Survey And Analysis About Longevity-related Factors Of Centenarians In Shandong Province Qingdao City Chengyang District

[Objective]1. The effects of age, gender, physical conditions, personality, family economic conditions and other demographic factors to the longevity of the elderly.2. The relationship between biological factors, as genetic, and longevity and the elderly.3. The effects of habits, diet and other behavioral factors to the longevity of the elderly.4. The effects of the social system, family environment, government policies and other social factors to the longevity of the elderly.5. Collect water samples in accordance with the standards in both urban and rural districts of Chengyang District where the centenarians are concentrated, then perform the essays of samples in the Analyzing and Testing Center of Health in Shandong University. Study the relationship between natural environmental factors and the longevity by further analysis of microelement.[Method]1. The researchers were divided into five survey teams, each group of5to6people, with age questionnaire of centenarians and basic situation questionnaire of centenarians, to verify the declarations of centenarians home to home.2. Authenticate the age of63centenarians by the logic relationships, childbearing history and related personnel proofs.3. Collect results of the questionnaire to form a database and check logically. Analyze the results to generate charts of economic, living, physical and dietary conditions, to study their relations of longevity. 4. Collect water samples of both urban and rural districts of Chengyang where the centenarians are concentrated, and analyze the concentrations of microelements. Compare with the national standards to study the relationship of longevity further.[Results]1. The survey covers all63centenarians declared, verified by the logic relationships, childbearing history and related personnel proofs.24elderly reached hundred years old till Dec312009, and was removed from the sample. No.2-63of the elderly was unable to confirm the identity. The remaining38all reached or exceeded hundred years old.2. Economic conditions of centenarians in Chengyang District were pretty good, material demands were meet. In the62centenarians, NO.2-61and2-62were removed from the survey for no result obtained. With the60elderly,36%have personal savings and good living conditions;57%declare live in general conditions and7%consider just enough. No one declare the need of relief.3. Most elderly have good physical condition. The survey show that among the39elderly people,56%reported living without any illness;23%have mild illness,21%have disease, but not serious, no one suffer from major diseases. Otherwise,41%of the elderly take care of themselves completely,36%partially and18%need help, only5%could not take care of themselves.4.37of61centenarians in the survey have family longevity history, accounting for60.7%,20of which have90-year-old family longevity history, accounting for54.1%.5. Heartedly, optimistic, cheerful, open-minded, outward-looking character is the commonness of the centenarians.45of61centenarians have optimistic character, accounting for73.8%, living without contravention. Temper has no significant impact to longevity.6. The majority of the elderly are manual workers.80.3%of61elderly people have been engaged in agricultural production activities.93.4%of centenarians are native farmers. The agricultural production activities come with good physical condition.7. Majority of the dietary pattern are cereal-based foods, reaching28.59%-34.31%of the total daily dietary amount. Dietary variety also achieves a diversification, as rice, flour, corn, potatoes and other cereals. Animal food include mainly eggs and milk, achieving8.81-10.51%and7.14-21.59%, meanwhile, fish, shellfish, livestock, poultry, meat are rare. Seriously inadequate calcium intake results in severe low calcium/phosphorus ratio for someone, therefore bone quality are affected.8. Drinking water in Chengyang District contains iron, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, strontium, silicon and other trace elements which are beneficial to human body.56%of centenarians no disease and that may be related with these trace elements despite the low concentration.[Conclusion]1. Genes are important physiological factors of the longevity.37of61centenarians in the survey have family longevity history, accounting for60.7%,20of which have90-year-old family longevity history, accounting for to54.1%.2. The studies indicate that the first child has the longest life expectancy, followed by a second child.26of centenarians in Chengyang are seniors in the siblings, accounting for42.6%and17are the seconds, and accounting for27.9%, which confirmed this point. Heartedly, optimistic, cheerful, open-minded, outward-looking character is the commonness of the centenarians.3.70.5%of the elderly have good habits in live. Most people did labor work,80.3%received no education, and many people still need not take-care.4.93.4%of the centenarians embrace good dietary habits without fulfill in three meals. Most of the61centenarians live in the mountains or seaside and formed vegetarian lifestyle.95.1%of elderly are non-smokers,83.6%did not drink. A good eating habit contributes the longevity.5. Chengyang has a long tradition of respecting and caring elderly. Chengyang government takes great importance to the elderly and takes it into the local economic and social development planning.6. A harmony and filial family environment is an important environmental conditions for longevity. Family support is the main mode currently. Family provides financial, physical and mental support, which could not be replaced.7. A superior social security is economic assurance for longevity. Most of economic indicators in Chengyang were higher than the provincial average. In2003, new rural social endowment insurance system reform was performed first in the country. The government has invested money and policies to increase allowance for the elderly.8. Chengyang is located in the north temperate monsoon region, eastern to Laoshan Mountain, Southwestern to sea, without cold in winter and without hot in summer, the temperature is moderate with four distinct seasons, the forest coverage is35.3%and natural environment is the most suitable place to living.9. Drinking water in Chengyang is the Laoshan groundwater, rich in minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sodium, strontium, and silicic acid, also the trace elements. Is rare in the world with low salinity, Sr-silicic acid complex natural mineral water.The content of iron, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, silicon and other trace element is same, compared with other famous of longevity region, which plays an important role in maintaining biological immune function.