100-Year Olds' Secret To Longevity

(WebMD)  The key to long life is a vivid interest in the world around you, a survey of 100-year-olds suggests.

That means people born when Teddy Roosevelt was president are watching music
videos and even listening to iPods, according to the poll from Evercare, a division of UnitedHealth Group focused on the health care needs of Americans aged 50 and older.

"We are finding older Americans are staying engaged and staying on top of what is going on in the world," Sherri Snelling, director of caregiving services at Evercare, tells WebMD.

Evercare's second annual telephone poll of 100 people aged 99 and older isn't a scientific study — it's a snapshot of the attitudes of American 100-year-olds. Eighty-seven percent of survey respondents were white; 70 percent still lived at home; 95 percent were 100 or older; and 70 percent were women.

The point of the poll, Snelling says, is simply to look at what successful aging looks like.

"When we think about the different aspects of staying involved in the world around us, these nuggets of information are helpful to us," she says.
Some of those nuggets:

31 percent of centenarians have watched reality TV shows.

27 percent of centenarians have watched MTV or music videos.

1 in 7 centenarians has played video games.

68 percent of centenarians get their news from television, although 40 percent read newspapers.

When asked whom they most trust to tell the truth, 34 percent of centenarians chose their minister, rabbi, or priest — just ahead of their doctor or nurse at 28 percent.

The most poignant finding is that 100-year-olds value their memories more than their physical comfort. When asked what they would like to change the most, 34 percent said "better memory" while 27 percent said "less aches and pains."

What was the most memorable day of their lives? Their wedding day, said 28 percent of centenarians.

On the other hand, 106-year-old Virginian Martha Hanks says there's no special secret to long life.

"I didn't do anything special," Hanks tells WebMD. "I just lived a normal life."


By Daniel DeNoon
Reviewed by Louise Chang
© 2007, WebMD Inc. All rights reserved

[oleander8]

The best way to stay young is to hang out with old folks - you're always "the kid".

[wiccantexan]

Thanks, anopinion1! I'm 104 lbs soaking wet and am disgustingly boring (aka, no smoking, drinking). So, I guess I've got a few good years left ahead. Go me!

[anopinion1]

its the little 90 lb 5 foot nothing women that can live almost forever. It allows the heart to work alot less throughout their lives. well that and taking care of themselves.(not smoking,drinking daily and whatnot)

[extremophil]

Henny Youngman once said that the secret to a long life was "keep breathing".