Aging gracefully: A retrospective analysis of functional status in Okinawan centenarians

Objective: This study retrospectively explored the late-life functional status of Okinawan centenarians. Methods: Activities of daily living were measured retrospectively at five time points ( 10, 5, 3, and 1 year prior and present) for 22 centenarians in relation to seven physical, two sensory, and two cognitive functions using the Inoue Index. Results: In all, 82% of individuals were still functioning independently at a mean age of 92 years and almost two-thirds were still functioning independently at a mean age of 97 years. Conclusion: Preliminary analyses suggest high functional status in Okinawan centenarians throughout their 90s. The genetic and environmental factors contributing to this successful aging phenomenon deserve further investigation.