An expert has told RTE's Claire Byrne the simple steps people can follow to prevent the ageing process or slow it down significantly.
Prof Rose Anne Kenny, head of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin, said it is never too late to begin following the anti-ageing rules, but the earlier you start, the better it is for your body.
She said: "We have control of 80 per cent of our ageing. Our genes are only responsible for 20 per cent.
"So, everything through our life span that we've covered in the book even enjoyable things like friendship, laughter, purpose, creativity, as well as of course diet and the different exercises programmes etc. all of those factors influence how we age.
"We can control that, and the earlier one starts to control behaviours, the better."
Prof Kenny said following a good diet is essential, and she recommended one diet, in particular, the Mediterranean diet.
She said: "It comes back to the constituents of the Mediterranean diet, and I think for individuals that's the easiest thing, to remember the Mediterranean diet.
"That's very simply loads of fruit, vegetables, nuts and of course fish with chicken and much less red meat and the other sort of dietary rule that's easy to apply… is low sugar low salt and no processed foods.
"So the processed foods, in particular, are really bad for our microbiome, and more and more we are discovering the important role of the microbiome in ageing."
Claire then asked Prof Kenny whether people should stop drinking to prevent ageing.
Prof Kenny answered: "Alcohol in moderation, okay, nobody can fault alcohol in moderation."
She added: "In order to destress, the Sardinians do employ alcohol.
"So every afternoon Sardinians will meet their friends and share and engage etc. with lots of laughter and two to three glasses of red wine… there's quite a good science behind red wine.
"With respect to alcohol, I would say to listeners don't drink alone ever. If you are going to have a drink, have it with friends, and then you are getting the benefit of both of those behaviours."
Prof Kenny said quality friendships are as good for your health as not smoking or taking lots of physical activity.
She added that it is important to find time to enjoy yourself in meaningful friendships.
