You Really *Are* As Old As You Feel

According to recent study, the age-old adage "You are only as old as you feel" may be dead-on. According to a study conducted by Purdue University (Indiana), those who consider themselves old suffer a plethora of downsides associated with old age, while those who maintain a younger outlook on life do not. The researchers compared participants' actual, chronological age with their "subjective" age to determine which had a greater effect on their brain functions and mental activity.

The study determined that though your actual age does matter, your outlook makes all the difference.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Ancient Magic: Lemminkainen's Resurrection

Lemminkainen's Resurrection

In later times, sorcerors and alchemists needed complex formulae, laboratories, libraries, and other scholastic accoutrement.  But in the earliest times, wizards just were. These enchanters were demi-godlike figures whose very essence was imbibed with the Supernatural. Lemminkainen, one of the earliest Finnish wizards, was one of these.

While Lemminkainen would go on to have many adventures, one story tells of his mother, whose name may be lost to antiquity (or was never recorded):  She knew her son was in trouble, but knew neither its nature nor son's location. She scoured the world looking for her son and found Lemminkainen, who had died trying to win the favor of the evil sorceress, Louhi, and the hand of her daughter.

Lemminkainen's mother had another wizard fashion her a rake made of copper with which she descended into the Underworld and painstakingly collected her son's remains. Once she had them all, she carefully pieced Lemminkainen's torn body back together and sang sorcerous chants and melodies into the day and night. Some tales say her magic alone brought the fallen wizard back to life, while others say Lemminkainen's mother had to steal honey from the hall of the gods to provide him true "life."

Many early stories feature similarly fantastic impossibilities, but this is among the first to feature resurrection -- a feat generally thought of as reserved for the gods. In fact, the tale credits the gods in one version, but I do not know which version came first.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Oldest Living American Dies

115-year old Gertrude Baines of Los Angeles died yesterday of what is thought to be heart failure. Baines was the officially-recognized oldest human being alive. She inherited the title in either January or May of this year, depending on whether or not you believe the story of Sohan Dosova. Dosova, thought by many to have been 130 years old, died in May; Maria de Jesus, also 115, died in January.

The oldest verifiable living person today is thought to be 114-year old Kama Chinen of Japan.

Ms. Baines is thought to have been the oldest voter ever in 2008; she voted for Barack Obama. President Obama sent her a congratulatory letter on her birthday this past April.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

130-Year Old Woman?

A new national census in Kazakhstan discovered a woman who claims to be 130 years old -- and has the documentation to prove it!  Sohan Dosova claims to remember when the tsars ruled Russia and Lenin died.  Her passport, issued in the 1980s, says she was born in Karaganda in March, 1879!

Sohan can still walk (though with a cane) and see, but she has trouble hearing and only has one tooth.  Her favorite snack is tea-soaked bread and she says her "secret" is adding butter to the tea.  She has lived her entire life in the small village of Aul, in the Karaganda region.

Aside from her passport and historic claims, there is no real way to prove Sohan's age.  Few rural Kazakhstans were registered in the time she claims to have been born and many of them literally made up their birthdays.  Yet, Kazakhstans are satisfied that Sohan Dosova is the real deal: She is the oldest human being alive and the oldest human being on record.

But, though she has achieved minor fame -- fame her daughter hoped would help improve her living conditions -- Sohan continues to live a meager existence in her little, fifth-floor walk-up.  Her large family (which she calls "a small tribe" -- with good reason: Sohan had 10 children, three of whom are still alive, and she has 35 grandchildren) hopes a generous benefactor will hear of her story and provide her with a better life.

While there are persistent rumors of people at 121 and 134 years of age, Sohan is the only verifiable "oldest person alive."  Before this, Tomoji Tanabe of Japan was thought to be the oldest person alive at 113.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Human Longevity

In The Holy Bible, many of the tales are centered around people who supposedly lived centuries. Noah was 905-years old at the time of his death, according to Genesis 9:29 and he built the Ark somewhere between 500 and 600 years of age! While experts and scholars have argued these ages in many ways (mathematical errors, different calendars, et.al.), the Bible contains many, many tales of people who lived to incredibly advanced ages; this stands in stark contrast to scientific data, which suggests most early humans had a lifespan of probably around 30-35 years - largely due to living conditions and predators. The oldest living person in the Bible was Methusaleh, who died at 969.

Longevity has always been a major concern for Man. Herodotus attributed the longevity of the Ethiopians to a river whose waters had magical properties. Many historians say this is the origin of the Fountain of Youth which propelled Ponce de León to discover Florida. Greek and Roman mythology is filled with promises of immortality and eternal youth and Christians believe their Salvation grants them life after death - their souls become immortal. The Epic of Gilgamesh - among the first known works of literature - centers on immortality.

In modern times, genetics - along with other scientific and medical branches - seek to help us live longer, healthier lives. The oldest living person is rumored to be between 121 and 134 years of age, though more reliable sources cite 113 (Tomoji Tanabe of Japan), and the oldest blogger recently passed away at 108 (the new record may now well belong to former movie star, Kirk Douglas). One Elizabeth Jones Bolden died in 2006 at 116 and her predecessor for "oldest living person" was Emiliano Mercado del Toro, at 115. The oldest known American, George Francis, died last month at 112 - he'd seen three centuries (four years in the 19^th, throughout the 20^th, and eight years into the 21^st)!

In his Histoire des personnes qui oni vécu plusieurs siècles, et qui ont rajeuni (1753), Msr. de Longueville Harcouet documented several cases of longevity, such as a Thomas Parke, an Englishman who "died without pain" at the ripe old age of 169 - but not before he did public penance "at the door of the church" for knocking a chick up at age 101! Harcouet also discussed the "cruel custom" of the Scottish of the Hebrides Islands, who put to death those who, "after 150 or 200 years, have become so decrepit that they are considered useless." According to Pliny (and Solinus - likely working from the former), there were people in Eastern India who lived up to four centuries, thanks to their diet of vipers. Paracelsus boasted of his "Mercury of Life," though he died at 37 - immortality was one of the main ambitions of Alchemy.

While immortality is at the center of many religions, beliefs, and practices, and some believe biological immortality is scientifically feasible (even possible within the next 20-30 years!), so far nothing can stave-off our finality. Of course, many advancements do prolong both life and livelihood, and some even have restorative properties. Many diets have been promoted as being able to extend one's life, free of drugs and medical procedures.

At the time of this writing though, 115 is still far longer than most people live; the average life expectancy of a North American is 75-80 years, though lifestyle choices affect this dramatically. The longest-living people are thought to be members of an extended family (Bau), living in the small Italian village of Stoccareddo. There, the average life expectancy is a whopping 90-years old and the citizens are said to be free of both heart disease and diabetes, as well as many other diseases which vex most of the world's population. No one knows why.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008