The extraordinary case of Jeanne Calment
Born in Arles, France, in 1875, Jeanne Louise Calment is the only person in documented history confirmed to have reached the age of 120. Her remarkable life spanned 122 years and 164 days, a period that witnessed monumental world changes, from the invention of the telephone to the rise of the internet. Calment's record is supported by a wealth of documentary evidence, including census records, birth and marriage certificates, and medical examinations conducted by gerontologists. She became a global sensation, offering unique insights into the nature of extreme longevity. In her lifetime, she claimed to have met Vincent van Gogh, outlived her daughter and grandson, and even sold her apartment in a reverse mortgage to a lawyer who died before her.
Life and habits of a supercentenarian
What did Calment's daily life look like? Far from a strict health routine, her lifestyle is often described as unconventional. She lived independently until the age of 110, rode a bicycle until she was 100, and maintained a sharp wit and humorous outlook on life. She was known for her daily habits, which included a moderate amount of wine, a diet rich in olive oil, and a significant consumption of chocolate. Famously, she also smoked cigarettes, only quitting at the age of 117 when her eyesight failed. Her approach to life was characterized by a seemingly stress-free mindset, humor, and daily pleasures.
The importance of age verification
In the field of gerontology, which studies the aging process, verifying extreme age is a rigorous process. For a supercentenarian's age to be accepted, organizations like the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) require extensive documentation, including birth records and census data, to corroborate the claim. Calment's case is regarded as one of the best-documented in history, with fourteen separate census records tracing her life from birth to her 100th birthday. This level of verification is crucial because, historically, many claims of extreme age have been proven false due to poor record-keeping or fraud.
The debate surrounding Jeanne Calment's age
Despite the robust initial verification, some controversy has emerged regarding the authenticity of Jeanne Calment's age. In 2018, a pair of Russian researchers proposed a theory that Calment had died in 1934 and her daughter Yvonne had assumed her identity to avoid inheritance taxes. This theory is based on a few inconsistencies and a retrospective analysis of records.
However, the original team that validated her age, as well as many other gerontologists, have strongly refuted this claim. They point to the meticulous paper trail, numerous interviews, photographic evidence, and the accounts of dozens of witnesses, including family members and long-time residents of Arles. The hypothesis of a widespread cover-up involving family, friends, and city officials is widely considered to be highly improbable. For example, the handwriting on several documents, including signatures from different points in her life, was shown to be remarkably consistent, with a very specific and rare trait.
Ultimately, Jeanne Calment's status as the oldest person ever whose age is officially verified stands, but the debate highlights the complexity and scrutiny involved in confirming such records. It also raises intriguing questions about the limits of human lifespan and the potential for a new record to be set in the future.
A comparison of top verified supercentenarians
| Rank | Name | Age at Death | Place of Death | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeanne Calment | 122 years, 164 days | France | Only person confirmed to have lived past 120 |
| 2 | Kane Tanaka | 119 years, 107 days | Japan | Second-oldest verified person in history |
| 3 | Sarah Knauss | 119 years, 97 days | United States | Lived through two world wars and the 1918 flu pandemic |
| 4 | Lucile Randon | 118 years, 340 days | France | Survived COVID-19 and lived through two world wars |
The science behind extreme longevity
Jeanne Calment's story demonstrates that extraordinary longevity is a multi-faceted phenomenon influenced by a complex interplay of genetics, environment, and lifestyle choices. While her specific habits might seem contrary to conventional health advice, her genetic predispositions likely played a significant role. Research suggests that individuals who live to extreme old age may possess rare gene variants, like FOXO3A and APOE ε2, which protect against age-related diseases and slow the aging process. Additionally, factors such as low-grade inflammation, robust cellular homeostasis, and even personality traits like resilience and an outgoing nature have been linked to longevity.
The study of supercentenarians is a relatively young field, and with the advancement of genetic sequencing and other technologies, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms that allow some individuals to achieve such remarkable lifespans. Though living to 120 remains an exceptional anomaly, the lessons learned from cases like Jeanne Calment continue to inform our understanding of human potential and the secrets of healthy aging. For more information on longevity research, visit the official website of the Gerontology Research Group.
Conclusion
Ultimately, who was the last person to live past 120 years? The answer is Jeanne Calment, and her record remains untouched. Her life provides a compelling, if complex, case study in extreme human longevity. While the scientific community does not recommend her lifestyle choices, her story serves as a powerful reminder of the remarkable, and sometimes unpredictable, potential of the human lifespan. It is a testament to how far a rare combination of genetics and resilience can take a person, offering a glimpse into the outer limits of what is possible.
