Staff Report
Professor Shitij Kapur reveals the secrets of longevity and emphases the power of everyday lifestyle choices. In an exclusive interview with India Today, he says that daily choices shape your longer and healthier life.
Professor Shitij Kapur, a renowned doctor and researcher has said that Puzzles won’t prevent dementia. Supplements can not ensure longer life and even Science alone can not save us. Instead, he say that longevity is dependent on your good public health efforts and personal responsibility.
Professor Kapur said a healthy heart, strong social connections, and a balanced lifestyle were a key to healthy and longer life.
The Myth of Brain-Boosting Games
You might have heard it earlier that solving crossword puzzles may save you from dementia. It may sound a great story, right? Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as you believed into it.
Kapur acknowledged that keeping your mind active may be a good omen. However, he stresses on focusing on heart health if you want to protect your brain. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking are good for health and longer life.
Mental Health Matters
Physical health is not enough but Mental health is also believed to be playing a key role in long health. If you are facing depression in middle age, it can increase dementia risk in life later.
“The stigma around mental health is still strong,” Kapur said adding that younger generation are more keen to discuss due to social media.
He said change was happening but it was slow.
The Future of Medicine
He also sheds light on the future of medicine. He said precision medicine—treatments tailored to genetics—may be the future. But they are expensive. So here’s the catch.
There has been some breakthrough in drugs as a new treatment for metachromatic leukodystrophy has been discovered. But it costs millions of dollars and therefore it is out of reach of many people.
But here’s the challenge—knowing isn’t enough. “People struggle with change,” Kapur explained. “The real challenge is motivation, not information.”
Forget Miracle Cures—What Actually Works?
There has been mo magic pills, no miracle diets and no secret formulas. Here is the truth? Simple habits have worked best.
According to Studies, those people who have been following best health practices, they can live up to 24 years longer than those who don’t.
So here is the formula.
✅ Don’t smoke.
✅ Limit alcohol.
✅ Eat well.
✅ Stay active.
✅ Get enough sleep.
✅ Stay socially engaged.
So, it’s not about living forever. It’s about living well.
