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Sorry, no secret to life is going to make you live to 110
Some claims behind the longest-lived people are simply improbable.
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Unfortunately, the data on people living to an unusually old age is deeply flawed.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Saul Newman
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The allure of extreme longevity has beckoned for centuries. Research careers and marketing campaigns have been built on the idea that we can live longer, healthier lives by emulating long-lived people. It is a comforting thought, frequently used for research funding bids and to sell cookbooks.
Unfortunately, the data on people living to an unusually old age is deeply flawed. I tracked down data on 80 per cent of the world’s people aged 110 or older and found that in many cases their advanced age is highly improbable. The errors in the data were striking.
