Olive oil, chocolate, the occasional cigarette and an after-dinner port: these were said to be the secrets that allowed Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment to live to the ripe old age of 122, claiming her place as the oldest human in history.
She also swore by a “puff of powder” to preserve her youthful looks.
When she died in 1997, she had lived through 25 US presidents, six British monarchs, survived both World Wars and met the artist Vincent van Gogh.
One imagines that if Jeanne were still alive today, she might raise a coiffed eyebrow at the attempts of the super-rich to catch up with her.
Discovering the elixir of life has become the latest preoccupation of Silicon Valley billionaires who, in their desire to live forever, are increasingly delving into the realms of science fiction.
They’re pursuing so-called “bio-hacks”, including stem-cell injections, cryogenic freezing, even “young blood transfusions”, where plasma from teens and early 20-somethings is pumped into the bodies of older people.
One tech entrepreneur has paid a deposit to have his brain uploaded to a computer (see box on page 87).
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 7 April 2022-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 7 April 2022-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.
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PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
The unusual relationship between an heiress and her husband has taken a sinister twist
HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY
Noor Siddiqui says her company can test embryos for hundreds of conditions from diabetes to Alzheimer's. Critics call it social engineering but she insists she's just giving prospective parents the means to avoid a lot of future heartache
THE GROWN-UP BRAIN
If you think your brain deteriorates as you age, think again!
THE eyes HAVE IT
They're the windows to our soul - and the first place to show the stresses of everyday life. Juliette Winter reveals expert tips to de-puff, brighten and smooth this delicate area
WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER
It hasn't been an easy road but now this bodybuilding couple are making waves in the industry
I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!
Annetjie's about to get effective treatment for the skin condition that has blighted her life and she's looking forward to hitting the shops and facing the world
'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'
When SA boxer Chris van Heerden's Russian girlfriend went to visit her parents she was thrown in jail and accused of treasonnow he's in a fight to free her
SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!
A sun-drenched holiday turned into a living nightmare for those aboard this luxury vessel
READY TO SMILE AGAIN
A groundbreaking surgical procedure will restore this Limpopo teen's badly damaged jaw and teeth
HARRY AT A CROSSROADS
As the prince turns 40, royal experts paint a picture of a troubled soul- isolated, homesick and struggling to find a purpose in life