Study Finds 8 Midlife Habits Can Add 21-24 Years to Lifespan

Q: Beyond addiction, a common painkiller is now linked to a 56% higher dementia risk. What is this hidden danger?

The hidden danger is opioid misuse or opioid use disorder tied to common prescription painkillers such as oxycodone. Beyond addiction, research now links opioid use disorder to a 56% higher risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. That finding comes from a large study using more than 220,000 health records from the U.S. Million Veteran Program, with results published in *Alzheimer’s & Dementia*. Researchers said the elevated risk appears connected to opioid exposure itself, not just to a person’s inherited risk for addiction. Experts say the likely mechanism is long-term damage to brain health. Chronic opioid misuse may reduce blood and oxygen flow to the brain by contributing to problems such as atherosclerosis, low blood pressure, and infections. Other evidence suggests prolonged oxycodone exposure can impair memory, learning, and cognitive flexibility by disrupting brain signaling, increasing inflammation and oxidative stress, and altering hormone regulation. This helps explain why “not abusing opioids” was included among the eight daily habits identified by the UCLA-led longevity study. The broader message from both sets of research is that avoiding opioid misuse is not only about preventing dependence or overdose; it may also protect long-term cognitive health and lower dementia risk.

1 articles · Updated · Prevention Magazine · Jul 15

A study of 700,000 U.S. veterans found 40-year-old men and women who followed all eight habits could live 24 and 21 years longer, respectively, than those who followed none.
The habits were never smoking, staying physically active, avoiding excess alcohol, getting restorative sleep, eating a nutritious diet, managing stress, maintaining strong social ties and not abusing opioids.
Researchers said even adopting one or two habits showed benefits, while low physical activity, smoking and opioid use were linked to a 30% to 45% higher risk of death.
Cardiologist Sean Heffron said the list largely reflects behaviors known to protect heart health and reduce cardiovascular disease risk, the leading cause of death in the United States.