Number of folks 100 or older up 35% in ’90s

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, October 2, 2001

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Bernice Bach has never puffed on a cigarette or had a sip of alcohol. Is that her secret to living to 101?

"Secret? I don’t think there is one," Bach joked by phone from her Oklahoma City home. "Let me know when you find out."

Bach was one of 50,454 Americans last year age 100 or older — up about 13,000, or 35 percent, from 10 years ago, according to a 2000 census report just released.

Most researchers studying longevity agree with Bach: While healthy lifestyles, medical breakthroughs and genetics play big roles, there is no single factor to pin it on.

Though they comprise far less than 1 percent of the country’s total population of 281.4 million, some census projections forecast there could be as many as 1 million centenarians by 2050, when the oldest baby boomers would reach 100.

Besides the 35 percent growth in the 100-plus population, the number of people ages 90 to 94 increased 45 percent to 1.1 million. The number of Americans 80 to 84 surged 26 percent to 4.9 million.

Nearly all Americans have genes that allow them to live well into their 80s, said Dr. Thomas Perls, director of the New England Centenarian Study at Harvard Medical School.

Esther Hemp, 102, of New Cumberland, Pa., lives with her daughter and maintains a fairly active lifestyle. Though she needs help with basic things like getting out of bed, Hemp is active with her local church and occasionally visits the senior citizens center.

"I’ve got good health habits, I lead a clean life, I don’t smoke," she said.

But just as important, Hemp said, is that "I do have a positive attitude."

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