[One Day Ten Thousand Steps One Day Thousand Characters] US 100-Year-Old Active Doctor "Retirement Is the Enemy of Longevity"

‘Smoking, trampoline jumping, riding motorcycles’

These are the three things that Dr. Howard Tucker, a 100-year-old active neurologist in the United States, has never done in his entire life. Dr. Tucker was born on July 10, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He is currently 100 years old and will turn 101 after his birthday in July. In 2021, he was listed in the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest practicing physician. He is a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

Although he has stopped seeing patients, he has not officially retired. He spends time twice a week teaching residents at the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland. The ‘three things he has never done in his life’ were mentioned half-jokingly and half-seriously during his appearance on the popular American TV program ‘Good Morning America’ on the 10th (local time). His daily routine is simple. He has never followed a strict diet or run a marathon. Every night, he returns home, has dinner, spends time with his four children, and then goes back to work. He does a little of everything but never too much.

Dr. Howard Tucker is practicing throwing a ball while wearing a baseball glove. Last July, Dr. Tucker threw the ceremonial first pitch at a game between the Cleveland Guardians, a local baseball team, and the Chicago White Sox.

Dr. Tucker has never experienced heart disease, cancer, dementia, or other conditions that often come with aging. At his 100th birthday celebration last July, he contracted COVID-19 from a relative but recovered quickly. His mother lived to 84, and his father to 96. Dr. Tucker says, "Longevity starts with genetics and family history, but it must be supported by proper nutrition, alcohol consumption, and happiness." He adds, "Family history can influence health status, but it is not the only way to protect your healthy years."

Dr. Tucker featured on the website 'What's Next,' which produces feature-length documentaries about the life of Dr. Howard Tucker.

In several interviews, Dr. Tucker shares more specific secrets to his health. The first is not smoking. Having witnessed the harmful effects of smoking, he never smoked a cigarette. The second is moderate drinking. He drinks socially and occasionally enjoys a martini on Friday nights. While avoiding alcohol is ideal, moderate drinking can help with longevity. The third is eating in moderation. Dr. Tucker says, "You are what you eat, and if you eat well, your body will surely thank you."

The fourth is exercise. Dr. Tucker broke his neck skiing in his late 80s but made a full recovery. Although his family now discourages him from skiing, he still enjoys snowshoeing, swimming, and jogging.

The fifth is maintaining brain activity. Dr. Tucker says retirement is the enemy of longevity. He explains, "If you retire, your body shrinks, and you may end up in a nursing home." According to Harvard Medical School, working just one more year after retirement reduces the risk of death by 9-11%, regardless of health status. Dr. Tucker says, "Living and working is fun. It’s enjoyable. I learn something new every day." He cites hobbies that keep him busy and mentally active, such as gardening, journaling, and jigsaw puzzles.

Dr. Howard Tucker holding the Guinness certificate. In February 2021, he was registered as the oldest practicing doctor at 98 years and 231 days.

The sixth is continuous learning. Dr. Tucker earned his medical degree in 1947 but still studies the latest medical advances. Interested in law, he attended night law school and passed the Ohio bar exam at age 67. After witnessing doctors struggle with technology and retire, he made it his mission to keep up with the latest devices.

The last is focusing on life. Dr. Tucker’s wife is an 89-year-old psychiatrist, and they have four children and ten grandchildren after 65 years of marriage. He still exercises about 3 km four times a week on a treadmill or stationary bike, reads the newspaper every morning with his wife, wears a bow tie, and heads to the hospital. Depending on the situation, he is known to stay up all night preparing new medical lectures for students.

Already famous in the United States, videos of Dr. Tucker’s 100th birthday celebration, pitching at a baseball game, and daily life have become popular on the video platform TikTok. His grandson is producing a feature-length documentary about him titled What’s Next.