Newzity

It worked for Edna Parker, the oldest living person on the planet. Today is her 115-th birthday. Her 59 year old grandson said she has been always thin and happy, and that did the trick. But no one really knows the secrets of longevity, but scientists think her gene and life style played a major role.

Edna was born in April 20 1893, and last august become the oldest person when a Japanese women four months older than her died. In the whole world, there are only 75 people that are 110 or older: most of them women and only 11 men. Average life expectancy in US is about 76 year and in Japan it is about 80, the longest in the world. Japan also has the largest number of people over 110, or the super-centenarians. Edna celebrated her 115 birthday with her family at her nursing home.

Over the years she has lost all people from her generation and most from the next one. Her husband died 70 years ago and her two sisters, who lived to be 99 and 88, are no longer with her. She even outlived her two sons. Now her family members include five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great grandchildren.

We wish her a happy birthday and hope she continues to inspire others to live a long and healthy life.