Super centenarians defy all odds and live very long and healthy lives

Decline in physical dexterity is inevitable as we age. Depression, loneliness, isolation, and apathy are not. Many of us think we are old when we are past 60, 50, 40, and even 30. But even as we approach 100 or more, we could possibly live another 10 or even 20 years. The recently deceased and some current centenarians are teaching us that perhaps our beliefs about aging have been wrong.

According to the US Census Bureau, there were about 3,000 Americans over the age of 100 in 1950, approximately 37,306 in 1960, 73,674 in 2004, and an estimated 1.1 million by 2050. Longevity seems to have more to do with a healthy lifestyle with genetics and DNA. Studying what has helped some people live beyond normal expectations can help all of us improve the quality of our lives and our own longevity. Some of the ages listed below may be slightly exaggerated due to inaccurate record keeping, but those for the United States are correct.

Supercentennial deceased

o Age 128 – Elizabeth “Ma Pampo” Israel from the Caribbean island of Dominica died on 10/14/03. Authorities attribute its longevity to the tranquility of Dominica, the “centennial capital” of the world, with more than 20 men and women over the age of 100 among its 70,000 inhabitants. “For much of her life, she … worked in the sugar cane fields … and got up every morning at 5 in the morning to pray.”

o 122 years, 5 months, and 14 days – Jeanne Calment from Arles, France, a wealthy woman who never had to work. Died 8/4/97, the oldest documented person at that time. His advice? “Always keep your smile.”

or 119 years: Sarah Knauss died in 1999, the oldest American in history.

or 112 years old – George Johnson “The Sausage Man,” who recently died, had lived on a high-fat diet of hot dogs and waffles, but had the organs of someone in their 50s and 60s.

Super centenarians currently living

There are 75 living people, 64 women and 11 men, who are 110 or older, according to the Gerontology Research Group, a group based in Inglewood, California, that checks reports of extreme ages. Scientists have found certain genetic mutations in centenarians that can help delay aging or increase resistance to age-related diseases. The general consensus is that it is a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as health habits and a positive attitude, without stressing.

o 120 years: Mariam Amash, when applying for a new Israeli identity card in February 2008, claimed to have been born 120 years ago, which, if verified, would make her the oldest living person in the world. A relative says that he drinks a glass of olive oil every day.

o 115 years – Edna Parker turned 115 on 04/20/08, recognized New York in Guinness World Records as the oldest living person in the world. “We don’t know why he lived so long,” said Don Parker, his 59-year-old grandson. Relatives say that she has never cared and has always been a slim person. Their DNA is now preserved, along with 100 others, for research on centenarians living more than 110 years.

o Age 112 – Tomoji Tanabe from Japan, holds the record for the oldest man in the world.

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