What you can learn from the oldest old

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Women are natural survivors. The 10 people with the longest verified life spans are women, as are 85% of centenarians (people between 100 and 110). Scientists studying centenarians have found that good genes and a healthy lifestyle aren't the only factors that increase your chance of seeing your 100th birthday. Most centenarians also share an emotional trait: resilience, the ability to adapt well to stress and adversity.

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