Optimal ageing

There are more centenarians in the world than ever before, with Japan alone having more than 51,000 people who are over 100. The life expectancy of men and women in many countries, including developing countries, has increased sharply over the past few decades. People are now living longer, thanks to a variety of factors from advanced healthcare to productive opportunities for the aged. Still, living to be 100 is something special.

It was only a few days ago that Jiroemon Kimura, who had been recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person and the oldest man ever, died of natural causes at the age of 116.

Kimura, of Kyotango, Japan, was born April 19, 1897. Officials in Kyotango said he died in a local hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for pneumonia. According to Guinness, Kimura was the first man in history to have lived to 116 years.

Kimura became the oldest man ever on December 28, 2012, at the age of 115 years, 253 days, breaking the record set by Christian Mortensen, a Danish immigrant to the United States, whose life spanned from 1882-1998.

The title of oldest living person is now held by another Japanese, 115-year-old Misao Okawa, of Osaka.Okawa, who was born March 5, 1898, is also the world's oldest living woman.

“Jiroemon Kimura was an exceptional person,” said Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records. “As the only man to have ever lived for 116 years - and the oldest man whose age has been fully authenticated - he has a truly special place in world history.”

The words “fully authenticated” are significant, because there are many claims about people who have lived far beyond 116. In fact, just a few days before Kimura’s death, Chinese media reported the death of Luo Meizhen whose age is generally quoted as 127. She is believed to have been born in Guangxi, China in 1885. However, she did not have an authentic, certified birth certificate, which is an essential criterion for Guinness.

Secret

What is the secret of longevity? On his 115th birthday, Kimura said he was keeping his mind fit by learning English. He attributed his longevity to getting out in the sunlight. I am always looking up towards the sky. That is how I am,” Kimura has said.

He never suffered from serious diseases and was still able to communicate, though he spent most of his time in bed in his last few years, his relatives have disclosed.

As Kimura’s lifestyle shows, a little bit of exercise can help prolong your life. A recent study showed that walking even 15 minutes a day is good for your health. A good, balanced diet and mental exercise (keeping the mind busy) can also make a significant contribution. However, one of the biggest factors may be stress - or rather the lack of it. Research undertaken in some Mediterranean villages, where many villagers routinely live past 100, has shown that the villagers totally lack stress which makes them happier and care-free than the rest of us. Thus they had no hypertension or heart trouble.

Ageing (the politically correct term is ‘optimal ageing’) is good from an individual point of view, but there are many other concerns that Governments and societies have to face.

A larger amount of funds has to be spent on healthcare for the elderly and considerable strain is also placed on pension systems. Since many elderly people are fit enough to work but cannot find work due to the employment market pressure from young entrants, a social vacuum is created. Indeed, giving enough productive opportunities to the elderly has become a major issue in both developed and developing countries.

Ageing is often thought of as an irreversible process, but many attempts are being made to stop the march of years. It is generally believed that the first human who live to be 150 has already been somewhere in the world.

There are three approaches to reversing the process of ageing - one is literally cosmetic, with skin creams and other concoctions that are supposed to give you a younger look. Some people also take the extreme step of going under the plastic surgeon’s knife to look younger and healthier. The second approach, as explained earlier, is leading a healthy lifestyle, eating healthy foods especially those with anti-ageing properties.

Approach

The third approach is the most exciting one. This calls for medicines and supplements that can actually stop or even reverse ageing plus ‘bionic’ organs that have no wear and tear. Scientists are also studying genes that might be turning on the ageing processes in organs with a view to switching them off. Artificial organs have already been created and it is only a matter of time before they can be routinely fixed to living individuals.

It may also be possible to attach artificial devices to malfunctioning natural organs such as eyes.

The possibilities are endless. Just imagine having a heart that will literally go on.

This ultimately leads to the ultimate question: can we ever achieve immortality or else achieve a sufficiently long lifespan that feels like immortality, like 500 or 1,000 years? This is the holy grail of longevity research, the final goal. Immortality research is well under-way and just last week, the John Templeton Foundation, which has earned a name for spearheading such research, announced a further grant of US$ 100,000.

Immortality may be a nice word and a great ideal, but some moral issues remain. The biggest question is - at what age can they stop ageing? Is it 25, 50, 60, 70 or 100? Do you really want to live forever even if you have the choice? What would you do all those years? Will it be ‘exclusive’ to the rich? Even if it is extended to all, how does the world manage its population if everybody lives forever? How do countries care for their ‘undying’ citizens? There are no easy answers to the complex process of ageing (and immortality) and we will have to find the answers as the years take their toll on us.