What makes his story special is not just his age, but the wisdom he shares and the lessons that he has learned
One hundred and two-year-old Dr. Howard Tucker holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest practicing doctor. He continues to teach medical students, learns new technologies, and stays curious about life—making him more active than even most youngsters today.
Dr. Tucker, a neurologist from Cleveland in the United States who has been practicing medicine for almost 80 years now, does not even think of retiring. "Retirement, I think, is the enemy of longevity," Tucker told USA Today in an interview.
Born in 1922, Dr. Tucker survived the Great Depression, World War II, and a century's worth of historical crises, which included the COVID-19 pandemic. Till now completely fit and healthy, Dr. Tucker says he has not dealt with major diseases, but he broke his neck skiing in his late 80s and “came out of it totally intact.”
Dr. Howard Tucker’s Longevity Secrets
So, what makes his story special is not just the number of candles on his cake—but the wisdom he shares and the lessons that he has learnt through his life experiences—something you would not find in any health magazine. Here are the 4 most surprising and unusual life lessons Dr. Tucker believes helped him live this long and this well.
Get a purpose daily
Waking up in the morning is not just another life chore for Dr. Tucker. He believes in having a daily purpose and setting daily goals for your life. "You have to have some purpose in life and get up in the morning and know what you're about,” he said.
Dr. Tucker has a computer and smartphone and keeps up with technology as much as he can. Being a social media star is not just something he wants to be satisfied with. "The only thing I can take out of it is that if you live long enough, people are inspired by your life," he said.
Do not smoke or drink
All through his life, Dr. Tucker says he has neither smoked nor drank alcohol. When it comes to food, he enjoys everything in moderation. “I never think of death. To be alive is to know that you're going to die because life is a fatal disease. And so I live it,” he said.
The centenarian has exercised all of his life, regularly swimming, jogging, and skiing, he said. He also works out in his home gym, which includes a treadmill and stationary bike.
Never retire
For Dr. Tucker, jobs are just not done physically but also mentally. He feels retirement should never be there, as it only rots your brain and declines cognitive health. “I’m going to caution people: If they retire from their work, they should at least do something as a hobby, whether it be communal work or self-hobbies. … You need a stimulus for the brain daily.”
He doesn't plan to ever retire. “I'm having too much fun,” Tucker said.
Be happy
“You have to be happy in your job and in your domestic life,” Tucker said. He advocates always having positivity and optimism in life, which can include being happy in your work and with your family. "Be happy in what you do, be loving to your friends and family, and just don't fret about the future. Life is short enough," he said.
"Just keep a buoyant attitude about life." When it comes to his personal happiness, he and his wife, Sara, a psychiatrist, have been married for almost 70 years —they're "still in love, still argue," he said. They have four children and ten grandchildren.
