How to Live Longer, From Two People Over the Age of 100
To meet some of the most famous seniors in the world, I flew to Costa Rica. Where most of the guys on my flight probably headed straight to the beach, Lifehacker and I drove to the hot, dry hills of the Nicoya Peninsula.
There we met 103-year-old Don Aniano, who lives on a farm where he has worked most of his life as the farmer’s adoptive grandfather. We then drove to the village, where 99-year-old Dona Dora taught me how to make rosquillas – a cheesy cookie-like treat – in her open-air kitchen the day before her 100th birthday. (We brought her a cake.)
For years, scientists have been trying to figure out why people have lived in this region for so long. Recent results indicate that this is likely a complex mixture of factors: older Nikoyans rely on good nutritional genetics, a job that has given them plenty of exercise, and a supportive community that promotes good mental health. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Costa Rica has an excellent healthcare system with a focus on prevention. In this episode of Hack the World, we learn about the Nikoi lifestyle and ask centenarians themselves what they think of living under 100.