# Alameda County Study
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{{Short description|California health study}}
The '''Alameda County Study''' is a [longitudinal study](/source/longitudinal_study) of residents from [Alameda County, California](/source/Alameda_County%2C_California), which examines the relationship between lifestyle and [health](/source/health).[{{cite journal
| last1 = Housman
| first1 = Jeff
| last2 = Dorman
| first2 = Steve
| title = The Alameda County Study: A Systematic, Chronological Review
| journal = American Journal of Health Education
|date=September–October 2005
| volume = 36
| issue = 5
| pages = 302–308
| url = https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ792845.pdf
| access-date = 7 June 2010
| publisher = American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
| location = Reston, VA
| issn = 1055-6699
| id = ERIC document number EJ792845
| doi = 10.1080/19325037.2005.10608200
| s2cid = 39133965
}}] The "1965 cohort" were given health questionnaires in 1965, 1973, 1985, 1988, 1994, and 1999. The researchers found that those who followed five practices lived healthier and [longer lives](/source/longevity):[{{Harvard citation no brackets | Housman | Dorman | 2005 | pp = 303–304}}. "The linear model supported previous findings, including regular exercise, limited alcohol consumption, abstinence from smoking, sleeping 7-8 hours a night, and maintenance of a healthy weight play an important role in promoting longevity and delaying illness and death." Citing: {{cite journal
| last1 = Wingard | first1 = D. L.
| last2 = Berkman | first2 = L. F.
| last3 = Brand | first3 = R. J.
| title = A multivariate analysis of health-related practices: a nine-year mortality follow-up of the Alameda County Study
| journal = Am J Epidemiol
| year = 1982
| volume = 116
| issue = 5
| pages = 765–775
| pmid = 7148802
| doi = 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113466
}}][{{cite encyclopedia|last=Kaplan|first=Robert M.|title=Alameda County Study|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofhe0002unse|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior|year=2004|pages=32 |publisher=SAGE Publications, Inc.|isbn=9780761923602|access-date=2019-07-26|doi=10.4135/9781412952576.n10|url-access=registration}}]
* Avoiding [smoking](/source/smoking).
* [Exercising](/source/Exercise) regularly.
* Maintaining a healthy [body weight](/source/body_weight).
* [Sleep](/source/Sleep)ing seven to eight hours per night.
* Limiting consumption of [alcoholic drinks](/source/alcoholic_drinks).
Another study of the Alameda cohort suggests that [social and community ties](/source/Social_connection) can also help an individual to live longer.[{{cite journal
| last1 = Berkman | first1 = L. F.
| last2 = Syme | first2 = S. L.
| title = Social networks, host resistance, and mortality: a nine-year follow-up study of Alameda County residents
| url = https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/109/2/186/74197
| journal = Am J Epidemiol
| year = 1979
| volume = 109
| issue = 2
| pages = 186–204
| doi = 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112674
| pmid = 425958
| doi-access =
| url-access = subscription
}} (Lay summary in: {{cite news
| last = Brody
| first = Jane E.
| title = Social Interaction Is Critical for Mental and Physical Health
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/well/live/having-friends-is-good-for-you.html
| work = The New York Times
| date = 12 June 2017
| department = Personal Health column
}})]
Later studies of the cohort considered the impact of religiosity, social status, and hearing loss on health outcomes.