Taiwan centenarian numbers continue climbing

2015/10/14

The number of men and women living to or over the age of 100 each year in Taiwan is on the rise, according to a Ministry of Health and Welfare survey published Oct. 12.

As of this year, there are 3,043 centenarians in Taiwan representing 0.012 percent of the population. This number increased 44.2 percent from 2010 to 2015, surpassing the global average, approaching the level of Japan and higher than countries like Australia, Germany, Sweden and the U.S.

The study is a compilation of different reports conducted in conjunction with National Taiwan University’s Department of Social Work, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and United Daily News.

NTU professor Yang Pei-shan said there are no significant gender differences in Taiwan’s centenarian statistics, with males and females accounting for 48 percent and 52 percent, respectively.

“Contrary to popular belief, the health of super-aged males is not worse than their female counterparts,” Yang said. “Most of the centenarians boast an active lifestyle and balanced diet consisting mostly of fresh whole foods.”

Chen Liang-kung, director of TVGH’s Center of Geriatrics and Gerontology, attributes the longevity of the demographic to superior genes, as 40 percent to 60 percent of the centenarians’ parents and 90 percent of their siblings live beyond 80.

“Our survey finds Taiwan’s centenarians are generally in better physical shape, reporting fewer incidences of fatal conditions like cancers or cardiovascular diseases,” Chen said. “National Health Insurance records also show that this group seeks medical attention less frequently than the majority of those over 65.”

Most common complaints of the super-aged largely comprise cataracts, declining organ functions, hypertension, osteoporosis and presbycusis. Major killers are accidents or infectious diseases like pneumonia and sepsis, according to the data.

“This generation boasts strong survival instincts as they lived through the turmoil of war, malnutrition and poor public health in the early 20th century,” Chen said. “They are literally fighters for life.”

An additional characteristic shared by the centenarians is living arrangements. Yang’s NTU researchers found that 88 percent cohabitate with their families, while over 60 percent are supported and cared for by their children and grandchildren. The percentage of centenarians living in elderly care facilities in Taiwan is one of the lowest worldwide.

“Being surrounded by loved ones is obviously the secret to living a long and prosperous life,” Yang said. “With more than 70 percent of the interviewees expressing happiness with their lives, this sends a strong message to Taiwan as society marches toward super-aged status in 10 years’ time.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237684&ctNode=2194&mp=9)