don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Today, the topic is longevity. The good news is that life expectancy continues to rise dramatically. In New York City, female life expectancy has reached 80.2 years; for males  the figure is 74.5 years. Marshall Loeb (CBS.MarketWatch.com, December 26, 2003) identified increased longevity as one of the top ten trends of 2003, adding, "...those who choose wisely with respect to nutrition, lots of exercise, moderate drinking and modern medications... have every reason to expect that good times will continue in 2004 and beyond."    

Yet, the "good times" (living longer) have a dark side, as anyone familiar with Oscar Wilde's "Dorian Grey" will understand. The concern is that some wellness-oriented folks might end up living longer than they would once imagined possible.

Think about the best (or worst!) case scenario. What is the limit on how old you would want to become, knowing that eventually your body will fail not all at once (like Oliver Wendell Holmes' Wonderful One Horse Shay) but rather little by little and bit by bit? Be realistic--consider that in time you WILL lose important functions that make life worth living, such as sexuality, hearing, sight, ability to taste food, sexuality, bowel control, mobility and sexuality. Excuse me if I seem repetitious but I want to be sure you catch my drift here--life is not a bowl of cherries at 112 or so.

All this came to mind when I read a recent (December 26, 2003) NY Times article entitled "Man Who May Be Oldest Living Veteran Tells Some." The story profiled a Puerto Rican national named Emiliano Mercado del Toro, born Aug. 21, 1891 and known locally as Don Emiliano. As veterans go, he's not exactly in the war heroes hall of fame. Don Emiliano served only two months at the end of World War I in 1918, in Panama. In fact, he had not made it out of basic training when peace broke out and he was discharged. But, technically, at 112, he may just the same be the oldest living American soldier from that era, and apparently some veterans groups, at least in Puerto Rico, want to get some attention for this interesting situation. It seems a Puerto Rican-based affiliate of the Disabled Veterans of America wants to make Don Emiliano a poster boy of sorts by having him officially recognized as the oldest living WW I vet. They better hurry--Don Emiliano is blind, deaf, bedridden and can't remember much. Generals Custer and Sherman are dead and old Don Emiliano, he ain't doin so good, either. Don Emiliano is definitely not parade material (though he was featured as grand marshal in a local Veterans Day march last year, pulled along in a wheelchair all decked out in a navy-and-gold garrison cap) and may not be around next time the Armistice is celebrated.

The Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington does not keep track of veterans by age categories, but a spokesperson noted that less than 200 vets from the World War I era are still alive. When asked the secret of his longevity, Don Emiliano mentioned "a diet of boiled cornmeal, cod and coconut milk and never marrying." Not the kind of recipe for long life that best sellers are made of.

Thinking about Don Emiliano and the idea of living to 112 (which means I'd still be around in 2050) gives me more than a little pause. Among other effects, it made me think of a piece Jane Brody authored in Science a while ago (February 5, 2002) suggesting that studies on the infirmities of aging cats and dogs might provide insights for humans. Of course, some might find such comparisons a bit unseemly, but in fact good science as to the introduction of antioxidants and other interventions for brain vitalization have come from such studies. I think such studies are also helpful in the context of human anxieties associated with living too long, that is, when important functions diminish or cease years before the heart stops beating.

Brody noted that as dogs get older, they become harder to care for and less amusing. Pet owners of old dogs and cats have a hard time gaining a continuous night's sleep. In addition, the rewards of caring for old dogs decline as they become increasingly unresponsive and immobile. They suffer hearing losses, which means no more big fusses (loving greetings) when the master appears after a day at work. Further, arthritis and other debilitations "turn a walk into a crawl" and force many owners to carry their charges up and down stairs and lift them into cars. Finally, the interests of aging critters wane drastically, favorite toys are ignored and memory fades.

The National Institute on Aging has funded studies to discern just how the aging of a loved pet differs from that of an elderly person. The answer seems to be, "Not much, save we don't put the latter out of its misery."

This invites the logical question, "Why not?" I'll get around to that some other day.

Meanwhile, think about how you might want to plan your departure from this vale of tears (or right jolly place) if, as a consequence of increasing longevity, generally, and your own exceptionally sensible wellness lifestyle, in particular. Consider that you may live as long or longer than Emiliano Mercado del Toro.

The American Geriatrics Society recommends nine elements of quality medical care for dying patients:

1. Alleviating physical and emotional symptoms
2. Helping the patient maintain dignity.
3. Using treatments that reflect the patient's wishes.
4. Avoiding "inappropriate aggressive care".
5. Giving the patient and family quality time together.
6. Giving the patient the best possible quality of life.
7. Minimizing the family's financial burdens.
8. Informing patients about insurance coverage.
9. Helping the family with bereavement.

Personally, I know what I want my caregivers to do when I lose extremely valued functional capacities, and I'm not only referring to hearing, sight, ability to taste food, bowel control and mobility here! I want to be escorted to the local humane shelter by at least two hot babes, who will bestow lots of kisses and hugs along the way before turning me over to the keeper of the pound for euthanizing.

I realize others may want to explore more sentimental departures, but this will work just fine for me. Make no mistake--I want to head for the pound long before I reach a state like Emiliano Mercado del Toro, even though I realize he might prefer to keep going just the way he is for another decade or so. Maybe he or the local vets (veterans, not veterinarians) down there in Puerto Rico want to see Don Emiliano recognized as not just the oldest veteran of WWI but the ONLY survivor of that conflict. In any event, this whole business of the inevitable effects of aging is something to think about, don't you agree?

Be well, and look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of appearance and aging. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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