Successful aging and lifestyle comparison of Greeks living in Greece and abroad: the epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)

Anastasia Papadimitriou; Alexandra Foscolou; Catherine Itsiopoulos; Antonia Thodis; Antigone Kouris-Blazos; Laima Brazionis; Amalia C Sidossis; Evangelos A Polychronopoulos; Peter Kokkinos; Demosthenes Panagiotakos; Labros S Sidossis

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2021.104523

Successful aging and lifestyle comparison of Greeks living in Greece and abroad: the epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2021 Nov-Dec:97:104523. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104523. Epub 2021 Sep 11.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Kinesiology and Health, School of Arts and Sciences Rutgers University, USA.
² Department of Kinesiology and Health, School of Arts and Sciences Rutgers University, USA; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University, Athens Greece.
³ School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Australia; School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Australia.
⁴ School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University, Australia.
⁵ School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Australia.
⁶ Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia.
⁷ Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
⁸ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University, Athens Greece.
⁹ Department of Kinesiology and Health, School of Arts and Sciences Rutgers University, USA; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University, Athens Greece. Electronic address: lsidossis@kines.rutgers.edu.

PMID: 34537513
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104523

Abstract

Objectives: Comparing lifestyle and successful aging between Greeks living in Greece (GG) and Greeks living abroad (GA) using a multidimensional model of successful aging including both biomedical and non-medical components.

Methods: Anthropometric, clinical, psychological, socio-demographic, dietary and lifestyle parameters were assessed in a random sample of 252 GG and 252 GA. Successful aging was evaluated using the validated successful aging index (SAI range 0-10).

Results: GA had better financial and educational status and scored higher in all social activity parameters (p's < 0.05). GA were more likely to be physically active (p < 0.001), had higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001) and were less likely to be smoking (p = 0.008). Depression was more evident among GG compared to GA (p < 0.001). GA was aging significantly more successfully than GG (p < 0.001). Men irrespective of location were aging significantly more successfully than women (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Place of residence and personal choices significantly affect the level of healthy aging among people with similar genetic backgrounds.

Keywords: Healthy aging; Healthy immigrant effect; Lifestyle; Mediterranean; Successful aging.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet, Mediterranean*
Female
Greece / epidemiology
Humans
Life Style*
Male
Mediterranean Islands / epidemiology