Imagine what it would be like to go to the doctor and sit across from you with a doctor over 100 years old.
This is Howard Tucker, a neurologist from the United States and the current holder of the Guinness World Record for "oldest practicing doctor", knowing that he is 101 years old this year!
图自霍华德·塔克个人网站（What's next?）
In his 100s, he uses his mobile phone, computer, and social media to post short videos. In his spare time, he does not forget to share his life wisdom and tips for maintaining longevity and anti-aging on social media.
The autobiographical documentary "What's next?," co-directed by Dr. Tucker's grandson, is about to be released, sharing the story of Dr. Tucker's life and his tips for keeping his brain healthy and sharp at 101 years old.
Dr. Tucker said,
Over-testing and supplementation are not the answer to longevity
After the age of 100, they still maintain front-line work, and many elderly people begin to have brain aging at the age of seventy or eighty, and even have diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. How did Dr. Tucker manage to be 100 years old and still have a clear mind, live a long life, and fight old age?
Howard Tucker decided in high school that he wanted to study neuroscience and explore the mysteries of the brain. After stepping into college, he began his endless exploration of medicine. He began his medical career in 1947 as a neurologist. Until 2021, his name went to the Guinness Book of World Records as "the world's oldest practicing doctor".
Dr. Tucker received a Guinness World Record, pictured from his personal website
Dr. Tucker enjoys his time at work, "Every time I see a patient, I'm always excited. I am honored and grateful to have their trust. Tucker sighed.
At one point, this sense of responsibility led him to sneak out of his home at the age of 98 to treat cancer patients. Even in the face of the new crown epidemic at that time, it could not stop Tucker from saving people, he went to the doctor five or six days a week, and he seemed to forget that according to his age, he was also a high-risk group for new crown susceptibility.
At the age of 100, he stopped seeing doctors, but continued to teach as a resident at the hospital. He believes his genes may have played a role in his long-term cognitive health and acuity, with his mother living to be 84 and his father to be 96.
At the age of 95, his father could still drive himself to dinner. "Genetics is a lead, but that's about it. Dr. Tucker said in an interview with the media.
Dr. Tucker says that the key to his longevity may be genetic, and he may have a little luck, but if he can maintain certain lifestyles, it may be the secret to longevity. Nowadays, many people take various supplements, have monthly blood tests, MRIs, and colonoscopies...... These are not the answers to longevity.
5 Secret Recipes for Longevity and Mental Clarity
A lot of people don't do it
Later, more and more patients asked Dr. Tucker how he lived a long and healthy life with a clear mind, so he shared his secret to longevity in an interview with CNBC:
1
Keep learning and keep your brain active
Dr. Tucker advises that if you have a job you like and your body can handle it, you should consider delaying retirement. Because after many people retire, their lives begin to stop, they are no longer active, their cognitive ability declines, and then dementia may come to report.
Know that when most people were thinking about retirement, Dr. Tucker, who was 67 years old at the time, chose a new challenge, and he passed the bar exam and became admitted to the bar.
For Dr. Tucker, the way to keep his brain healthy is to keep reading, "In addition to the latest advances in neurology and treatments, I also enjoy reading biographies and detective stories." ”
Immersing yourself in a good book, whether fiction or non-fiction, requires the brain to process a lot of information, and he believes that new information is the key to keeping the mind sharp.
2
Maintain a good habit of exercising
Until his 80s, Dr. Tucker continued to swim, jog, climb and ski to stay fit. Dr. Tucker understands the minimum required to stay healthy.
Dr. Tucker skiing, pictured from his personal website
Dr. Tucker hasn't had a major illness in years, and even though he broke his neck while skiing in his 80s, he recovered quickly.
At 100 years old, Dr. Tucker no longer skies and is not as active as he used to be, but he still runs 4.8 kilometers on a treadmill every week, and when he gets bored just running, he watches classic movies while running.
3
Never smoke, no harm is good
Dr. Tucker never smoked, and he occasionally drank alcohol in social situations.
When Dr. Tucker was in high school, he approached his dad with the idea of smoking. His father replied, "I don't care. It's just that life is so short, how can anyone want to stuff dirt in their lungs except fresh air?" These words immediately dispelled Dr. Tucker's desire to try smoking.
Dr. Tucker noted that smoking causes cancer, stroke, arterial-related diseases and heart and lung disease. Compared with the comfort of smoking and the bad consequences, it is obviously not worth mentioning in his opinion.
4
Eat in moderation and not overdo it
Many elderly people like to have a self-disciplined routine and diet, and are not allowed to eat this or do that by themselves. But Dr. Tucker believes that living too self-limiting is counterproductive to longevity. A "moderate, not excessive" approach to life is the only way to fully enjoy every moment while maintaining long-term health.
"I occasionally have a martini or a New York steak, but I don't do it every day. Dr. Tucker says his wife, Sarah, is a good cook, preparing healthy, varied diets for the couple. He likes to eat vegetables at every meal, especially cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower and kale.
Dr. Tucker's diet mimics the Mediterranean diet, which has long been considered the gold standard for healthy eating. The diet focuses on vegetables, healthy fats like olive oil, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates like whole grains. Studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and promote brain health.
5
Optimism treats every day as if it were the last
When Dr. Tucker isn't working, he also has children and grandchildren to enjoy, with a total of 4 children and 10 grandchildren, who sometimes spend weekends together, skiing the ski machine or watching sports.
"Everyone thinks there is a formula for longevity, and my answer is: enjoy every day! Live every day as if it were your last day, and I think this philosophy of life is beautiful. ”
Finally, while having a longevity gene is lucky, what is more important is his healthy eating habits, love of life, and close interaction with patients, students, and family. Together, these factors contributed to his longevity and wisdom.
bibliography
[1] 霍华德·塔克个人网站（What’s next?）
https://www.whatsnextmovie.com/synopsis
[2]《I’m the world’s oldest practicing doctor. My 3 best tips for living a long, healthy life》https://www.today.com/health/aging/worlds-oldest-practicing-doctor-turns-100-rcna42375
Planning and production
Source: Health Times