The Mystery of the 95 Year Old Track Star and What She Can Teach Us About Living Longer, Happier Lives

Olga Kotelko (see video below) is not your average ninety-five-year-old.

She not only looks and acts like a much younger woman, she holds over twenty-three world records in track and field, seventeen in her current ninety to ninety-five category. Convinced that this remarkable woman could help unlock many of the mysteries of aging, my guest on today's podcast, Bruce Grierson, set out to uncover what it is that’s driving Olga.

He considers every piece of the puzzle, from her diet and sleep habits to how she scores on various personality traits, to what she does in her spare time to her family history. In the book "What Makes Olga Run?: The Mystery of the 90-Something Track Star and What She Can Teach Us About Living Longer, Happier Lives", Bruce details how Olga participates in tests administered by some of the world’s leading scientists and offers her DNA to groundbreaking research trials. What you'll get to hear today is not only a tremendously uplifting personal story but a look at which parts of our health and longevity are determined by the DNA we inherit at birth, and which parts we can shape ourselves. You'll discover how your genes, opportunities, and choices forge the course of your life, especially during your golden years. During our discussion, you'll discover: -The fascinating story of Olga and how she has defied aging... -How to discover if you have the the Superstar gene, the Worrier gene or Warrior gene, and how this affects your longevity... -One big myth about stress, adversity and aging... -What Bruce thinks about the new class of telomere activating drugs... -Why plaques in your brain may not be as big an issue as you may think... -The single cognitive-boosting activity that is far more important than Sudoku, crossword puzzles and brain games... -When it is too late for exercise to make a difference... -The surprising truth about exercise intensity... -Why sleeping steadily 8-9 hours through the night may not actually be necessary for longevity... -A trick that Olga does with an old wine bottle that keeps her joints young and supple... -The single most important personality trait for achieving long age... -How you can change your living and working environment to maximize longevity...

What do you think? If you have questions, comments or feedback for author Bruce Grierson or any of the anti-aging tips you learn in the episode, leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com...

...and be sure to grab your copy of What Makes Olga Run?: The Mystery of the 90-Something Track Star and What She Can Teach Us About Living Longer, Happier Lives.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.