Audio of Mario Martinez by Growing Bolder, at growingbolder.com

Caption: Mario Martinez

Posted: 11/27/2007 10:55am

Category: Aging

If longevity is important to you, you couldn't have chosen a better time to be here. There are more 100-year-olds alive today than at any other time in history.

Researchers at the New England Centenarian Study have been trying to figure out why. You already know some of the factors. Most have never smoked. Few are overweight. All have been able to delay or escape cardiovascular disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

Genetics is a critical determining factor, but there is another critical component that is often overlooked. Dr. Mario E. Martinez, a clinical psychologist, believes your thoughts are just as important.

Martinez lectures around the world on Biocognition, his theory that cultural and spiritual beliefs directly affect health and longevity.

Martinez told the Growing Bolder Radio Show that society bombards us with so many negative images of aging adults that it has a measurably negative impact. He says current research into disease makes the mistake of reducing the body into pathological parts.

Martinez proposes the most successful healing processes merge the power of mind and body.