100-Year-Olds Say Positive Mindset is The Most Important Thing in Life: Survey

If you are one of the millions of people out there wondering what is the secret to a long and happy life, then a new survey has the answer for you.

Every year, the UnitedHealthcare's (UHC) surveys 100 people over the age of 100 to find out what are their opinions on health, longevity and happiness. One in four centenarians said that a positive outlook is the most essential element for living a long healthy life, and more than six in 10 said they were positive people.

Meanwhile, the annual 100@100 survey also found that diet and exercise were also vital elements, with 21 percent identifying a good diet as the key element of healthy aging, and 10 percent saying that regular exercise was the main route to a long, happy life.

"Year after year, we hear from centenarians that there is a correlation between healthy aging and a healthy mindset," said Rhonda Randall, D.O., chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions, in a statement.

"It's a good reminder for us all to take care of our mental, emotional and social health - in addition to our physical health."

Looking back on their lives, centenarians said that they felt the most attractive at age 31, the healthiest at 46 and the wisest at 49.

Since this year the survey turns 10, UHC also polled 100 10-year-olds in order to draw comparisons between younger and older Americans. This led to some interesting findings. Centenarians who did feel old said that on average they started feeling that way at about age 87. Meanwhile ten-year-olds said they believe people start to get old at 46.

Although fewer 10-year-olds than centenarians saw themselves as optimistic, 47 percent of centenarians said it gets easier to maintain a positive mindset with age.