Jeanne Calment was strong at 122, an age which..........Jeanne received the best care and support from the staff of the home.

The oldest person that ever lived Jeanne Calment was strong at 122, an age which very few people can hope to reach. She remains an enigma, an anomaly to scientists and experts who continue to be baffled by her longevity. What was the secret recipe that enabled Jeanne Calment to live such a long and healthy life? First is the hereditary factor. According to the findings of a recent research, many of Jeanne's ancestors had long life-spans and many of them lived to the age of 70 and above. Jeanne's father lived till the ripe old age of 93 while her mother was 86 when she died. Her brother lived till 97. Naturally, Jeanne inherited a set of good genes conducive to long life. Jeanne's ancestors married within the same socio-economic class of craftsmen and traders. This meant financial security and a life that was less stressful. Jeanne herself married her second cousin who inherited a large silk store in Arles. Jeanne also led a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise. In her youth, she was a keen hunter and tennis player. Even at the age of 90, when most people would have called it quits or would be contented just to sit back and relax, Jeanne was going about doing her errands on a bicycle. To keep herself fit, this incredible woman would do workouts at the gym even when she was well past 100. Another factor which explains her longevity is her happy-go-lucky, cheerful disposition. She had her share of griefs and misfortunes. She lost her husband, her daughter, her son-inlaw, and her only grandson. She had very poor eyesight due to cataracts and she had almost lost her sense of hearing. Yet she counted all her blessings and treasured all the happy moments of her life. She was resolute and determined to spend the rest of her life in peace and comfort. She found pleasure in giving generously. In her own words, her advice to those who wish to live long, healthy lives is 'Always keep your smile'. Her positive outlook was perhaps instrumental in slowing and reducing the effects of ageing. When asked to account for her exceptionally long life, she replied without reserve, 'God must have forgotten me'. Her love for life kept her going. When word got around that a book on her was to be written, she could not hide her elation. 'I am flattered,' she said. 'I've waited a hundred and ten years to be famous, and I intend to make the most of it for as long as I can'. Besides these, one can assume with justification that Jeanne's longevity was also, to some extent, due to modern medical care. Spending her years in a retirement home, she was attended to by some of the country's top physicians. Although not afflicted by any major ailments, Jeanne received the best care and support from the staff of the home.

Summary: Jeanne Calment lived till the ripe old age of 122. Her longevity has baffled many people including scientists and doctors. One of the many reasons for her longevity is that Jeanne inherited a good set of genes. In addition, both her parents and her brother had long life-spans. Like her ancestors, she married within the same socio-economic class of craftsmen and traders. Her marriage to her cousin who inherited a silk store provided Jeanne financial security and allowed her to lead a less stressful life. Jeanne led a healthy and active life with plenty of exercise in her youth. She went hunting and played tennis. As she grew older, she kept herself fit by doing exercises such as cycling and workouts at a gym. Jeanne's cheerful and positive outlook helped her to cope with the misfortunes and tragic moments in her life. Additionally, access to modern medicine probably helped to slow down the effects of ageing.