Typologies of Extreme Longevity Myths
Joint Authors
Perls, Thomas T.
Desjardins, Bertrand
Young, Robert D.
McLaughlin, Kirsten
Poulain, Michel
Source
Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research
Issue
Vol. 2010, Issue 2010 (31 Dec. 2010), pp.1-12, 12 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2011-03-21
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
12
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Purpose.
Political, national, religious, and other motivations have led the media and even scientists to errantly accept extreme longevity claims prima facie.
We describe various causes of false claims of extraordinary longevity.
Design and Methods.
American Social Security Death Index files for the period 1980–2009 were queried for individuals with birth and death dates yielding ages 110+ years of age.
Frequency was compared to a list of age-validated supercentenarians maintained by the Gerontology Research Group who died during the same time period.
Age claims of 110+ years and the age validation experiences of the authors facilitated a list of typologies of false age claims.
Results.
Invalid age claim rates increase with age from 65% at age 110-111 to 98% by age 115 to 100% for 120+ years.
Eleven typologies of false claims were: Religious Authority Myth, Village Elder Myth, Fountain of Youth Myth (substance), Shangri-La Myth (geographic), Nationalist Pride, Spiritual Practice, Familial Longevity, Individual and/or Family Notoriety, Military Service, Administrative Entry Error, and Pension-Social Entitlement Fraud.
Conclusions.
Understanding various causes of false extreme age claims is important for placing current, past, and future extreme longevity claims in context and for providing a necessary level of skepticism.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Young, Robert D.& Desjardins, Bertrand& McLaughlin, Kirsten& Poulain, Michel& Perls, Thomas T.. 2011. Typologies of Extreme Longevity Myths. Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research،Vol. 2010, no. 2010, pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-470980
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Young, Robert D.…[et al.]. Typologies of Extreme Longevity Myths. Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research No. 2010 (2010), pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-470980
American Medical Association (AMA)
Young, Robert D.& Desjardins, Bertrand& McLaughlin, Kirsten& Poulain, Michel& Perls, Thomas T.. Typologies of Extreme Longevity Myths. Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research. 2011. Vol. 2010, no. 2010, pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-470980
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-470980