Expert Cautions Against Following Health Tips from Centenarians
According to biogerontology professor Richard Faragher, the health decisions of centenarians have minimal impact on their longevity. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The lifestyle choices of centenarians do not necessarily guarantee longevity for others, a biogerontology professor has said.
Richard Faragher, a professor of biogerontology at the University of Brighton in the UK, has cautioned against viewing the health and lifestyle habits of the world’s oldest individuals as a definitive guide to achieving longevity.
He pointed out that the reasons behind why some individuals reach the age of 100 while others do not remain a topic of ongoing debate. Many experts attribute longevity to factors such as luck or genetics, but Faragher emphasizes that there is consensus among specialists regarding one critical point: those striving for a longer life should “never, ever take health and lifestyle tips from a centenarian.”
This warning comes shortly after the death of Maria Branyas Morera, the world’s oldest woman, who passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 117 on August 19. Morera credited her long life to “order, tranquility… no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.” Her passing was preceded by the death of Juan Vicente Perez Mora, the world’s oldest man, who died in April at the age of 114. Mora’s advice for a lengthy life included “work hard, rest on holidays, go to bed early,” as well as “drink a glass of aguardiente [a strong alcoholic drink] every day.”
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Faragher remarked that, similar to Morera and Mora, many centenarians don’t mention exercise or a healthy diet when discussing the secrets behind their longevity. Some of these individuals, he noted, openly admit to having smoked and consumed alcohol without restraint, which contradicts much of the epidemiological evidence concerning the promotion of a long and healthy life.
“Merely because you have survived smoking 60 a day doesn’t mean that smoking 60 a day is good for you… The fact that [centenarians] do many of these unhealthy things and still just coast through says they’re either lucky or typically very well endowed,” he explained. He raised a point about the notion that a positive mental attitude, as mentioned by Morera, may actually be a result of good health rather than a contributing factor to longevity. “When was the last time you had a really positive mental attitude and toothache?” he posed rhetorically.
Following Morera’s death, Tomiko Itooka of Japan, who is 116 years old and was born on May 23, 1908, is now recognized as the world’s oldest living person, according to the US Gerontology Research Group. The title of the oldest person ever documented belongs to France’s Jeanne Louise Calment, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 122, as per Guinness.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
Richard Faragher, a professor of biogerontology at the University of Brighton in the UK, has cautioned against viewing the health and lifestyle habits of the world’s oldest individuals as a definitive guide to achieving longevity.
He pointed out that the reasons behind why some individuals reach the age of 100 while others do not remain a topic of ongoing debate. Many experts attribute longevity to factors such as luck or genetics, but Faragher emphasizes that there is consensus among specialists regarding one critical point: those striving for a longer life should “never, ever take health and lifestyle tips from a centenarian.”
This warning comes shortly after the death of Maria Branyas Morera, the world’s oldest woman, who passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 117 on August 19. Morera credited her long life to “order, tranquility… no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.” Her passing was preceded by the death of Juan Vicente Perez Mora, the world’s oldest man, who died in April at the age of 114. Mora’s advice for a lengthy life included “work hard, rest on holidays, go to bed early,” as well as “drink a glass of aguardiente [a strong alcoholic drink] every day.”
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Faragher remarked that, similar to Morera and Mora, many centenarians don’t mention exercise or a healthy diet when discussing the secrets behind their longevity. Some of these individuals, he noted, openly admit to having smoked and consumed alcohol without restraint, which contradicts much of the epidemiological evidence concerning the promotion of a long and healthy life.
“Merely because you have survived smoking 60 a day doesn’t mean that smoking 60 a day is good for you… The fact that [centenarians] do many of these unhealthy things and still just coast through says they’re either lucky or typically very well endowed,” he explained. He raised a point about the notion that a positive mental attitude, as mentioned by Morera, may actually be a result of good health rather than a contributing factor to longevity. “When was the last time you had a really positive mental attitude and toothache?” he posed rhetorically.
Following Morera’s death, Tomiko Itooka of Japan, who is 116 years old and was born on May 23, 1908, is now recognized as the world’s oldest living person, according to the US Gerontology Research Group. The title of the oldest person ever documented belongs to France’s Jeanne Louise Calment, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 122, as per Guinness.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
