Last Living Man Born in 19th Century Likely Has Genes to Thank

[rug]

Last edited Tue May 28, 2013, 11:12 PM - Edit history (1)

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/05/28/last-living-man-born-in-19th-century-likely-has-genes-to-thank/



By Liz Neporent | ABC News Blogs – 3 hours ago

Jiroemon Kimura, the oldest living man, celebrated his 116th birthday this past Friday. Born in 1897, Kimura is the last man alive born in the 19 th century, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The resident of Kyotango, Japan, is also the oldest man in verified history.

Should Kimura be interested, there are plenty lovely ladies in his age group to choose from. The Gerontology Research Group at UCLA lists 21 women born before New Year's Day in 1901 who are still alive and well. And the current world's oldest living woman, 115-year-old Misao Okawa, also lives in Japan.

The Secrets to Living Longer with Barbara Walters

These golden agers are part of an elite group of seniors who have made it to their 110 th birthday and beyond. Dr. Tom Perls, the director of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University Medical Center, estimates there are approximately 200-300 of these "supercentenarians" in the world.

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/last-living-man-born-19th-century-likely-genes-181224235.html

[arely staircase]

1. he doesn't look a day over 110

nt

[MFM008]

4. lol

-----1897 ---what he has lived through.

[arely staircase]

19. he was middle aged when ww2 broke out.

if he were an American he would have qualified for social security and Medicare during the Kennedy administration.

[dballance]

2. Not to be Insensitive, but while he's alive I don't think he looks like he's "living" a lot.

If that picture is representative, I'm not sure I want to be "lucky" enough to live that long.

[LisaL]

8. Doesn't look like he'd be intersted in ladies of his age or any other age.

[pinboy3niner]

3. Link doesn't work--try this one:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/05/28/last-living-man-born-in-19th-century-likely-has-genes-to-thank/

[rug]

11. Thanks for the fix.

"The Last Man of the 19th Century" sounds like the title of a novel.

[arely staircase]

20. movie starring ralph fiens

or his brother, I get them confused.

[hrmjustin]

5. I would not want to live that long.

[LisaL]

6. Why not? Assuming one is in good shape.

[hrmjustin]

9. You would outlive a lot of people you know.

And I am not sure how good a shape one can be at 116 years old.

[LisaL]

12. So you get to know new ones.

[hrmjustin]

13. Well if you are in good condition and have loved ones than I suppose it would be ok.

It might be fun to watch humans evolve.

[dballance]

10. If I remained in good shape and could be mostly independent I'd wouldn't mind living that long.

Even if I had to be in assisted living (not a nursing home) where I had my own room and was able to get around on my own I'd be okay living that long. Sure most, if not all, of one's friends and family may have passed away. If I were confined to a hospital bed and had to have others wiping my ass and feeding me then no, let me die.

But think about the things you could witness. Think about the things this man has witnessed. He witnessed humans freeing themselves from earth with heavier than air ships and then space ships and space stations. Things only written about by people like Jules Vern have come to pass. Think of what you could learn. What you could pass on to younger people.

Yes, this man also witnessed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There is enough good to outweigh the bad still though - I think.

[arely staircase]

21. you probably won't

just sayin'

[hrmjustin]

22. I doubt it as well.

[arely staircase]

23. shit, i feel old now and this guy was my age during the great depression

nt

[hrmjustin]

24. I am 34 and I hope i have at least 50 more years.

[arely staircase]

25. that's probably doable

nt

[hrmjustin]

26. With the advancement of modern medicine I hope I get something out of it.

[malaise]

7. A Barbadian died last week at 113

He was #2

[Poll_Blind]

14. Here's a picture where he actually looks alive:

Much nicer, IMO. I've had shitty birthdays, I know what it's like.

PB

[rug]

15. Imagine what he lived through.

Yes, that's a much, much better picture.

[LisaL]

16. When was that taken?

[Poll_Blind]

17. Sometime in the 70's?

PB

[pinboy3niner]

18. This AP photo is from last October:

Jiroemon Kimura poses with Guinness World Records representatives Craig Glenday, right, and Frank Foley after Kimura was presented with the certificate of the world's oldest living man on October 15. Photo: AP
http://www.smh.com.au/world/oldest-man-in-history-quietly-passes-a-milestone-20121228-2byty.html

[defacto7]

27. Makes me want to watch the movie

Little Big Man again.

"One Hundrt, and eleven years ago.. when I was ten years old...."

I love that movie!

[Pelican]

28. Makes me think about Lazarus Long...

If they all got together and started making some super long lived generations...

Edit: They probably should have gotten together a few years ago when all the plumbing worked but the point stands.