Secrets of the Centenarians: What is it Like to Live for a Century and Which of Us Will Survive to Find Out?

In October 1995, a blind, deaf, French grandmother broke a world record. Jeanne Calment became, so far as we know, the oldest human being who has ever lived when she reached the age of 120 years and 238 days. She went on to survive for nearly three more years—dying in 1997 at 122 years and 164 days. On the long journey to her record—breaking age, Madame Calment acquired more and more company. The United States today has more centenarians than any other country, and they are the fastest—grow...