The oldest person to ever live, according to verified records, was Jeanne Calment from France. Here are some key details about her remarkable life:
### Jeanne Calment (1875-1997)
**Birth and Early Life:**
– **Born**: February 21, 1875, in Arles, France.
– **Childhood**: She grew up in a well-to-do family and led a relatively privileged life.
**Longevity:**
– **Age at Death**: Jeanne Calment passed away on August 4, 1997, at the age of 122 years and 164 days, holding the record for the longest confirmed human lifespan.
– **Lifestyle**: She attributed her longevity to a relaxed lifestyle, including regular physical activity, a healthy diet, and staying socially and mentally active.
**Interesting Facts:**
– **Meeting Van Gogh**: As a young girl, Calment met the famous painter Vincent van Gogh in her uncle’s shop. She described him as “dirty, badly dressed, and disagreeable.”
– **Bicycling**: She was an avid cyclist and continued cycling until she was 100 years old.
– **Diet**: Calment enjoyed chocolate, often consuming up to two pounds per week, and regularly used olive oil, both in her cooking and on her skin.
**Health and Care:**
– **Mental Sharpness**: Despite her age, Calment remained mentally sharp and had a clear memory of many historical events.
– **Healthcare**: She lived independently until the age of 110, when she moved into a nursing home. Even in her later years, she maintained a relatively good health.
**Public Recognition:**
– **Media Attention**: Her longevity brought her significant media attention. She was frequently interviewed and became a symbol of healthy aging.
– **Verification**: Her age was thoroughly verified by demographers and gerontologists, who checked numerous historical documents, including her birth certificate, baptism records, and other official documents.
**Legacy:**
– **Inspiration**: Jeanne Calment’s life has inspired many to think about the possibilities of human longevity and the factors that contribute to a long, healthy life.
– **Research**: Her age has been the subject of various studies, aiming to understand the genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors that may have contributed to her extraordinary lifespan.
### Conclusion
Jeanne Calment’s extraordinary longevity continues to fascinate and inspire. Her life story is not just about her age, but also about her vibrant personality, resilience, and the lifestyle choices that may have contributed to her long and healthy life.
1 Comment
My Dad lived to 96, his wife is 99 still going strong. Both sharp as a tack, neither EVER exercised, took vitamins, drank water, ate chocolate, ate organic food, have any advice for longevity, rode bikes. They live in a retirement community with a number of healthy, cogent, mostly female centrgenarians. Clearly it is ALL GENES.