LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Modest alcohol consumption could be more important than exercise when it comes to living a long life, according to researchers at University of California, Irvine.

People who live to 90 or older often drink moderately, according to the 90+ Study presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

"I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity," neurologist Claudia Kawas was quoted as saying in the conference.

Kawas and her team at the University of California, Irvine, have been studying the habits of people who live until their 90s since 2003.

After analyzing the habits and behaviors of 1,700 people in their 90s, researchers found that consuming roughly two glasses of alcohol or wine a day lessened the chance of an early death by 18 percent, The Independent reported.

In general, research on alcohol has shown mixed results. In November 2017, the American Society of Clinical Oncology issued a statement warning that any drinking, including light alcohol consumption, increased the chances of developing breast, colon, esophageal, larynx and oral cancers.