Dogman
22nd August 2012, 03:55 PM
Genetics, Quality of Life and Diet Play Role in Sardinian Family's Long Life
http://a.abcnews.com/images/Health/gty_consolata_melis_worlds_oldest_family_ll_120822 _wg.jpg
Consolata Melis, front row center, who turns 105 on Aug. 22, poses with her nine children, 24 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, outside her home in Perdasdefogu, a village on the island of Sardinia, Aug. 21, 2012. (Ettore Loi/AFP/Getty Images)
By PHOEBE NATANSON
Consolata Melis, whose family has been officially declared the longest-living family in the world, celebrates her 105th birthday today, and it's a party in her small remote hill town on the island of Sardinia.
Four of Melis' eight siblings -- three brothers and five sisters -- are in their 90s, three are in their 80s and "la piccolina" (the little one) is 78. On June 10, all nine a combined age of 818 years, 205 days, and received a certificate from the Guinness World Records for "highest combined age, nine living siblings." It took years of research to establish that the Melis' family holds that title.
Melis' family, a crowd made up of her siblings, nine children, 24 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren, gathers for a private celebration at her home this evening to share a large cake topped with candles.
Perdasdefogu, the remote town in the region of Ogliastra where they live, has about 2,000 inhabitants and is set in the wild Mediterranean-brush hills of inland Sardinia. Long life is no novelty to these parts. The Ogliastra region has the highest concentration of centenarians on the island, where there are 370 residents older than 100, or 23 for every 100,000 inhabitants.
The town's mayor, Mariano Carta, delivered a bunch of roses and a silver rosary to Melis this morning. "She seemed very happy today and in great form," he told ABCNews.com, and although she needs assistance when walking, is "absolutely lucid."
Melis, dressed head to foot in traditional black clothing and headscarf, now spends most of her time reading a worn prayer book she was given a long time ago by a missionary father, but she has always kept a wicked sense of humor, Carta said. "Make love every Sunday" she says with a wink when people ask her for her secret to long life.
(Snip) more at link!
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/secrets-worlds-oldest-family/story?id=17057348#.UDVjWaOf-So
http://a.abcnews.com/images/Health/gty_consolata_melis_worlds_oldest_family_ll_120822 _wg.jpg
Consolata Melis, front row center, who turns 105 on Aug. 22, poses with her nine children, 24 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, outside her home in Perdasdefogu, a village on the island of Sardinia, Aug. 21, 2012. (Ettore Loi/AFP/Getty Images)
By PHOEBE NATANSON
Consolata Melis, whose family has been officially declared the longest-living family in the world, celebrates her 105th birthday today, and it's a party in her small remote hill town on the island of Sardinia.
Four of Melis' eight siblings -- three brothers and five sisters -- are in their 90s, three are in their 80s and "la piccolina" (the little one) is 78. On June 10, all nine a combined age of 818 years, 205 days, and received a certificate from the Guinness World Records for "highest combined age, nine living siblings." It took years of research to establish that the Melis' family holds that title.
Melis' family, a crowd made up of her siblings, nine children, 24 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren, gathers for a private celebration at her home this evening to share a large cake topped with candles.
Perdasdefogu, the remote town in the region of Ogliastra where they live, has about 2,000 inhabitants and is set in the wild Mediterranean-brush hills of inland Sardinia. Long life is no novelty to these parts. The Ogliastra region has the highest concentration of centenarians on the island, where there are 370 residents older than 100, or 23 for every 100,000 inhabitants.
The town's mayor, Mariano Carta, delivered a bunch of roses and a silver rosary to Melis this morning. "She seemed very happy today and in great form," he told ABCNews.com, and although she needs assistance when walking, is "absolutely lucid."
Melis, dressed head to foot in traditional black clothing and headscarf, now spends most of her time reading a worn prayer book she was given a long time ago by a missionary father, but she has always kept a wicked sense of humor, Carta said. "Make love every Sunday" she says with a wink when people ask her for her secret to long life.
(Snip) more at link!
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/secrets-worlds-oldest-family/story?id=17057348#.UDVjWaOf-So