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Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
What helps some people live to 100 and beyond; know the science behind
Why do some people live well past 100, staying sharp in mind and active in body, while others struggle with chronic illnesses decades earlier? While healthy lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, and stress management play a vital role, scientists now believe that genetics may be just as important, especially in those who reach extreme old age. Researchers have been studying centenarians to understand what sets them apart, and it turns out that many of them age more slowly and avoid major illnesses until very late in life. From inherited genes to smart habits, a blend of biology and behavior seems to be the key to unlocking exceptional longevity. What sets 100-year-olds apart A centenarian is someone who lives to be 100 or older. In the United States, only about 1 in every 5,000 people reaches this milestone. Of those, around 85 percent are women. Interestingly, many centenarians do not just live long—they live well. They maintain independence, clear thinking, and mobility even into their late 90s or beyond. Scientists like Dr. Thomas Perls, who leads the New England Centenarian Study (NECS), have found that these individuals tend to delay the onset of age-related diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Clearance Sale: Exclusive handcrafted handbags - now 70% off Handmakers Report Read Now Undo How much of longevity is genetic? While lifestyle choices account for much of a person's ability to live into their 80s or 90s, reaching 100 and beyond seems to rely more heavily on genetics. According to Dr. Perls, getting to your 90s is about 30 percent genetic and 70 percent lifestyle. But if you are aiming for 110, the realm of supercentenarians, that ratio flips, with genetics accounting for up to 70 percent. NECS data shows that longevity often runs in families, with siblings and parents of centenarians also living long, healthy lives. These families seem to carry protective genes that slow aging and guard against chronic illness. Can healthy habits boost your odds? Yes, while you cannot change your DNA, lifestyle choices still make a huge difference. Dr. Perls recommends these habits to support long-term health: Manage stress: Chronic stress accelerates aging. Meditation, strong social ties, and fulfilling hobbies help. Eat smart: A mostly plant-based diet with minimal meat reduces disease risk and supports healthy weight. Do not smoke: Avoiding tobacco remains one of the top predictors of longevity. Stay active: Regular physical activity, especially strength training and walking, helps maintain muscle and function. Aging well versus aging sick A common misconception is that living longer means living sicker. But many centenarians experience what is called compressed morbidity. They stay healthy for most of their lives and only experience illness shortly before death. This contrasts with people who may develop chronic conditions in their 60s or 70s and live with them for decades. NECS participants often live independently well into their 90s, showing that longer life can also mean better life quality. The science behind the study The New England Centenarian Study, funded by the National Institute on Aging and private foundations, has followed over 2,000 centenarians to better understand longevity. By comparing genetic patterns, lifestyle habits, and family history, researchers aim to uncover the biological foundations of extreme aging. Stories like that of Celia, a 102-year-old woman who still plays classical piano in public, prove that long life does not have to mean decline. It can mean thriving.
Boston Globe
15-07-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Fauja Singh, master runner at an advanced age, is dead
Three days after the track meet, Mr. Singh performed yet another rousing feat. He became the first reputed centenarian to complete a race of 26.2 miles by finishing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours 25 minutes 16 seconds. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up There were two complications. Mr. Singh received assistance in crossing the finish line, statisticians said. More troubling, he had a passport but could not produce a birth certificate for race officials or Guinness World Records to verify the authenticity of his achievements. Advertisement Mr. Singh died on Monday, his startling accomplishments of 2011 both celebrated and unconfirmed. He was hit by a car while on his daily walk in his home village of Beas Pind in the Punjab region of India and died in a hospital, his former coach, Harmander Singh (no relation), said in a phone interview from London. He had returned to India to live during the pandemic. Advertisement Fauja Singh gave his birth date as April 1, 1911, and said he was born in Beas Pind. The country was ruled by Britain at the time, and birth certificates were not regularly issued in villages. His parents were farmers. Mr. Singh's case became emblematic of the difficulties race officials faced in determining the ages of elderly runners, especially when the athletes were born in places where birth certificates were unavailable or lost during tumultuous times. 'People in the Third World are at a disadvantage for being taken seriously,' Harmander Singh told The New York Times in 2016. Still, Fauja Singh had his supporters among fans and officials. Smith, the Ontario Masters official, said, 'As far as I'm concerned, he was legit.' But, he added: 'They just can't start allowing world records when there is no birth certificate. It opens a whole can of worms.' Dr. Thomas Perls, director of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University, said in an interview in 2016 that it was possible that a centenarian could run 26.2 miles. Stressing that he had not examined Mr. Singh, Perls said: 'I'm not saying he's that age. All I'm saying is it's conceivable to see a 100-year-old running a marathon.' For his part, Mr. Singh told the Times in 2016 that he did not begrudge officials for not ratifying his achievements. 'I've done everything openly, nothing in secret,' he said by telephone from London, with his coach serving as an interpreter. 'If it makes some people happy to question it, it has made a lot of other people happier who believe it.' Advertisement He did not walk until he was 5 and was given the nickname Stick because of his weak and spindly legs, according to an ESPN profile of him in 2013. Rather than attend school, he worked on a farm, feeding cattle and growing corn and wheat. He eventually married and had six children. Singh's wife, Gian Kaur, died in 1992, according to Harmander Singh. His youngest daughter died in childbirth, and a son was killed in 1994 when struck in the head by a sheet of windblown corrugated metal during a storm. Other children emigrated from India. As Mr. Singh was reeling from these tragedies and losses, he said, he began his masters running career. 