Supercentenarian: Will You Live To Be 100 Years Old Or More?
Thanks to advances in medicine and the improvement of living conditions, the probability of becoming a centenarian or super-centenarian has never been higher. If you have the ambition to live to 100 years or more, we're going to explain why you have a good chance of achieving this. We will also reveal some of the secrets of centenarians.
What is a supercentenarian?
A centenarian is a person who reaches the age of 100 years. But have you ever heard of the term "super-centenarian"? This word refers to a person who lives to the age of 110 years or more...
Currently, this age is very rare. Only 1 in 1000 centenarians reach or exceed it.
The number of super-centenarians in a region of the world is a parameter that helps identify the famous "Blue Zones," these places on the planet where people live very long lives.
What is the proportion of supercentenarians in France?
Supercentenarians are statistically rare in France and around the world. Currently, there are about thirty in France. However, it is interesting to note that their numbers have been clearly increasing since the second half of the 20th century.
The French population is aging, and life expectancy is increasing in our country. As a result, there are more and more centenarians in France, and their number is expected to continue to increase year after year.
In 2023, there were approximately 30,000 people aged 100 years or more in France, which is 30 times more than 50 years ago. In 50 years, the number of centenarians could be five times higher!
How can we explain the lengthening of life?
The question of whether one can age without limit fascinates scientists as well as the general public. Although immortality is still the stuff of science fiction, it is now possible to hope to live to an old age or even a very old age, especially for women.
Throughout history, life expectancy has continued to increase and the limits of longevity have been pushed back, from a maximum of 100 years in the 18th century to 120 years in 1970. In 1997, Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment set the world record by reaching the age of 122.
Today, the likelihood of living to 100 years or more continues to rise, thanks to advances in medicine and improvements in working and living conditions. The French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) estimates that by 2040, France could have 76,000 centenarians. 6% of women and 2% of men born in 1940 could live up to 100 years.
Some experts believe that our life expectancy increases by 3 months each year and that we could one day reach the age of 150 if our knowledge about aging continues to progress. To unlock the secrets of their longevity, scientists are studying the genes of supercentenarians.
However, it should be noted that we are not all equals in this race for longevity. Among men, there is an average gap of 13 years between the life expectancy of the poorest (71 years) and that of the richest (84 years).
What are the secrets of centenarians?
The exceptional longevity of centenarians and even supercentenarians, is it just a matter of genes and income level? According to science, other factors are also at play.
The figures released on April 5, 2023, by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) revealed that France is the European champion of longevity. It is the European country with the highest number of centenarians.
This record is partly linked to the efficiency of our healthcare system. But that's not all! The temperate climate of our country and the Cretan diet adopted by part of the population could also explain the remarkable longevity of some French people.
We still do not know exactly what to do on a daily basis to live up to 100 years or more. But one thing is certain: to reach such a venerable age, you still have to want it! And what if the secret to longevity was simply to enjoy life?
