Several oral communications on centenarians at the IAGG 2009 conference confirmed and elaborated on the themes mentioned in the poster summary article published on this blog.
B. Willcox (Pacifc Health Research Institute) presented the characteristics of supercentenarians, age 110 and over; in Okinawa. The majority had minimal disease until late in life with cataracts (42%) and fractures (33%) being common. Coronary heart disease (8%), stroke (8%), cancer (0%), diabètes (0%) were rare or absent. Most were independent at age 100 and few were institutionalized before age 105, at which point they often exhibited rapid decline. The author concluded that this group had an « élite phenotype ».
RPV studied the Tirupati centenarians in India. The centenarians and nonagenarians scored higher on health practices and health motivation than other groups. (RPV was not present. This comment is based on his abstract)
L Gavrilov studied centenarians in the US through World War I draft registration data. The author found that the stout body build was negatively associated with centenarian survival. Farming and having large number of children was positively associated with attaining centenarian status. Obesity at a young age was predictive of a three time lower chance for survival to age 100!
D. Jopp studied « self-efficacy » of centenarians and noted that they are able to distance themselves from problems, such as failing health.
G. Hann studied the intergenerational relationship of Korean centenarians. In Korea, longevity is interpreted in terms of a relational/family context rather than as an individual achievement. Most Korean centenarians live with their adult children’s family. Issues are caregiver burden and the fact that their children are old and cannot yet exercise elder status, as long as their parents are alive.
Commentary: There clearly does exist a genetic type favoring centenarian status. However, at any age, we can see that proper prevention, absence of obesity, good psychological make-up, and presence of a support network will favor better longevity…Without necessarily reaching centenary status, isn’t it everyone’s goal to live life to the fullest? Much of the answer lies in our hands (and legs!), heart and mind.
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