A long and healthy life?

1. Research into long life ...

• looks mainly at the influence of lifestyle.

• has changed its focus in recent years.

• suggests that luck is the key factor in reaching old age.

2. The important factors in long life …

• are mainly to do with people’s daily habits.

• include a person’s genetic makeup.

• seem to be connected to where people live.

According to the article ...

• people have been reaching the age of 100 for decades.

• there are very few people over 80 who are healthy.

• people could live to be 120 in the future.

According to the article, …

• the number of healthy old people is growing.

• certain illnesses such as high blood pressure need no medication.

• chronic diseases are not to be expected in elderly people.

In certain parts of Italy and Japan …

• the majority of elderly people are not in good health.

• about eight percent of people are over 100.

• healthy elderly inhabitants are the norm.

Research in Italy and Japan has shown that …

• old people tend to believe their age is due to what they eat.

• most people can’t explain what the secret to long life is.

• there are many different factors influencing old age.

Some researchers ...

• think that they’ve found a gene responsible for old age.

• have linked people’s lifestyle to their genes.

• doubt that diet is the key to old age.

Laron syndrome is a genetic condition which …

• affects people in a number of ways.

• only affects groups in Ecuador and Hawaii.

• affects everyone in a family.

Laron syndrome is interesting to scientists because …

• it explains why some people don’t grow tall.

• it shows that there is a genetic reason for old age.

• it only affects men.

Research into families in Calabria …

• doesn’t support the idea of a genetic basis for old age.

• found that more women lived to old age than men.

• showed unexpected old age patterns.