World's oldest siblings living in Sardinia: reports

August 21, 2012 in Health

The Melis siblings on the island of Sardinia are officially the world's oldest with nine brothers and sisters clocking up a total of 818 years between them, Italian newspapers reported on Tuesday.

The oldest sibling, Consolata, is 104 and has nine children, 24 grand-children and 25 great-grandchildren, the reports said, adding that the of the Melis had been recognised as a .

Consolata will turn 105 on Wednesday, the reports said, adding that the Guinness certification followed a seven-year review around the world.

The Melis are from the village of Perdasdefogu in the southeastern corner of the island, which has some of the oldest people in the world.

The next oldest are Claudia (99), Maria (97), Antonio (93), Concetta (91), Adolfo (89), Vitalio (86), Vitalia (81), and Mafalda (78).

Claudia still attends mass every week and Adolfo runs the local bar.

Luca Deiana, a professor of clinical biochemistry at the university of Sassari in Sardinia who has studied some 2,500 on the island since 1996 said the longevity of local inhabitants was due to various factors.

"On the one hand it is about genetics, about inherited longevity... but there is also the bounty of the land and the local fruit, particularly pears and prunes," he was quoted as saying by Corriere della Sera.

He also said strong local family traditions contributed to long life.

(c) 2012 AFP

2 /5 (1 vote)  

Rank 2 /5 (1 vote)
Related Stories
Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

US health care: Does more spending yield better health?

(Medical Xpress)—Health care spending is much higher for older Americans than for younger adults and children, on average, and analysts have said that increasing spending leads to longer life expectancy.

Health created 3 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Facing the chill wind of blood pressure

(Medical Xpress)—High blood pressure is something that has traditionally been a problem in Scotland, but might there be a link to our climate?

Health created 3 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Alcohol sales fall due to ban on multi-buy promotions

(Medical Xpress)—A report published today shows a 2.6% decrease in the amount of alcohol sold per adult in Scotland in the year following the introduction of the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act in October 2011.

Health created 3 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study focuses on new mums' sleepiness and injury risk on the road

New mothers throughout Australia are needed to help QUT sleep researchers investigate whether the disrupted sleep experienced by mothers when caring for their new baby raises the risk of injury while driving.

Health created 5 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Portland, Ore., rejecting water fluoridation

(AP)—The mayor of Portland, Ore., has conceded defeat in an effort to add fluoride to the city's drinking water.

Health created 5 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Scientists uncover molecular roots of cocaine addiction in the brain

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have unraveled the molecular foundations of cocaine's effects on the brain, and identified a compound that blocks cravings for the drug in cocaine-addicted mice. The compound, already proven safe ...

Taming suspect gene reverses schizophrenia-like abnormalities in mice

Scientists have reversed behavioral and brain abnormalities in adult mice that resemble some features of schizophrenia by restoring normal expression to a suspect gene that is over-expressed in humans with ...

Costs to treat stroke in America may double by 2030

Costs to treat stroke are projected to more than double and the number of people having strokes may increase 20 percent by 2030, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Acne treatment: Natural substance-based formula is more effective than artificial compounds

University of Granada scientists have patented a new treatment for acne that is based on completely natural substances and is much more effective than artificial formulas because it does not create resistance ...

Study finds new pneumococcal vaccine appears to be as safe as previously used vaccine

The new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) appears to be as safe as the previous version used prior to 2010, the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), according to a Kaiser Permanente study published ...

A molecular explanation for age-related fertility decline in women

(Medical Xpress)—Scientists supported by the National Institutes of Health have a new theory as to why a woman's fertility declines after her mid-30s. They also suggest an approach that might help slow ...