Who is Ethel Caterham, the oldest person alive in 2025?
Ethel Caterham was born on August 21, 1909, during the reign of King Edward VII, in the village of Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, UK. Following the death of 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas in April 2025, Caterham was officially recognized as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records. At 116 years old, her life has spanned over a century of incredible global changes, from two world wars to the dawn of the internet age. Her journey is a testament to the complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that influence human longevity.
Life and Legacy of a Supercentenarian
Caterham's long life has been filled with unique experiences. At 18, she traveled to British India to work as a nanny for three years. After returning to England, she married Lieutenant Colonel Norman Caterham in 1933, a senior officer in the Royal Army Pay Corps. Her married life took her to Gibraltar and Hong Kong, where she even founded a nursery. After her husband's death in 1976, she continued to live independently for many years, even driving until she was 97. Now living in a care home in Surrey, England, she has outlived both of her children but is surrounded by a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In a BBC interview, she famously credited her longevity to a stress-free attitude, stating she attributes her long life to “never arguing with anyone”.
The Science Behind Extreme Longevity
Reaching an age like 116, known in gerontology as supercentenarian status, is exceptionally rare. Researchers are intensely interested in what allows certain individuals to defy the odds and live such long, healthy lives. The path to extreme longevity is a complex mix of genetics, lifestyle choices, and sometimes, a little luck. While many assume genetics is the only factor, recent studies show that while important, especially at extreme ages, it is not the sole determinant.
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Genetic Factors: Some individuals are born with a favorable combination of genes that promote longevity. For example, variants of the APOE gene have been linked to increased longevity and a reduced risk of diseases like Alzheimer's. Similarly, the FOXO3 gene is a well-studied transcription factor that influences oxidative stress resistance and inflammation, with certain variants more common in long-lived individuals. The idea is that these individuals have a protective genetic signature that helps them avoid or delay major age-related illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death globally.
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Environmental and Lifestyle Factors: While genetics might load the gun, lifestyle pulls the trigger. Even with favorable genetics, choices like diet and exercise play a huge role. Blue Zones—regions with a high concentration of centenarians like Okinawa (Japan), Ikaria (Greece), and Sardinia (Italy)—demonstrate the importance of lifestyle factors. These communities often share traits like stress-free living, tight social networks, plant-based diets, and regular physical activity. Caterham's own advice on avoiding arguments and embracing a positive outlook echoes these findings, showing that managing stress is a critical, and often overlooked, aspect of healthy aging.
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Epigenetics: Epigenetics is the study of how behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way genes work. These changes can be passed down but are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence. In the context of longevity, factors like diet and exercise can lead to epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, which alter gene expression patterns that are relevant to aging. The 'epigenetic clock' is a tool that measures biological age based on these patterns and has shown that individuals with a slower-ticking clock often live longer. This field is shedding light on how our day-to-day choices influence our long-term health on a molecular level.
Longest-Lived People in History
While Ethel Caterham holds the current record, she joins a prestigious list of verified supercentenarians who have pushed the boundaries of human longevity. The all-time record holder, for instance, lived even longer.
| Rank | Name | Gender | Lifespan | Age at Death | Country of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeanne Calment | Female | 1875–1997 | 122 years, 164 days | France |
| 2 | Kane Tanaka | Female | 1903–2022 | 119 years, 107 days | Japan |
| 3 | Lucile Randon | Female | 1904–2023 | 118 years, 340 days | France |
| 4 | Nabi Tajima | Female | 1900–2018 | 117 years, 260 days | Japan |
| 5 | Sarah Knauss | Female | 1880–1999 | 119 years, 97 days | United States |
Jeanne Calment's record of 122 years remains the highest verified human lifespan to date. The existence of such individuals indicates that the human lifespan, while having a natural limit, can be pushed beyond what is considered the average. Research into their specific genetic makeup and life history is ongoing, providing invaluable insights into the mechanisms of aging.
The Future of Longevity Research
The study of longevity is a rapidly advancing field, driven by technological breakthroughs and a growing global population of seniors. Researchers are moving beyond simple genetics and are exploring complex interactions, rare genetic variants, and epigenetic changes. New interventions, like repurposed drugs and novel compounds targeting the molecular drivers of aging, are being tested in clinical trials with the goal of extending 'healthspan'—the period of life spent in good health. For more information on the biological hallmarks of aging, authoritative resources such as the National Institute on Aging provide comprehensive overviews of this research area. The hope is that as our understanding deepens, we can develop new strategies to help more people live longer, healthier lives.
Conclusion
In 2025, Ethel Caterham is a powerful reminder of the incredible potential of human longevity. Her remarkable journey, along with that of other supercentenarians, highlights the intricate dance between genetics, lifestyle, and environment. While a long life is not a guarantee for anyone, the ongoing scientific pursuit to understand the biology of aging offers hope that future generations will not only live longer, but also live better and healthier. For now, we celebrate those like Ethel who inspire us with their endurance and wisdom.
