What's the likelihood living till 100 years old?

[samsungxoxo]

Usually our life span is around 80-90 but is there a way to increase the chances of being alive to celebrate your 100th birthday?? It would be cool to live 100 years or more.

 

In my mother's side: My great-great grandmother lived till 102+ years old, my great grandmother passed away just 3 days ago and today was going to be her 101st birthday and then comes my grandmother who is only 72 at this moment, mother and I.

 

From my father's side: His father lived till his 80's, his paternal grandfather died somewhere in his late 80's and his grandfather's father was in his 90's. However, he has certain members that didn't make it that long such as his mother who was only in her late 70's, his older sister died at that age too but his maternal grandmother was in her 90's when she died.

 

Now I'm wondering if I'll make till 100+ years old? That would be great. Right now I'm 26 years old (will be turning 27 on April) and sometimes I'm told I can easily passed out for a 20-22 year-old. I guess this favors my life span, hopefully.

 

I've never scrubbed a bathroom either nor did heavy household chores. I don't use detergent too much and as a result my hands aren't one bit wrinkled.

 

Or is there a chance I can still inherit my father's genes and not make it to that age?

Edited October 4, 2013 by samsungxoxo

[Mascara]

Every time they interview someone who made it to those kind of ages, they always ask them what their secret is. And it usually seems to involve booze and smokes, so I think it is all about your genes.

 

Personally, I want to die at 89 on the back of a motorbike.

[samsungxoxo]

I've never smoked in my life but do drink once in a while long. I guess that'll prolong my life span.

 

I really wish to make it to a full century, where I'm laying down on my bed reading a book and suddenly passing away; not only not finishing the book but wishing I could have learn more in life.

Edited October 5, 2013 by samsungxoxo

[FitChick]

It's genetic. Better start putting away a lot of money because you don't want to be old and poor.

[MercuryMorrison1]

Most people in my family live to be right around 100 years old, a few have made over and some have passed right under, but there's no denying that longevity runs in my family.

 

However, I'm not sure that I want to live to that age myself. I admit I am a fitness nut who eats clean and works out 6 days a week, but the idea of living to 100 kind of scares me. Because by the time I turn 100, not only will most of the people I've come to know and love (and will come to know and love in the future) will be dead, and on top of that, I don't envy the idea of deteriorating away to old age, It seems as though no matter how healthy and how active someone is, time eventually gets the better of them and they start the long painful process of getting sicker and sicker until eventually old age claims their life.

 

But who know's how things will turn out.

[thefooloftheyear]

Most people in my family live to be right around 100 years old, a few have made over and some have passed right under, but there's no denying that longevity runs in my family.

 

However, I'm not sure that I want to live to that age myself. I admit I am a fitness nut who eats clean and works out 6 days a week, but the idea of living to 100 kind of scares me. Because by the time I turn 100, not only will most of the people I've come to know and love (and will come to know and love in the future) will be dead, and on top of that, I don't envy the idea of deteriorating away to old age, It seems as though no matter how healthy and how active someone is, time eventually gets the better of them and they start the long painful process of getting sicker and sicker until eventually old age claims their life.

 

But who know's how things will turn out.

 

Kind of my thinking as well...I just dont see myself as an old man...And knowing myself, I wouldnt be one of those nice and pleasant old guys, i'd wind up being one of those cranky old SOB's that is miserable all the time and gives everyone a hard time.

 

TFY

[SearchingforPlayer2]

How do you live to be over 100?

 

Well according to Jiminy Cricket, "Don't be a fool."

[EasyHeart]

My understanding of the current science is that the length of your life is programmed into your genes. Even if you punish your body by smoking 3 packs a day, it will only reduce your lifespan by a year.

 

The big difference is how you live the last 30-40 years of your life. If you eat right and exercise, you can be functional and do pretty much anything you want until one day you just fall over and die. If you don't eat right and exercise, last 20-30 years of your life will be one degenerative condition after another as you die slowly and misearably.

 

That's your choice.

[carhill]

What's the likelihood living till 100 years old?

 

For a person your age, very likely.

 

IME, it's a combination of nature and nurture, meaning your genetics combined with your life conditions in early childhood followed by your adult decisions. The more risk-taking behaviors one engages in, the more likely the grim reaper will come earlier, either through catastrophic death or slow wasting.

 

Tip: I've noted fellow men sometimes have a problem with taking little signs of health problems seriously and/or 'toughing it out' and this can cause marked damage if the ignored problem is degenerative. Hence, my advice is, if an issue doesn't resolve on its own, get it looked at, along with being in touch with one's body and paying attention to things that seem 'off'.

 

As an example from my male demographic, nearly all of whom work in physically demanding jobs, I developed equipment to limit the physical damage from my job on my body so, in my mid-50's, it hasn't suffered from the typical broken bones, pulled muscles, cartilage/disk issues that many of my friends have suffered, causing both pain, use of medications (hard on other organs), and exposure to surgeries/hospitals/complications, etc. A simple choice back when I was your age, to sacrifice job security to go on my own and work by my own rules, has helped my health. Could I die tomorrow? Absolutely. Each day is a gift.

