfunction cause misery to millions."

"People who are proactive about seeking high-quality medical care and managing chronic conditions can add as much as 12 years to their lives compared with people who are not," claims Roizen.

Do this today: flick through the Yellow Pages, get the name and number of your local GP, arrange a visit and get a full checkup.

Years added 12

How to live forever - click here for 5 tips.