Learning from super-agers.
Dorothy Cole, oldest living Marine, dies at 107. Grace Tichota, Cedar Rapids, NE, dies at 103.
Joe Newman, 107, drives a red convertible, squiring around his finacee, Anita who is 100.
John and Charlotte Henderson of Austin, Texas (107 and 105, respectively) have been married 85 years, the oldest living married couple in America.
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Everyday I seem to see and read about more and more elders reaching the age of 100 and beyond. Good for them. I’m always interested to know more about their lives, their lifestyles. What can they teach me about a long lived life? Have they won the lottery on life, or do they have some secrets they can impart to those of us wanting to reach that lofty goal of 100 plus years of life?
The New England Centenarian Study has done much to shed light on the population of centenarians (100-104), semi-super centenarians (105-109) and super centenarians (110+ years old). It started in 1994 and continues to this day, seeking out and learning from this older population. If interested, you can sign up for the study. You just have to be 103 years old or 100+ years old with siblings.
Much of the study takes a close look at genetics and the role it plays in longevity. It does appear that exceptional longevity runs strongly in families. Further conclusions were somewhat complicated for my simple brain to understand, but my biggest takeaway was quite simply the longer you live the longer you live. In other words, among this population disability and morbidity are compressed towards the end of exceptionally long lives and the genetic influence actually increases in each aging year.
When this study was first started there was about 1 centenarian for very 10,000 people in the U.S. Today that number is about 1 in 6,000. In 2017 the study enrolled its 150th supercentenarian. It’s not surprising that women make up the majority of centenarians. But interestingly enough, men are the more functionally better off and healthier of that very old group. Speculation is that, while more of them die sooner than women, the men that survive end up being stronger and healthier.
The study’s website includes video interviews with some of the subjects like Ike Newcom, 107, greeting five generations of his family. Or Burnette Nelms, 108, practicing tai chi and dancing with her family. Some of the subjects lived in group facilities; others appeared to be in their own homes. All were enjoying life in many interesting and worthwhile ways.
Where are all of these super-agers? Does locale make a difference? Dr. John Day discovered a place in China that he later coined The Longevity Village. This remote little village in southwest China has many super-agers. In fact, nearly one in every 100 people there is over 100 years old. Without the usual medical benefits of hospitals, health clinics and doctors, many of the residents are active, healthy, happy AND disease free. Dr. Day set out to find out why.
Dr. Day first visited Bapan in 2012 and continued to visit every year after that, learning about the daily practices of these people — the secrets, if you will, of their longevity. Once revealed, he began to adopt some of their practices to his own life and that of his patients. He is a practicing cardiologist. The result for him was dropping nearly 40 pounds of weight, lower cholesterol and blood pressure readings, and the elimination of a host of medications he’d been taking. He saw similar results in his patients.
He chronicles his journey in his book, “The Longevity Plan: Seven Life Transforming Lessons from Ancient China.”
So what is unique about these residents of the Longevity Village. Unique is not necessarily the most accurate word because what they are doing is nothing new or difficult. If I were to sum it up in two words it would be simplicity and joy. The seven lessons Dr. Day describes are these:
—Eat real food. No junk food in the kitchens of these citizens. Their meals are loaded with all sorts of vegetables and fruits. They eat fish occasionally and meat only on special occasions.
—Change your attitude. In spite of having lived through famine, war and other tragedies, the people in the Longevity Village are filled with positivity and optimism. Many of them told Day that they were leading the best years of their lives and expected tomorrow to be even better.
—Connect with others. The village is remote but that doesn’t stop the residents from joining together to support one another. They are being useful where they are. As one woman stated, “When your life is important to others and their lives are important to you, then you are very rich.”
—Stay in motion. Since it’s China, you might expect the Village residents to be doing tai chi. Possibly, but most are staying active by walking a lot, working in their fields and gardens and taking every opportunity to stay in motion.
—Stick to a schedule. These people wake up, eat and sleep at the same times everyday. Abiding by the routine simplifies their lives and keeps them focused.
—Purify your environment. There’s a benefit to living in a remote and isolated location where there is little access to harsh chemicals and cleaning agents found in many of our modern homes.
—Have a passion. The Village people are busy with each other, with the work they do and thoughts of what they’d like to do. “I may be 108, but I still have many things I’d like to do,” a resident commented.
Looking at photos of some of the residents, I see old and aging faces but I also see happiness and joy. Pure and simple joy. There’s a lot the Village people can teach us.
Another place to look for answers to longevity is Blue Zones. Founded by Dan Buettner, the organization’s main goal is to help individuals and communities live longer better. The website is chock full of helpful information to do just that.
There are recipes and food guidelines, articles by experts and thought leaders who share their insights about longevity. Entire BlueZone communities are featured where locals have collectively adopted practices that promote longevity. The results have been lower employee absenteeism, higher grades for students and overall positive attitudes in the community.
The New England study. Longevity Village. Blue Zones. Have they helped me to find that fountain of youth? The New England study tells me that genes play a certain role in predicting ones chances for longevity. My mother was 97 when she passed; her father was 96. So I have that going for me.
Beyond that what I’ve seen in the residents of Bapan and the many articles and interviews of Blue Zone prophets and professionals is really quite simple. Because that is the answer: SIMPLIFY and follow a few simple guidelines.
*Eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat.
*Don’t smoke
*Chill. Eliminate stress and exchange it for optimism and a positive attitude.
*Keep moving in whatever form you choose.
*And above all, be happy.
Photo by Italo Melo on Pexels.com
Thank you, super agers, for your advice. No, there isn’t a secret to the fountain of youth. Just clean living and a good dose of common sense. But it never hurts to be reminded of these things and in more detail. So I’ll continue my quest because at the end of the day why not. As good old Abe Lincoln said,
It’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years.
My goal is still 120. With a lot of life in each year.