'Running gave him a new focus in life, made it worth living,' Harmander Singh said, adding that Fauja Singh moved to London after his wife's death to live with a son. Fauja Singh's first marathon was the 2000 London Marathon, which he finished in 6 hours 54 minutes. He ran other marathons in London, New York, and Toronto and was featured in an advertising campaign by Adidas. A Sikh, he was called the Turbaned Tornado and was described as the world's oldest marathon runner by journalists. 'The first 20 miles are not difficult,' he told reporters. 'As for the last six miles, I run while talking to God.' By 2016, his marathon days were over, but Mr. Singh continued to walk up to 10 miles a day in Ilford, in East London, his coach said. He ascribed his longevity to a vegetarian diet and abstinence from tobacco and alcohol. 'Once I started to overcome the tragedies in my life, I started getting recognition,' Singh told the Times. 'That and support motivated me to carry on. It made me more disciplined to stick to a routine. I could forget my problems and remain happy and avoid negativity.' Advertisement In 2020, Simran Jeet Singh, a Sikh writer and activist, published a children's book, 'Fauja Singh Keeps Going.' A tale of perseverance based on Mr. Singh's life, it was reportedly the first children's picture book by a major publisher to center on a Sikh story. 'I'm now 108 years old, which means I'm probably more than 100 years older than you,' Mr. Singh wrote in the book's foreword in a message to young readers. 'Can you believe that?' While his records were not ratified, his efforts reflected perseverance and resilience among the aging, Harmander Singh, said. He noted that Queen Elizabeth II had sent Fauja Singh a telegram on his supposed 100th birthday in 2011 and another when he was said to have turned 105. While he could not verify Fauja Singh's age, Harmander Singh said that, presuming the British government did its due diligence in giving him a pension, 'I imagine it's good enough for me.' This article originally appeared in
Economic Times
30-05-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
Forget anti-ageing hacks. Scientist shares 4 simple tips on how to live past 100 years
Eat five different colors every day Move every single day and mix it up Prioritize sleep Always learn something new Living to 100 might seem like a distant dream, but for behavioral neuroscientist Stacy Andersen, it's a life goal backed by science. As co-director of the New England Centenarian Study, she's spent decades studying people who not only live long but also thrive well into their 90s and 100s. From chatting with sprightly centenarians over breakfast to observing their day-to-day routines, Andersen has found that living long isn't about chasing the fountain of youth — it's about making consistent, intentional an interview with Business Insider, she shared four daily habits Andersen personally follows, inspired by her years of research into the world's healthiest elders:Andersen makes it a point to eat fruits and vegetables in at least five different colors daily. This ensures she gets a wide variety of nutrients while keeping meals visually fun and balanced. Her diet consists of legumes, lean meats, nuts, and olive oil which is linked to better heart health, reduced inflammation, and longer life movement is a non-negotiable for Andersen. Whether she's hiking with her dog or running on a treadmill, staying active is key. Many of the centenarians she's studied walk daily, garden, or keep busy with household chores, simple forms of exercise that keep the body and mind a solid eight hours of sleep is another habit Andersen sticks to. But more than the number of hours, she believes consistency is crucial. Waking up refreshed and ready for the day is the real indicator of good sleep quality. She also shared that there's a deeper benefit — during sleep, the brain clears away harmful proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, essentially giving your mind a nightly recently took up sailing, not just for fun, but to challenge her brain and body. She encourages everyone to pursue a new skill, whether it's painting, music, or a new sport. It's about engaging your brain in unfamiliar ways, which helps strengthen neural pathways and promotes long-term brain health.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Forget anti-ageing hacks. Scientist shares 4 simple tips on how to live past 100 years
Living to 100 might seem like a distant dream, but for behavioral neuroscientist Stacy Andersen, it's a life goal backed by science. As co-director of the New England Centenarian Study, she's spent decades studying people who not only live long but also thrive well into their 90s and 100s. From chatting with sprightly centenarians over breakfast to observing their day-to-day routines, Andersen has found that living long isn't about chasing the fountain of youth — it's about making consistent, intentional choices. In an interview with Business Insider, she shared four daily habits Andersen personally follows, inspired by her years of research into the world's healthiest elders: Eat five different colors every day Andersen makes it a point to eat fruits and vegetables in at least five different colors daily. This ensures she gets a wide variety of nutrients while keeping meals visually fun and balanced. Her diet consists of legumes, lean meats, nuts, and olive oil which is linked to better heart health, reduced inflammation, and longer life spans. Move every single day and mix it up Daily movement is a non-negotiable for Andersen. Whether she's hiking with her dog or running on a treadmill, staying active is key. Many of the centenarians she's studied walk daily, garden, or keep busy with household chores, simple forms of exercise that keep the body and mind sharp. Prioritize sleep Getting a solid eight hours of sleep is another habit Andersen sticks to. But more than the number of hours, she believes consistency is crucial. Waking up refreshed and ready for the day is the real indicator of good sleep quality. She also shared that there's a deeper benefit — during sleep, the brain clears away harmful proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, essentially giving your mind a nightly cleanse. Always learn something new Andersen recently took up sailing, not just for fun, but to challenge her brain and body. She encourages everyone to pursue a new skill, whether it's painting, music, or a new sport. It's about engaging your brain in unfamiliar ways, which helps strengthen neural pathways and promotes long-term brain health.
