Those who live to 100 exercises their brains, manage stress.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Susan, my 95-year-old friend in New England, picked up the phone on the first ring with a bright "Hello!"

"Susan, it's Mary. How are you healing from your broken hip?" I asked.

In a perky voice Susan responded, "Oh, I still have to use this stupid walker, but my doctor says I'm fine; I just need more patience."

Refusing to dwell on the subject, Susan launched into an in-depth discussion of the attributes and foibles of Gore, Bush and Bradley, then asked me how I was doing. I described my latest skirmishes from raising my two teens, and as always, Susan offered wise and original advice.

Susan, with her keen mind, resilient response to life's setbacks and positive outlook, has the type of personality described in the book "Living to 100: Lessons in Living to Your Maximum Potential at Any Age" (Basic Books, 1999). Co-authored by Harvard Medical School's Thomas Perls and neuropsychologist Margery Hutter Silver, this book explores the characteristics of those who live to 100 and beyond.

The book portrays such vibrant folks as 103-year-old Celia Bloom, who looks 76 and hasn't seen a doctor in six years. The researchers had great difficulty setting up interviews with Bloom, an accomplished pianist and volunteer, because she was "always out."

While probing the effects of genetics, personality, diet, exercise, education, socioeconomics and family supports, the book reveals surprises. One interesting fact is that four out of five men who live to 100 are physically and mentally healthy, while centenarian women range from total independence to complete dependence.

The book also contains Internet resources, a bibliography and the "Living to 100 Life Expectancy Calculator." Here, you answer questions like "do you cook your fish or meat until it is charred?"(subtract two points if you do) and "do you minimize the amount of meat you eat?" (add seven points if you do) and add up your chances of living to 100.

When I caught up with Dr. Silver, we discussed the two most important characteristics of longevity. "Although physical exercise is very important," Silver said, "exercising the brain and managing stress" are the two key factors. Continuing to learn actually develops new cellular connections in the brain. While this cannot prevent Alzheimer's Disease, new skills and knowledge act as a "brain reserve" to buffer and actually delay the onset of diseases like Alzheimer's.

Silver explained that although many of her study subjects lived stressful lives, they did not let stress affect them. They let it roll off their backs and maintained a positive outlook. For example, Sarah Knauss, the world's second oldest person who died

recently at age 119, was described by family members as "serene."

The book also reports the results of Perls and Silver's ongoing New England Centenarian Studies. They are looking for new participants. Plus, they are still trying to find the oldest living person in the world. If you are 98 or older, you can participate in the study. Just call NECS.

I hope that Susan will one day be eligible. Perhaps I shouldn't worry. During a recent eye appointment, she asked the doctor, "Surprised to see me?"

He responded, "Nope, I know you."

For information on the New England Centenarian Studies, write to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 1 Deaconess Road, Suite CC-105, Boston, MA 02215. You can call 888-333-6327 or visit the Web site

http://www.med.harvard.edu/programs/necs/

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(Mary B. Moorhead is a licensed family therapist and elder-care specialist. Write to her c/o the Contra Costa Times, P.O. Box 5088, Walnut Creek, CA 94596-0088. Or e-mail her at MBMoorhead(at)aol.com.)

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(c) 1999, Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.).

Visit HotCoco, the World Wide Web site of the Contra Costa Times, at http://www.hotcoco.com/

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

X X X

(Mary B. Moorhead is a licensed family therapist and elder-care specialist. Write to her c/o the Contra Costa Times, P.O. Box 5088, Walnut Creek, CA 94596-0088. Or e-mail her at MBMoorhead(at)aol.com.)

X X X

(c) 1999, Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.).

Visit HotCoco, the World Wide Web site of the Contra Costa Times, at http://www.hotcoco.com/

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.