Post 100 Years

How old is old enough? I refer to your life span. Humans deteriorate so much in the late years it is as much a punishment as a blessing to reach the 100 year old mark. I remember a fellow who was interviewed on his 100th birthday. The interviewer asked him what's the secret to a happy life.  He said, "Die at 80".  Smart or just funny for 100 year old. Why am I mentioning this subject? It's because we had another of the "oldest person alive dies" new stories the other day.

Susannah Jones died in New York City at the age of 116 years. Old Susannah must have inherited the right genes. But Old Susannah's longevity is more common than many think. The United States alone  has the most centenarians with currant estimates as high as 72,000. If the population of centenarians continues to increase at its current rate of expansion there could be close to 1 million people of 100 years of age or more by 2050 residing in the US. 

Could you image the a wait in the grocery store check-out line with two of those in front of you?
Anyway, the people who come up with those statistics say that their current estimates put the figure of total centenarians worldwide at about 450,000. Exact numbers may be difficult to determine, they claim, since many centenarians live in developing or outlying areas, where census data is not often available. What is certain is that there seems to be a maximum life age for all of us. After 110 very few people are still alive and wearing their depends.

The research on super oldies shows that there is no single "age gene" that accounts for their ability to live to such an old age.  But the overall the genes of centenarians allow them to compress the time of greatest sickness and weakness into the very latest part of their lives. Their immune systems are super strong until they weaken  rapidly past age 100. Almost all centenarians have been relatively healthy through their 80’s and into their 90’s. And only later than that started to decline. Researchers say that if you have a strong family history for longevity you probably have some genetic protection, and can afford to indulge a little bit in terms of lifestyle. Go have that greasy burger, fries and ice cream if so. It won't kill you.

Now that the oldie king, old Susannah has left is the new one is from Italy, a lady also 116 years old named Emma Morano.  She is the last known living person born in the 1880s, her birth date being Nov. 29, 1899.  That means that Emma was already 18 years old when World War II ended. She has seen a lot (but let's hope she missed reality TV). I wonder how those experiences changed or shaped her attitudes today? Today Emma lives in a small apartment, which she never leaves, accompanied by a caregiver and two relatives who visit often.  Though she lived a hard life that included physical abuse and long physical work days, Emma says that today she is "fine".

Does this make you want to live beyond 100? I think longevity in itself is not a good barometer to a good life. But then, ask any 99 year old if he or she wants to live to 100 and I suspect that "yes" would be the answer every time