Some of them became true historical record holders and proved that the human body is capable of functioning much longer than many people think.

Jeanne Calment – ​​122 years old

The most famous confirmed longevity record belongs to the Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment.

She was born in 1875 in France and died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.

During her lifetime, she witnessed enormous changes: the advent of automobiles, airplanes, television, computers, and space travel.

Fun fact: Jeanne dated the artist Vincent van Gogh when she was a young woman. She said he used to come to her family's store.

She believed the secret to longevity was moderation in diet, activity, and a good mood.

Kane Tanaka - 119 years old

Japanese Kane Tanaka was born in 1903 and lived to be 119.

She survived two world wars, the development of aviation, and the advent of television and the internet.

Until old age, she maintained a zest for life, loved socializing, and simple daily activities.

Japan is known for its high number of long-lived people, and scientists attribute this to their diet, active lifestyle, and culture of caring for the elderly.

Saturnino de la Fuente - 112 years old

Spanish Saturnino de la Fuente lived to be 112 years old.

He was born in 1909 and spent most of his life as a shoemaker.

He survived the 1918 flu pandemic, the Spanish Civil War, and the enormous changes of the 20th century.

Li Qingyun – 197 years old?

History often mentions the Chinese herbalist Li Qingyun, who supposedly lived to be 197 or even 256 years old.

However, these figures have no reliable historical evidence. This is one of the most famous myths about longevity.

Nevertheless, this story shows how long people have been interested in the question: why do some people live so much longer than others?

People who lived over 100 years in different eras

Hundreds of centenarians have been known throughout history:

Thomas Parr from England - supposedly lived to be around 152 years old, but the accuracy of this data is questionable.
Christian Mortensen from Denmark and the USA - 115 years old.
Emma Morano from Italy - 117 years old.
Nabi Tajima from Japan - 117 years old.
Why do some people live so long?

Scientists believe that longevity depends on a combination of many factors:

Genetics.
Some people are naturally endowed with stronger immune systems.

Diet.
Many centenarians ate simple foods: vegetables, fish, fruits, legumes, nuts, and fewer processed foods.

Exercise.
Most centenarians did not engage in strenuous exercise, but they walked a lot and remained active every day.

Low stress levels.
A quiet life, good family relationships, and a sense of purpose help maintain health.

Social life.
Many centenarians maintained social connections even in old age.

Can a person live to 150 years?

Modern science has not yet proven a case of a person living beyond 122 years. However, advances in medicine, genetics, and technology may change our understanding of human age in the future.

Today, scientists are studying cellular aging, the functioning of the immune system, and ways to extend healthy life.

The main conclusion is that centenarians don't just "have good genes." Many of them have maintained simple habits throughout their lives: exercise, moderate eating, calmness, a love of life, and strong relationships.

Perhaps the secret to longevity lies not in a single miracle drug, but in thousands of small daily decisions a person makes throughout life.