Individuals have far greater control over their longevity than is commonly understood, and at least 80% of the responsibility for ill health in old age rests with the individual, according to a new report from the Oxford Longevity Project (OLP). The figure is described by the authors as a conservative estimate.

“Living Longer, Better” — the OLP's first Age-less report — was sponsored by Oxford Healthspan and launched at the Smart Ageing Summit 2026 at Rhodes House, Oxford. It’s co-authored by an interdisciplinary panel of UK-based experts in medicine, physiology, aging, and education policy.

The report challenges the widely held belief that physical decline in later life is inevitable or primarily a matter of genetics or social circumstance. According to the OLP, the normal biological aging process does not by itself cause major problems until the late 90s; rather, it is three interrelated factors — loss of fitness, preventable disease, and social factors including negative attitudes toward aging — that drive the problems most commonly associated with growing older.

The report is intended to be practical and accessible, encouraging readers to make informed decisions about mindset, lifestyle, and environment in support of longer, healthier lives. Its core recommendations include regular exercise, a plant-based diet that avoids ultra-processed foods, attention to mental health and social connection, and an environmental review to reduce exposure to toxins. The authors also call on governments to take legislative action on alcohol comparable to restrictions on smoking.

Alongside the report, the OLP has developed the “Oxford Personalised Plan to Live Longer Better,” a planning tool that guides individuals through four areas: understanding what aging is; taking action to regain physical, cognitive, and emotional fitness; reducing disease risk; and shaping one's physical and social environment. Older adults' contribution to their communities, including supporting younger members, is highlighted as both personally beneficial and central to healthy longevity.

"The Oxford Elixir of Life is knowledge, consumed through continuous learning and transformed into meaningful personal and community action," the OLP states.

To access the full report, “Living Longer, Better,” click here

For more information on the summit, click here