ANALYSIS - Why you should never take health advice from a 100-year-old

Living longer is a goal for many of us. But should we be following the lifestyles of those that live past 100?

- HOLLY MCHUGH

API RESPONSE

Centenarians – people who live to be 100 years old and over – were once a rare breed. But they've become increasingly common since the mid-to-late 20th century, thanks to improvements in diet, healthcare, and lifestyle. However, a recent analysis by the Office for National Statistics suggests that the number of centenarians in England and Wales may have peaked. In 2023, there was a 0.5 per cent decrease in centenarians compared to 2022, with the total falling from 14,920 to 14,850. This drop is thought to be tied to the decline of the post-WWI 'baby boom' generation.

How did so many people make it to this ripe old age? And can we learn from them to improve our chances of doing the same? It might seem logical to ask the oldest living people for their secret to longevity, but Dr Bradley Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Physiology at the University of Westminster, explains that this approach alone is unreliable due to a phenomenon known as survivorship bias (drawing conclusions from a group that has survived, while ignoring those who didn't).

Take Jeanne Calment, for example, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest human lifespan at 122 years and 164 days. She often attributed her remarkable longevity to a relaxed and carefree lifestyle. She married a rich husband and never had to work, loved cycling, and continued to drink wine and smoke at a very old age.

So, should we follow her example? "Some people just get phenomenally lucky," says Elliot. "Studying the oldest individuals can provide insights, but a more reliable approach would be to study people in their 60s over the following decades to identify factors that contribute to longevity." "Health recommendations, such as the NHS guideline for 150 minutes of exercise a week, are based on decades of research. It's a process of gathering the best possible information from multiple angles to make informed health decisions."