 

The good news is that many people live long, healthy lives and have been doing so for many decades, even back hundreds of years, comparatively. Make it count. Good luck.

[Shepp]

Is it all it's cracked up to be thou?

 

I don't want to be old and frail, I don't wanna be sick or have my body slowly give out on me, I don't wanna outlive my wife or kids when I have them.

 

I dunno, when it's your time it's your time, no point worrying about it.

[Imported]

Barring accidents and violence, I think my chances are almost 100% I will live to be 100+. My family tree is littered with members that lived till they were @ there on both sides, although my mom's side even more so. I'm in very good shape for any age. Doctors tell me that.

 

I thought I would need a liver transplant by now, but apparently it is doing great. I rarely wear safety glasses, but my eyesight is still 20/20. Seat belts? Yeah, I wear them, but only because all my cars beep angrily at me if I don't. Red meat? Love it!

 

I am pretty sure I am indestructible. I should probably look into getting a cape, tights and boots.

 

Not really sure I want to live forever though. Other than to outlive all the radish chewing, pasty clammy skinned, always telling me how bad the food I like is..... vegetarians...especially the vegan variety! Always worried about how long they'll live. Well, I will probably outlive most of them and I am not trying to.

Edited October 20, 2013 by Imported

[HokeyReligions]

If the things you enjoy in life are "bad for you" (smoking. Heavy foods and sweets. Drinking. Sedentary lifestyle. Etc.) Who would want to live that long? Is living that long denying what you enjoy worth it?

 

My husband is 62. He's dying. My view is colored grey.

[Leegh]

In addition to what the other folks said, a lot of folks die from accidents. I know of several people who died young in car accidents. In addition, the more athletic a person is, there is more of a chance they can become injured, skiing accident, boating accident, etc. Try to be careful, wear your seatbelt, and eat well and hope for the best. Lots of folks do indeed live to 100 or more. A great attitude is important too, and keeping the mind active.

[carhill]

Relevant to the 'accident' issue, my tip would be to not rely on airbags to protect one from inattention to driving duties and to refrain from texting while driving. The potential 100+ life you preserve may be your own. Those of us who have been trained professionally for driving, whether on or off-track, have a marked fear of an inattentive driver. It's my single largest fear when driving every day. We know how easy it is to die and have seen people die and that changes a person. Stay safe out there and live long.

[crederer]

My Oma passed away a couple months ago. She was 89 and smoked 2 packs a day since she was 12 years old.

 

Genetics plays a bigger factor than anything, IMO.

 

My Opa (her husband) lived to the same age (he was 8 years older than her, though). He drank like crazy for most of his life. Wasn't until his 70's that he slowed down on the drinking (still drank though, just a taste here and there).

 

Now on my fathers side, my grandma is 82, looks 62, on no medication at all, and will probably outlive all her grandkids.

 

My grandpa, has had several heart attacks and was quite with it for his age (80) but his hearing and eyesite have gone downhill significantly in the last few months, probably going to go soon but it was a sudden thing. He was pretty much as with it as a 40 year old until about a year ago.

Edited October 22, 2013 by crederer

[theonlyjuan]

A lot of food lacks the nutrients that we need. There are a lot of GMO foods that are not good for the body. There's so much pollution in the air too, some people believe the chemicals in tap water are not good for the body either.

 

You could be the healthiest person around and get into an accident. Some athletes have randomly died of a heart attacks

[TaraMaiden]

Of course, everyone assumes they'll die a natural death....

[Jeff78]

Keep that staying alive for a long time, say 100 years, isn't a desirable goal in and of itself. I don't think any of us wants to spend the last 20 to 30 years of our life debilitated independent in a nursing home.

 

Age management people talk about "squaring the curve", meaning rather than having a gradual decline in vitality as time passes (the declining curve) they aim to maintain robust vitality for as long as possible followed by a rather rapid decline to death.

 

I smiled when I read the post by a woman who said she wanted to die at age 89 on the back of a motor scooter. That's definitely squaring the curve.

 

A number of people have alluded to genetics as if that's destiny. Far from. In the vast majority of situations genetics is only a predisposition and the genes need a environmental trigger for full expression. For example, I know a fellow who has an extremely strong family history of heart disease and premature death among the men in his family but he's well into his 60s and still running half marathons. He's paid attention to his health and cardiac risk factors all his life and so far is handily beating his genetic "destiny".

 

Yes, the we've all heard the stories about people that smoke two packs a day and live to be 90 years old or whatever. Obviously they had good genetics. Who knows how much more vital they would have been if they hadn't smoked. It's guaranteed that you can't smoke two packs a day for 70 years and not adversely influence your vitality.

 

Of course none of us get any guarantees so it's always good to live life and savor every moment as if this day will be our last.