Jeralean Talley, Oldest Person in USA, Turns 115

Last Friday, Jeralean Talley, believed to be the oldest person in the USA, turned 115 years old.  She was born in 1899.



The secret to her longevity may likely be movement.  Attending a celebration at her church, Talley bypassed a chair elevator at the bottom of the steps.  "I’m not waiting for that thing."  Instead, Talley grabbed a handrail, and ever so slowly, the woman who bowled until she was 104, handed her walker to a friend and began the 10-step climb to the waiting congregation.  (Detroit Free Press)



Peter Lichtenberg, director at Wayne State University’s Institute of Gerontology, suggests that the longest-living Americans have a range of backgrounds, lifestyles and health factors. Some drink and even smoke. Some lived through extreme poverty and pain.  But the one commonality is how much movement people have.