Reflections on longevity

In demography, longevity is a synonym for life expectancy. However, in common parlance, it means long life. Various factors seem to contribute to a person’s longevity. Significant among them are gender, genetics, access to healthcare, hygiene, diet, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle.

In developed countries life expectancy is around 77-90 years. In developing countries the rate is 32-80 years. The Gerontology Research Group has validated certain longevity records. Geert Adriaans Boomgaard (1788-1899) lived for 110 years. He is supposed to be the first person to reach 110 years. Jeanne Calment (1875-1997) lived for 122 years. He is the oldest person in history whose age has been verified by modern documentation.

Sarah Knauss (1880-1999) lived for 119 years. He is the second oldest documented person in modern times and the oldest American. Jiroemon Kimura (1897-2013) celebrated his 116th birthday in April 2013. Today the oldest living person in the world is Misao Okawa born in 1898.

Genetics

In a developing country such as Sri Lanka very few people have lived beyond 100 years. Perhaps due to genetics and lifestyle choices certain leading Sri Lankans are reaching the centenary mark. Some notable personalities in this group are Dr Lester James Peries and Kalakeerthi Dr Edwin Ariyadasa.

Apart from genetics, environmental factors seem to have contributed to Dr Ariyadasa’s longevity. He turns 92 on December 2 confirming the fact that longevity is related to a healthy social and family life. Although he remains a bachelor, Dr Ariyadasa is a non-smoker, teetotaller and a vegetarian. Although he does not go to the gymnasium, he exercises his body by walking briskly to various places. He climbs staircases unaided, delivers talks while standing for hours and never misses important public functions.

In pre-industrial times deaths at young and middle age were common due to various diseases, accidents and malnutrition. However, some people lived up to 75 years. Some of them are Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Cato the Elder, Thomas Hobbes and Michaelangelo. This shows that longevity is not directly related to environmental factors.

Longevity

According to a recent research study, the world’s oldest people share no genetic secrets. In other words, genetics does not play a major role in longevity. A group of US scientists recently said that they have found no genetic secrets shared between a group of 17 supercentenarians or those who have lived beyond 110.

Unknown to many people, Dr Ariyadasa leads a simple life in a not-so-busy part of the metropolis. He is fully occupied in scholarly work such as writing to newspapers, delivering lectures at various functions and meeting a host of visitors to his humble abode. Although he is one of the busiest men in town, he never fails to oblige if you make a request to review a book, play or film.

He is well versed in English, Sinhala and Pali. Some years ago, he translated the Dhammapada into English and the book was published in Singapore. Today he keeps himself busy writing his autobiography which will be useful to the younger generation.

Dr Ariyadasa is one of the few bilingual journalists living today. He spent the major part of his life at Lake House writing and editing various publications. Navayugaya became a much sought after periodical when he was editing it. What is remarkable is that even today he is one of the most prolific writers on many subjects. Well-wishers hope that he will live to be one of Sri Lanka’s supercentenarians.

Supercentenarians

There are 74 supercentenarians alive worldwide today. Out of them 22 people live in the United States. The 17 people whose genomes were sequenced had lived up to 110. Their average death rate was at the age of 112. The longest living member of the group lived up to 116.

With the accelerated development drive, Sri Lanka will soon be one of the world’s most habitable countries. We are on the right path of regaining the past glory with a modern road network, clean parks and environmental awareness. Ultimately, Sri Lanka will produce supercentenarians who will bring credit to the country.

Men of Dr Ariyadasa’s calibre will a beacon to future generations who will follow in his footsteps. Out of all his good qualities, his memory plays an important role. He can remember important events, years and dates accurately. As a result, he has earned the sobriquet “the walking encyclopaedia.” Aldous Huxley of 1984 fame rightly said, “Each man’s memory is his private literature and every recollection affects us with something of the penetrative force that belongs to the work of art.”