At 122 years old, she became the oldest documented human in history.
At 85, when most people her age stayed at home, she started combat sports.
Scientists studied her case for decades, desperate to understand how.
This is Jeanne Calment's blueprint for extending life: 🧵
At 85, when most people her age stayed at home, she started combat sports.
Scientists studied her case for decades, desperate to understand how.
This is Jeanne Calment's blueprint for extending life: 🧵
Jeanne Calment was born in 1875, when the average person didn't live past 45, passing away in 1997.
She was around when the Eiffel tower was being built and in a time where Wi-Fi existed.
But what she did at 85 would reshape our understanding of aging:
She was around when the Eiffel tower was being built and in a time where Wi-Fi existed.
But what she did at 85 would reshape our understanding of aging:
She took up fencing.
Not gentle stretching. Not casual walking.
But a demanding combat sport that requires:
• Split-second reflexes
• Multi limb coordination
• Rapid footwork
• Pressurised strategic thinking
The results were extraordinary:
Not gentle stretching. Not casual walking.
But a demanding combat sport that requires:
• Split-second reflexes
• Multi limb coordination
• Rapid footwork
• Pressurised strategic thinking
The results were extraordinary:
Her neurophysiological tests at 118 revealed something remarkable:
Her frontal brain lobe functions were relatively spared from deterioration.
She had no signs of progressive neurological disease.
Her verbal memory and language skills matched those of people 20 - 30 years younger than her.
What's even more fascinating:
Her frontal brain lobe functions were relatively spared from deterioration.
She had no signs of progressive neurological disease.
Her verbal memory and language skills matched those of people 20 - 30 years younger than her.
What's even more fascinating:
Her cognitive abilities actually improved over a six-month testing period.
She showed gains in both arithmetic and memory recall.
Her secret?
Strict adherence to 3 facets of her life.
Let's break it down:
She showed gains in both arithmetic and memory recall.
Her secret?
Strict adherence to 3 facets of her life.
Let's break it down:
1. Physical activity
• Regular movement through fencing and cycling
• Daily stretching exercises and gymnastics
• Maintaining independence in daily activities
Strange behavior for an elderly person in the late 20th century, let alone now.
• Regular movement through fencing and cycling
• Daily stretching exercises and gymnastics
• Maintaining independence in daily activities
Strange behavior for an elderly person in the late 20th century, let alone now.
2. Diet
She consumed:
• 2.5 pounds of chocolate weekly
• Generous amounts of olive oil (both in food and on her skin)
• Regular port wine, which contains resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant
Modern research confirms these foods are rich in compounds that fight aging.
She consumed:
• 2.5 pounds of chocolate weekly
• Generous amounts of olive oil (both in food and on her skin)
• Regular port wine, which contains resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant
Modern research confirms these foods are rich in compounds that fight aging.
3. Mentality
Her philosophy was remarkable:
"If you can't do anything about it, don't worry about it."
She maintained this mindset through:
• The loss of her daughter at age 36
• Two World Wars
• A femur fracture at 115
The science behind her success:
Her philosophy was remarkable:
"If you can't do anything about it, don't worry about it."
She maintained this mindset through:
• The loss of her daughter at age 36
• Two World Wars
• A femur fracture at 115
The science behind her success:
Research shows combining physical activity with mental challenges preserves cognitive function.
This "dual-task training" creates new neural pathways.
Calment's fencing at 85 wasn't just physical exercise - it was brain training.
Replicating her success is easier than you think :
This "dual-task training" creates new neural pathways.
Calment's fencing at 85 wasn't just physical exercise - it was brain training.
Replicating her success is easier than you think :
You don't need to match Calment's exact routine to benefit from her principles.
The key is progressive overload - starting where you are and gradually building up.
The key is progressive overload - starting where you are and gradually building up.
I'm Winston Zin – CEO, founder, and tech & fitness enthusiast. If you found this post useful, kindly...
• Share this thread so we can all live better
• Follow @winston_zin for more breakdowns of famous health routines
Join me and 30,000 others at Impakt, where we're building the Duolingo of AI Fitness:
• Share this thread so we can all live better
• Follow @winston_zin for more breakdowns of famous health routines
Join me and 30,000 others at Impakt, where we're building the Duolingo of AI Fitness:
The FREE Impakt App provides:
• AI-powered coaching that sees and interacts with your workouts in real-time
• Post-workout analysis & feedback
• Tailored plans to hit your goals
• Community support and social competitions
• Rewards because health and fitness shouldn't just be free
Download and start your fitness journey today: download.impakt.com/OGVf/x
The future of fitness is intelligent.
• AI-powered coaching that sees and interacts with your workouts in real-time
• Post-workout analysis & feedback
• Tailored plans to hit your goals
• Community support and social competitions
• Rewards because health and fitness shouldn't just be free
Download and start your fitness journey today: download.impakt.com/OGVf/x
The future of fitness is intelligent.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
