What's the oldest anyone's ever lived to be?

Answer 1

Many instances of persons alleged to have died at an age considerably greater than 100 years have been recorded. Statements concerning the age at death of biblical characters such as Methuselah can be dismissed, since scientific verification is impossible. Three of the most frequently cited cases of more recent times are: Thomas Parr, who died in November 1635 at the alleged age of 152 years; Henry Jenkins, who died in December 1670 at the alleged age of 169 years; and Catherine, countess of Desmond, who died in 1604 at the alleged age of 140 years. William Harvey, a famous English physician, performed an autopsy on Thomas Parr and the account of the autopsy was cited for many years as evidence that Harvey--in his paper--had confirmed Parr's age. Quite apart from the fact that it is impossible accurately to determine the age of a person by an autopsy, Harvey made no attempt to verify Parr's age but merely referred to the current estimates. Subsequent investigations have revealed that no proof exists of the age at death of any of these three individuals and that their reported ages were based solely upon hearsay.

An example with more definite documentation is that of Christian Jacobsen Drakenberg, stated to have been born on November 18, 1626, and to have died on October 9, 1772, aged 145 years and 325 days. Although the authenticity of his age was attested to by many persons, including two celebrated Scandinavian actuaries, later investigations cast doubt upon the record. It is difficult to accept the statements concerning Drakenberg's age at death, since this age is more than 30 years greater than the next oldest verified age at death--a difference that in itself casts doubt on its authenticity.

Of eight individuals for whom records substantiate the fact that each had lived more than 108 years, seven were females. Six of the eight were more than 110 years old at death. The oldest was Pierre Joubert, who was born July 15, 1701, and died November 16, 1814, aged 113 years and 124 days. Discounting the Drakenberg record, this is the oldest age at death that has been generally accepted as authentic.

It may be concluded that the span of human life is at least 114 years, but that this is not the maximum upper limit. This does not mean the span of life of each individual now living or to be born in the future is at least 114 years. The span of life, since it is determined by heredity, varies from one individual to another as do other genetically determined traits.

A significant proportion of human embryos and fetuses die before birth. Other infants at birth have defects that limit their span of life to a few years. Some malformations (e.g., certain cardiovascular defects) are developmental rather than genetic in the strict sense of the word and can be corrected so that the length of life of such persons is extended.

In the past the length of life of most individuals has been considerably shorter than their possible span of life because of unhealthful environmental factors. As these factors are increasingly brought under control or eliminated, the actual length of life will approach more closely the span of life. At the end of the 18th century the expectation of life at birth in North America and northwestern Europe was about 35 or 40 years. By 1970 it exceeded 70 years, and at some future date the death of a person at an authenticated age of more than 114 years can be expected.

There is no evidence that the span of human life has increased since the beginning of recorded history. Neither is there any evidence that the death rate of centenarians has decreased. The expected increase in the number of centenarians results from a decrease in the death rate at ages under 100 years and not from any demonstrable increase in the maximum length of the span of life. The remarkable increase in the average length of life during the past 2,000 years--from 20-25 years to 70 years under favourable conditions--has increased the likelihood that a person may live to the maximum limit of his span of life.

Answer 2

She purely died. international's oldest woman dies at a hundred and fifteen THE linked PRESS November 28, 2008 SHELBYVILLE, Ind. - Edna Parker, who grew to alter into the international's oldest individual extra advantageous than a 300 and sixty 5 days in the past, has died at age a hundred and fifteen. UCLA gerontologist Dr. Stephen Coles reported Parker's great-nephew notified him that Parker died Wednesday at a nursing domicile in Shelbyville. She grew to become into a hundred and fifteen years, 220 days old, reported Robert youthful, a senior representative for gerontology for Guinness international documents. Parker grew to become into born April 20, 1893, in substantial Indiana's Morgan County and were recognized via Guinness international documents because of the fact the international's oldest individual because of the fact the 2007 dying in Japan of Yone Minagawa, who grew to become into 4 months her senior. Coles keeps a catalogue of the international's oldest human beings and reported Parker grew to become into the 14th oldest demonstrated supercentenarian in historic previous.

Answer 3

The longest unambiguously documented lifespan is that of Jeanne Calment of France (1875–1997), who was aged 122 years and 164 days at the time of her death.

Answer 4

Adam lived 930 years but according to the Bible,
Methuselah lived the longest of any person mentioned, dying at 969 years of age

Answer 5

A Frenchwoman named Jeanne Calment lived to be 122 years, 164 days.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Calment

For other really super old people:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercentenarian