Gertrude Weaver, Now The World’s Oldest Person, Shares Her Secrets To Living Long

The keys to Gertrude’s longevity: “I loved God. I worked hard, and I loved everybody and everything around me.” (Photo courtesy of Gertrude Weaver)

After reigning as the world's oldest person for six days, Gertrude Weaver died Monday at age 116. She would have turned 117 on the 4th of July. The oldest person in the world is now Jeralean Talley, who lives in the Detroit area. She was born on May 23rd, 1899.

In Camden, Arkansas, at Silver Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center, 116-year-old Gertrude Weaver just became the oldest person in the world.

On Wednesday, Misao Okawa, a 117-year-old who lived in Japan, passed — and according to the Guinness Book of World records, that made Weaver (who was born in 1898) the “new” oldest.

“It’s an absolute honor to have her and her family here,” says Kathy Langley, director of the center Weaver resides in. “Seven generations of Gertrude’s family are living today.”

Weaver is a “supercentenarian” — someone over 110 years old, and is one of just four people alive today born before 1900. And while common knowledge may tell us that diet and exercise are the keys to a longer life, Weaver credits her age to other factors.

“I loved God. I worked hard, and I loved everybody and everything around me,” she tells Yahoo Health.

And research shows that Weaver’s good-for-you habits are right on track.

Religion

Weaver’s granddaughter, Gradie Welch, says her grandmother “always puts God first in her life. I would rate her as a lady with spiritual integrity.” No matter your faith, for years, studies have linked a religious background to health perks. Some research shows that people who are religious have better mental health than those who are not — other studies have found that people with a strong faith are less likely to experience depression. Researchers also point out that the social connectedness may be at the root of it all, helping people live a longer life.

Related: 90 Ways To Tell If You Have The Healthiest Personality Trait

Respect And A Positive Attitude

“She always loved her fellow man,” Welch says of Weaver. And when it comes to her grandmother, she says that Weaver taught her respect. But a positive outlook and love for others isn’t just a pleasant personality trait — it could be a lifesaver, too. A study in the journal Agingof people between the ages of 95 and 107 found that a glass-half-full mentality could play a role in a longer life. Conscientiousness — a trait that describes people who are rule-abiding, responsible, and hard working — is also a factor in tacking on the years, science finds.

Work Ethic

“I’ve always known her to always be working,” Welch says of her grandmother. “She came through a period of time where the people that you worked for demanded most of your time — so that’s what she gave them.” Weaver worked hard as a domestic worker. “She worked in private homes. She worked according to the wishes of those people. She was cooperative — she’s been good.”

A Northwestern University study of people age 80 and older called “SuperAgers,” who have brains as sharp as those decades younger than them, finds a similar connection. These people tend to be very active in their communities, and many still work. One “SuperAger” is even the president of her condo association. Research also suggests that hard-working, prudent people are the ones who live the longest.

Related: ‘SuperAgers’ In Their Late 80s Share Their Stay-Sharp Secrets

A Strong Social Network

“Gertrude has meals in the dining room, she participates in exercise class, she loves visitors, and she loves people,” says Langley. “She’s very involved in church services and loves parties. We have wine and cheese Wednesdays and she loves doing that. She enjoys having her manicures and her hair done.” Science attributes these social butterfly habits to a longer life. Studies show that a bigger social circle not only helps protect against disease, but also decreases risk of dying at an early age. A more recent study suggests that isolation and loneliness can threaten longevity just as much as obesity does.

And while Weaver has certainly met a lot of people in her years, she says that there is one more person she’s hoping to meet: President Obama.

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