I’m delighted to feature this guest post by Laura J. Arul, MD, of L.J.A. Medical Communications.
In my last post, I gave an overview of the Blue Zones and their shared principles. This time, I’ll highlight three supercentenarians, or individuals who have lived past the age of 110, and the lessons we can learn from their lives.
Maria Branyas Morera, aged 117
1907 – 2024
Spain
Branyas held the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the oldest person alive until her death earlier this year. She experienced her share of tragedy, losing her father at a young age, enduring the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, surviving COVID-19, and living through the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
Branyas kept up with the times and regularly posted on Twitter (now X). In an interview with the GWR, Branyas stated her advanced age was due to “order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity and staying away from toxic people.”
Kane Tanaka, aged 119
1903 – 2022
Japan
In 2019, Tanaka held the title of oldest person alive. Like Branyas, Tanaka also lived through tough times, including her husband fighting in the Second Sino-Japanese War, her son serving during World War II and being held as a prisoner of war by the Soviets, as well as her battle with colon cancer.
In April 2022, Tanaka’s family shared a tweet from her: “I was able to come this far with the support of many people. I hope you will continue to have fun [and be] cheerful and energetic.” GWR reported that her daily routine included waking at 6 am, studying math and playing the board game Othello. She often indulged in eating chocolate.
Jeanne Calment, aged 122
1875 – 1997
France
Jeanne Calment is the oldest person to have ever lived. She was physically active, participating in many sports, including fencing, hunting, swimming, tennis, and cycling. She continued to cycle until the age of 100! She was married to a wealthy man and enjoyed a comfortable upper-society lifestyle. Nevertheless, she suffered personal losses, including the death of her daughter, aged 36, and the death of her grandson, aged 37.
In her later years living in a nursing home, GWR detailed her daily routine, including waking at 6:45 am, praying, stretching, having a 2-hour nap every afternoon, socializing with friends at the nursing home, listening to music, and going to bed at 10 pm. She attended mass every Sunday, enjoyed chocolate and dessert often, and drank port wine daily. Calment once said: “Always keep your smile. That’s how I explain my long life.”
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Lessons from these Supercentenarians
These three extraordinary women shared a few attributes we can all learn from.
Optimism
All three women have had similar optimism-anchored mindsets. They have attributed their longevity to remaining hopeful and staying away from those who are “toxic,” as Branyas described. This notion is backed by research. In a study led by Lewina Lee, optimism is associated with an 11% to 15% longer lifetime.
Don’t be defined by hardship
All three women also experienced significant personal losses, an inevitable part of life. They found a way to keep going despite these tragedies, demonstrating incredible resilience. Again, this is supported by research published in the British Medical Journal, which shows that mental resilience is a protective factor against premature mortality.
Social engagement and remaining active
These supercentenarians remained socially engaged with family or friends and practiced their faith. They have kept physically active through exercise and sport. They have also remained mentally sharp by continuing to learn, as in Branyas’s case of learning to use social media and Tanaka’s daily math and games practice.
Have a routine
Tanaka and Calment maintained strict routines in their later years, having a set wake-up time and engaging in daily activities such as prayer, exercise, and studying math. This kept them busy and stimulated and likely gave them a sense of daily purpose.
Enjoy life
We’ve all heard the adage “everything in moderation.” It’s essential to have balance in life, but one must also take the time to indulge occasionally. And that is precisely what these women did. They took time to enjoy little pleasures regularly. For Calment, that was a glass of wine every day, while Tanaka enjoyed eating chocolate often. Enjoying life does not have to be expensive, time-consuming, or complicated. We can all practice this simple lesson.
To learn more about the lives of the longest-lived, check out the Guinness World Records website here.
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