Living past 110 years old, what are the secrets behind it? Documentary filmmaker Sam Green spent 10 years tracking and interviewing the world’s oldest people, trying to uncover the common patterns behind their longevity. He found that these “supercentenarians,” although leading different lifestyles, shared five surprising commonalities.
In August of this year, Ethel Caterham from Surrey, England, celebrated her 117th birthday, solidifying her place in the Guinness World Records.
Sam Green, a filmmaker based in Brooklyn and director of the new documentary “The World’s Oldest People,” told TODAY.com, “It’s as rare as being struck by lightning.” He referred to breaking the Guinness record for longevity.
The film documents Green’s decade-long global journey, during which he visited and interviewed holders of the title “oldest person alive according to the Guinness World Records.”
Green’s journey began in 2015 when he visited Susannah Mushatt Jones in New York, who held the title at 116 years old. Green became deeply interested in what it means to “live longer than anyone else on the planet” and the conditions needed to reach a century.
During filming, Green was diagnosed with leukemia, forcing him to confront his mortality. At the same time, he tried to gain wisdom from these “supercentenarians” for his documentary.
“Everyone wants to know their secrets, to understand what makes them live so long,” Green said.
Italian Emma Morano succeeded Jones in 2016 as the world’s oldest person alive at the time at 117 years old, attributing her longevity to daily egg consumption and “keeping as far away from men as possible.”
The holder of this title in 2022, French nun Lucile Randon, also known as Sister André, credited her 118 years of longevity to “God’s will.”
“There’s actually no secret, but they do share some commonalities,” Green said.
He mentioned that becoming a centenarian or a “supercentenarian” (those aged 110 and above) depends on genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and a certain degree of luck.
However, Green did discover some patterns among the long-lived individuals during the documentary filming. Here are the five major commonalities among the oldest people:
From 2015 to 2025, all holders of the title “oldest person alive” were women. Green said, “While occasionally there are male individuals who become the oldest person globally, in 99% of cases, it’s women.” This includes the recorded oldest person, Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 at 122.
The New England Centenarian Study is an ongoing research study focusing on people aged 100 and above. The study shows that over 85% of global centenarians are female, and among supercentenarians, females make up over 90%.
“Every one of them had a positive attitude. Those who become the oldest person globally cannot possibly be pessimistic, always seeing the cup as ‘half-empty,'” Green said.
Many supercentenarians went through hardships and had poor health in their later years. Green lamented, “What struck me was that even though some struggled at the end of their lives, they always maintained a positive outlook and enthusiasm for life.”
Kane Tanaka from Japan is one such example. She held the title of the oldest person in the world from 2018 until her death in 2022 at the age of 119.
“Kane Tanaka had a very challenging life,” Green said. She lived through World War II, during which her husband went to the battlefield, and her son became a prisoner of war. “She eventually lost all her children and battled cancer twice,” Green said.
What is Tanaka’s experience? “Don’t worry too much. Don’t dwell on it,” Green said. “Clearly, this mentality has greatly benefited her.”
“People of the past were more composed in facing various situations and could accept the ups and downs of life,” Green said.
Green also noticed an impressive fact: many of the world’s oldest people never discussed death. “Not dwelling on this matter may help people live longer.”
“Having a community filled with love and support is one of the factors that contribute to longevity,” Green said.
For elderly individuals, maintaining social connections is sometimes challenging. Yet, those longest-lived individuals Green met always had someone by their side, whether it was family, friends, or caregivers.
“Wherever they live, regardless of having children, there are always people who genuinely care for and look after them,” Green said.
Jamaica’s supercentenarian Violet Brown became the world’s oldest person at 117 and lived alone in her home until her passing in 2017. In a documentary, Brown appeared with her son (who lived to be 96) and home caregivers.
“Violet had a caregiver by her side, and from their expressions, it was evident that the caregiver had both admiration and deep affection for her. Clearly, having such companionship is greatly beneficial for both physical and mental well-being,” Green said.
Most of these supercentenarians followed a regular routine, establishing order in their daily lives.
They often adhered to fixed schedules and habits, maintaining consistency in areas such as sleep, diet, exercise, and social activities. Before obtaining the title of “oldest person alive,” many continued working despite their advanced age.
Violet Brown served as a church organist and music teacher for over 80 years; Sister André continued volunteering after reaching a hundred years.
Green pointed out that these supercentenarians did not strictly adhere to the so-called “Blue Zone” diet but aimed for balanced nutrition. Regardless of their dietary choices, they were steadfast in their habits.
Emma Morano, who lived to 117, ate three raw eggs every day. “When I asked her doctor about this, he said something very interesting that I had never thought of before. He said her body knew exactly what it would consume each day,” Green said.
“Although they were relatively healthy, they maintained a moderate approach to life,” Green said.
Not all of the world’s oldest individuals abstained from alcohol or smoking. Many enjoyed meat, dairy products, and sweets. At times, they also indulged in festivities.
However, Green said they all pursued balance in life.
Green added that they possessed an attitude that didn’t make life overly burdensome. Maria Branyas, an American-born Spanish woman, became the world’s oldest person at 115 in 2023 and was one of the oldest survivors of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When asked about becoming the world’s oldest person, Branyas replied, “It’s not a big deal.”