25 ways to live longer

Live in the country
People living in rural areas have a higher life expectancy than those living in cities. Women living in west Somerset, for instance, live an average of 84 years, while those in Manchester live only 76, according to the Office for National Statistics. And a study from the Tokyo Medical and Dental School found that pensioners in cities who live near green open spaces tend to live much longer than those stuck in the concrete jungle.

Watch your weight
Overeating is one of the main causes of ageing and increases the risk of heart disease and cancers of the colon, womb, gall bladder, ovaries and breast. The British Heart Foundation says, coronary heart disease causes 270,000 heart attacks each year, and of these 28,000 are attributable to obesity.

Have lots of children
A study in Psychology of Ageing found that the more children women have, the greater their life expectancy. This could be because of the increased contact with and support from their children and grandchildren, as they get older.

Learn to play piano
Brain cells work together, so learning new skills improves your brain function generally. 'Whatever your age, ongoing mental stimulation will keep your brain building new spines on the dendrites of your brain cells,' says Dr Thomas Crook, author of The Memory Cure, (Thorsons, £9.99)

Look on the bright side
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in the US found that optimistic people live about 12 years longer than pessimistic ones. Pessimists are more prone to viral illnesses, such as colds and flu. They are also less likely to carry out the essential self-examinations that detect breast or skin cancer, while positive thinkers are more likely to take health advice, say the researchers.