访谈录 2011-03-14&01-16 长寿奥秘

Who doesn't want to live forever?  The Longevity¹ Project is an eye-opening book based on one of a kind study, following 1500 people over eight decades. This book changes everything we thought about how to live a long, productive life. We're joined now by doctors Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin. Thank you.  And shall I call you Howard and Leslie?  (Definitely.)All right, thank you, thank you, thank you!

This is just remarkable². Howard, first of all, tell us a bit about the study.

Well, this is really a breakthrough study, because it’s the first scientific study that followed people from when they were children -- and that back in 1921 -- throughout their whole lives, when they went through adolescence³, as they went through young adulthood⁴, as they got married, had their own children, went into their careers, aged⁵, to see why some people thrived, lived long, stayed healthy, other people kind of fell off the healthy path and succumbed⁶ and died before their time.

But to have that body of information, it’s just unheard of. Leslie, is there a best indicator⁷ one thing that really stood out why people live long?

The best most consistent predictor was actually conscientiousness⁹. So a conscientious⁸ person is someone who is dependable, and organized, prudent¹⁰. They think they had their persistence¹¹. When they start something, they stick to it. That… it might sound like he's a boring person,

these aren’t boring people.

No, no.

We knew, have those qualities, you tend to have more opportunities. You have opportunities to do really cool, fun stuff.

All right, well, let’s have a little “True and False” here, because that will help us get the message across a little bit more. We are gonna start with you first, Howard. True or false? Carefree folks live longer than worrywarts.

What do you think?

I think it’s a little good to worry.

It is. It turns out, right. It's very important...

So it’s false. Carefree people do not live longer than the worrywarts.

Yeah, right. We found, in fact, that you always hear take it easy, don’t work so hard, and distress¹² yourself. We felt people didn’t work themselves to death; they really worked themselves to life. The people who were committed to their careers, worked hard, stayed involved and succeeded in their careers actually stayed healthy and lived long.

Cause how many times that we hear of somebody that they have been working all their life and then to retire, and then they retired¹³ and they died soon thereafter. Because they don’t have…

Well, because they lose their social ties. They lose their friends. And they lose their reason to get up in the morning. So it’s really important. If you like your job, keep working.

All right, Leslie, I got a question for you here. Gardening and walking are better for your health than vigorous exercise. True or False?

True, in a sense. We’re certainly not saying that if you love jogging, you need to stop that. Or if you love vigorous exercise, you shouldn’t do it. It’s certainly good for you. But the thing is we know we should be active, and yet so many of us are not active, because we try to do things that really don’t match with our styles. We don’t enjoy it, we get bored, we feel overwhelmed, and so we quit. And so, what we recommend is that people find something that they enjoy, if it’s gardening, or hiking or tennis or wood working, whatever it is, that’s the thing you are gonna be able to do consistently. And the consistency¹⁴ is what really matters.

Do what you love.

All right, Howard. We get a final question for you. Folks who have their nose to the grindstone all the time live longer than slackers. I think we pretty much know the answer to that.

Yes, definitely true. The prudent, hard-working, conscientious people who's stuck with it, that stick to witness factor really is one of best predictors of living a long and healthy life.

All right, well, thank you, Howard, Leslie. I wish we have a little bit more time but we are gonna see you tonight on Nightline and dig into this a little bit more. So thank you very much. And again you can see it, about - learn about living longer, a longer life. Go to ABCnews.com/GMA and check them out tonight on Nightline.

1 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

2 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

3 adolescence   

n.青春期，青少年

参考例句：

• Adolescence is the process of going from childhood to maturity.青春期是从少年到成年的过渡期。
• The film is about the trials and tribulations of adolescence.这部电影讲述了青春期的麻烦和苦恼。

4 adulthood   

n.成年，成人期

参考例句：

• Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。
• Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

5 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

6 succumbed   

不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死

参考例句：

• The town succumbed after a short siege. 该城被围困不久即告失守。
• After an artillery bombardment lasting several days the town finally succumbed. 在持续炮轰数日后，该城终于屈服了。

7 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

8 conscientious   

adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的

参考例句：

• He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。
• He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。

9 conscientiousness   

责任心

参考例句：

• Conscientiousness is expected of a student. 学生要诚实。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Only has the conscientiousness, diligently works, can make a more splendid result! 只有脚踏实地，努力工作，才能做出更出色的成绩！ 来自互联网

10 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

11 persistence   

n.坚持，持续，存留

参考例句：

• The persistence of a cough in his daughter puzzled him.他女儿持续的咳嗽把他难住了。
• He achieved success through dogged persistence.他靠着坚持不懈取得了成功。

12 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

13 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

14 consistency   

n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度

参考例句：

• Your behaviour lacks consistency.你的行为缺乏一贯性。
• We appreciate the consistency and stability in China and in Chinese politics.我们赞赏中国及其政策的连续性和稳定性。