One goal of JYAJ is to inspire people to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle so they can live a long time. This also coincides with my goal to live until 107. Therefore, I love to read & share everything I can about living a long time. Here is an article in New Scientist that outlines some of the latest research about people who live past 100 years.
Is living past 100 years worthwhile?
Almost no one I know wants to live past 100 years. They imagine that it won’t be much of a life. People that old appear to be decrepit, in constant pain, and completely burdensome. It turns out, that’s not true. In fact, one-third of all centenarians still lived independently and mostly free of chronic disease. Exceptional longevity does not lead to high levels of disability.
If you’re old and independent, you can still be productive.
I know I’m hoping to still be able to joggle!
People who reach 100 years have typically lived independently until they were past 90 years old. In fact, only 25% of people over 90 live in nursing homes. So, I’ll try to stay out of them for as long as possible.
Problems with getting old
While you can still have a productive old age, you can expect some health problems. The most common problems that plague 
centenarians are
- Osteoarthritis – nearly everyone gets this
- Loneliness – thank God for Facebook
- Neurodegenerative diseases – you’ll get a little dementia but almost never Alzheimer’s
Interestingly, only 4% of centenarians die of cancer. It turns out that your chances of getting cancer drop significantly as you get past the age of 80.
The biggest killers of centenarians is Pneumonia, respiratory infections, accidents and intestinal problems.
How people live to 100
Scientists believe that lifestyle choices are about 70% responsible for getting you to an old age. The other 30% is random genetics and there’s little you can do about it.
4 key factors to living a long life.
- Diet – Eat lots of fruits & vegetables
- Exercise – Joggle every day
- Psycho-spiritual – You need the will to live
- Social – You need an active social network
And if you want some more advice, be sure to check out these tips for living until 107 and beyond.
There you have it. Now go out and try to live as long as possible. The only thing we know for sure in this life is that we exist now. Every day is a gift. That’s why they call it the “present”.
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Remember Pearl Harbor — Keep America Alert!
America’s oldest living Medal of Honor recipient, living his 101st year is former enlisted Chief Petty Officer, Aviation Chief Ordnanceman (ACOM), later wartime commissioned Lieutenant John W. Finn, U. S. Navy (Ret.). He is also the last surviving Medal of Honor, “The Day of Infamy”, Japanese Attack on the Hawaiian Islands, Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
(Now deceased) ‘Navy Centenarian Sailor’, 103 year old, former enlisted Chief Petty Officer, Aviation Chief Radioman (ACRM, Combat Aircrewman), later wartime commissioned Chief Warrant Officer Julio ‘Jay’ Ereneta, U. S. Navy (Ret.), is a thirty year career veteran of World War One and World War Two. He first flew aircrewman in August 1922; flew rearseat Radioman/Gunner (1920s/1930s) in the tactical air squadrons of the Navy’s first aircraft carriers, USS LANGLEY (CV-1) and USS LEXINGTON (CV-2).
Visit my photo album tribute to these centenarian veteran shipmates:
http://news.webshots.com/album/123286873BFAAiq
http://news.webshots.com/album/141695570BONFYl
San Diego, California
I’ve always told people that I’m going to live to be 125. My wife says I’ll have to find another wife because she doesn’t care to live that long — I’d like to have her around then. Personally, I think it would be fascinating to have observed the changes in the world over a period of a century and a quarter.