Review article
https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-60-2009-1928
Human Lifespan: To Live and Outlive 100 Years?
Spomenka Tomek Roksandić
; Centar za gerontologiju Zavoda za javno zdravstvo “Dr. Andrija Štampar”, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Eugenija Žuškin
; Škola narodnog zdravlja “Andrija Štampar” Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Zijad Duraković
; Klinika za unutarnje bolesti Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu i Kliničkog bolničkog centara Zagreb, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Nina Smolej-Narančić
; Institut za antropologiju, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Jadranka Mustajbegović
; Škola narodnog zdravlja “Andrija Štampar” Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Jasna Pucarin-Cvetković
; Škola narodnog zdravlja “Andrija Štampar” Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marjeta Mišigoj Duraković
; Kineziološki fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Jagoda Doko Jelinić
; Škola narodnog zdravlja “Andrija Štampar” Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Nada Turčić
; Zavod za mirovinsko invalidsko osiguranje, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Milan Milošević
; Škola narodnog zdravlja “Andrija Štampar” Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Aged population dominates in developed countries. Centenarians are a select group, and only one in 7,000 to 10,000 reach that age. Factors of longevity are numerous and include genetic predisposition (a locus on chromosome 4), environment, healthy lifestyle (hypocaloric diet, regular physical and mental exercise), accessible health services, and effi cient health protection at old age. Centenarians are well adapted to the new life and compensate for the loss of functions with age. The limits of human life are extended, so that nowadays the oldest person has reached the age of 128. Some geographic areas are characterised by higher numbers of centenarians. This article mentions a few individuals who outlived 100 years in the world, Croatia, and neighbouring countries. Although some argue that the limits of human life cannot be extended over the age of 120 years, for now we cannot predict the actual limits of human life.
Keywords
centenarians; geographic distribution; gerontology; longevity; old population; primary healthcare; public health
Hrčak ID:
40689
URI
Publication date:
15.9.2009.
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