- Dr. Howard Tucker turned 101 years old last month and works full-time as a neurologist.
- He shared his four keys to living a long and happy life with the mindbodygreen podcast.
- They include staying interested in the world around you as you age.
A 101-year-old working neurologist has shared his secrets to living a long and happy life — including taking interest in your family and work, and continuing to be productive — in an episode of the mindbodygreen podcast published last Monday.
Dr. Howard Tucker, who works at a variety of hospitals and clinics around Cleveland, was born on July 10th, 1922 in Ohio. He has been with his wife, a psychiatrist and former medical student of his, for 66 years, and they have four children and ten grandchildren.
Tucker puts his longevity mainly down to his enjoyment of work, his relationships, as well as some lifestyle choices such as doing everything in moderation, continuing to exercise a few times a week, and not smoking cigarettes.
He also said that his genetics likely play a part in his prolonged cognitive health and sharpness, noting that his dad used to drive himself over for dinner every evening at the age of 95 after Tucker's mom died. "Genetics is a head start, but no more than that," he told the podcast host.
Insider's Gabby Landsverk previously reported on eight habits that research suggests could add up to 20 years to our lives, such as getting enough exercise and sleep, positive relationships, and eating healthy food.
Tucker believes that what's known as biohacking, which can range from taking supplements to undergoing monthly blood tests, MRIs, and colonoscopies, is not the answer to a long life as medical research is constantly changing what we believe is good for us.
"Physicians are not infallible," he said, giving the example of doctors recommending smoking for weight loss and "to calm the nerves" back in the 1930s and 40s.
The 101-year-old shared the four things he credits for his ten-decade lifespan.
Don't retire (completely)
Tucker said that he spends most of a typical day working. In the morning he heads to the hospital to do rounds, works from an office in the afternoon, before returning home to enjoy an evening of reading or watching TV, and a martini, with his wife.
"I think retirement remains the enemy of longevity," he said. Tucker believes it is crucial that we stay interested in our world as we age, and that doing work that you enjoy is a great way to do this.
Doing some meaningful volunteering can serve the same purpose, he said, because it can help to maintain your interest in the world around you and your vitality.
Think young
Tucker keeps a youthful attitude and is always making future plans that he is excited about, for instance, he wants to go hiking in the Alps.
He shared that he had friends who saw themselves as old and died earlier, despite being the same age as him. "I actually think I am going to live forever. I know it's not a reality but I have no fear of dying," he said.
His parents both picked friends who were younger than they were, he said, and that is something he has also chosen to do.
"I have good friends who are in their 70s and 80s and they keep me young," the centenarian said.
Stay active
Aside from getting up and going to work every day, Tucker also exercises a few times a week.
"I used to run outside, but it's too rough for me now, so I do it on the treadmill. I do two to three miles a couple of times a week," he said. Even though it gets harder to do as time goes on, he said that he keeps at it.
Have loving relationships
The one thing Tucker said he couldn't live without is his wife.
As well as his younger friends, he also has a large family and said that he takes an interest in and enjoys his family life.
Tucker said we should all let go of hatred, which he said causes tension, and judgment of others because it ends up eating us up a lot more than it does them.
He also said that the key to loving relationships is to compromise and admit when you are in the wrong.