Longevity is influenced by various factors, including lifestyle, diet, stress, genetics, and exercise.
Some of the factors are out of people’s control, but many of them can be influenced.
Carole Roth, a 101-year-old who survived the Holocaust in 1945, shared on YouTube her journey through life.
She said: “When I was young, I was in danger. Now that I am old, I do not feel danger. I am very satisfied with my life and my age. I am very proud of myself, and have done a lot of things in my life.”
The centurion put down her success to a long life by being social and reading
YouTube/Yair Brachiyahu
Speaking to content creator Yair Brachiyahu, the centurion was asked about her secrets to a long life.
Carole explained: “Everybody asks me my secret; there is no secret. I make sure I read a lot, at least two books a week, and I read everything.”
A study published in the National Library of Medicine supported Carole’s methodology. It states: “A 20 per cent reduction in mortality was observed for those who read books, compared to those who did not read books.
“Further analysis demonstrated that any level of book reading gave a significantly stronger survival advantage than reading periodicals.”
When she is not reading, the 101-year-old lives a “nice, social life” with her husband.
She said: “I used to go to theatres and movies. I loved to dance a lot with my husband. He was a great dancer.
“We used to have big parties my husband and me. We loved to party and invited around 250 to 300 people.”
Carole advised individuals to have something to aim for in life to help keep them motivated and driven.
Carole reads at least two books a week
YouTube/Yair Brachiyahu
She said: “You work hard and achieve what you want to reach. That’s a secret, everybody could do it.
“I lived a normal life, like everyone else. I don’t think about age. If my children are alive and I am healthy, I want to live longer. Take everything the way it comes.”
While Carole is sure her lifestyle choice is the key to her longevity, reading and socialising are far from the only factors that have been credited with boosting life expectancy.
A World War II veteran has separately suggested a positive mindset and physical activity as the key to a long life, noting that he has maintained his muscle strength since his time in service.
The pensioner claimed it was one of the lifestyle components that helped with age so successfully.
