@article {6499, title = {Survival Advantage Mechanism: Inflammation as a Mediator of Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging on Longevity.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {73}, year = {2018}, note = {10.1093/geronb/gbw035}, month = {2018 Mar 02}, pages = {409-412}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have found that positive self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are associated with longer survival; however, a biological mechanism was unknown. We examined whether C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of cumulative stress-related inflammation, mediates the relationship between SPA and survival.

METHOD: The SPA of participants aged 50 and older in the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4,149) were assessed at baseline. Inflammation was measured by the level of CRP 4 years later. Survival was followed for up to 6 years.

RESULTS: As hypothesized, CRP mediated the impact of SPA on survival. Following the steps of a mediation analysis, positive SPA at baseline predicted lower CRP after 4 years (β = -.29, p = .03) and longer survival in the 2 years following the CRP measurement (β = .20, p =.003); additionally, lower CRP predicted longer survival, after adjusting for positive SPA (β = -.02, p = .0001). All models adjusted for baseline age, CRP, health, sex, race, and education.

DISCUSSION: It was found that lower CRP partially mediates the relationship between positive SPA and longer survival. Hence, this study presents a novel pathway to explain the process by which positive SPA extend longevity.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Biomarkers, C-reactive protein, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Longevity, Male, Middle Aged, Self Concept, Surveys and Questionnaires, Survival Analysis}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbw035}, url = {http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/03/26/geronb.gbw035.abstractN2 -}, author = {Becca R Levy and Bavishi, Avni} } @article {8565, title = {A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity.}, journal = {Soc Sci Med}, volume = {164}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 09}, pages = {44-48}, abstract = {

Although books can expose people to new people and places, whether books also have health benefits beyond other types of reading materials is not known. This study examined whether those who read books have a survival advantage over those who do not read books and over those who read other types of materials, and if so, whether cognition mediates this book reading effect. The cohort consisted of 3635 participants in the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study who provided information about their reading patterns at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were based on survival information up to 12 years after baseline. A dose-response survival advantage was found for book reading by tertile (HRT2~=~0.83, p~<~0.001, HRT3~=~0.77, p~<~0.001), after adjusting for relevant covariates including age, sex, race, education, comorbidities, self-rated health, wealth, marital status, and depression. Book reading contributed to a survival advantage that was significantly greater than that observed for reading newspapers or magazines (tT2~=~90.6, p~<~0.001; tT3~=~67.9, p~<~0.001). Compared to non-book readers, book readers had a 23-month survival advantage at the point of 80\% survival in the unadjusted model. A survival advantage persisted after adjustment for all covariates (HR~= .80, p < .01), indicating book readers experienced a 20\% reduction in risk of mortality over the 12 years of follow up compared to non-book readers. Cognition mediated the book reading-survival advantage (p~=~0.04). These findings suggest that the benefits of reading books include a longer life in which to read them.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Books, Chi-Square Distribution, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Longevity, Male, Michigan, Middle Aged, Reading, Survival Analysis}, issn = {1873-5347}, doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.014}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953616303689}, author = {Bavishi, Avni and Martin D Slade and Becca R Levy} }