Born in Hampshire in 1909, Ethel Caterham currently resides in a care home in Surrey after outliving her husband and both daughters. There has always been curiosity surrounding individuals who reach the age of 100 or more, often leading to inquiries about their secrets to a long and fulfilling life. However, the case of Caterham, who claims to be 116, prompts a deeper investigation into the authenticity of supercentenarian claims across the globe.
Recent studies indicate that a significant portion of the so-called "supercentenarians," individuals aged 110 and up, may not be as old as they assert. The issue often does not stem from any intentional deceit but arises from poor record-keeping practices. Notably, regions like Okinawa in Japan and Sardinia in Italy, known as "Blue Zones" for their perceived high longevity, consistently attract attention. Nevertheless, Dr. Saul Newman from the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing discovered troubling inconsistencies when examining the demographic data from these areas.
For instance, Okinawa is frequently praised for its healthy aging population but ironically holds one of Japan's lowest life expectancies, alongside significant poverty and health challenges. This contradiction leads Dr. Newman to question the credibility of the reported supercentenarians in the region, positing that inaccuracies in records, misreported birthdates, and potential fraudulent claims may lead to an overestimation of age.
Interestingly, areas in Italy that are marked by poverty and higher crime rates boast a disproportionate number of supercentenarians. According to Dr. Newman, the inaccuracies in these demographics may stem from a variety of factors, including pension fraud, where individuals might claim benefits under deceased relatives’ names.
A historical look at the United States reveals that formal birth certificates were gradually adopted by different states during the early 20th century. The introduction of these official documents resulted in a notable decline in reported cases of supercentenarians, with numbers plummeting by 69 to 82 percent once accurate birth documentation became mandatory. This leads to the suspicion that a significant percentage of claimed supercentenarians may not have genuinely reached their asserted ages.
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