The world’s oldest man, who you may be surprised to hear is actually a New Yorker, has been named the oldest man alive by Guinness World Records.
At the age of 111, Dr. Alexander Imich may be the oldest living man in the record books, but he isn’t the oldest person in the world. That crown is currently held by Misao Okawa of Osaka, Japan who is a staggering 116 years old.
The oldest person ever to live, and to be recorded by Guinness World Records, was Louise Calment from France who was born in 1875 and lived till the age of 122! She died in a nursing home in Arles, France in 1997.
Dr. Imich spoke to reporters about his secret to a long life, putting it down to a good combination of genes and a moderate and healthy lifestyle.
Imich was born in Poland but he and his wife Wela immigrated to America in 1953. His wife died nearly 30 years ago, and Imich has been living alone in Manhattan since her passing.
So what is the secret to a long life? Does anyone really know or is it more a matter of genes than anything else?
In a study carried out in 2010 in the journal Science , researchers found that 150 genetic markers could predict 72 percent of the time if a person would reach old age and live into their 90s.
Although a study carried out in 2012 on people living in mountain villages on the Italian island of Sicily found that people there often live to 100 and beyond, subsisting on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. So diet may well play a part in the age game.
Dr. Imich ‘s motto is that one should “always pursue what one loves and is passionate about,” and that is good advice for sure but what does it have to do with living to an old age? We’ll let you draw your own conclusions on that one.
