Thread: 'Oldest human' dies in Indonesia 'aged 146'

The Indonesian man who claimed to be 146 years old - the longest living human ever - has died in his village in Central Java.

According to his papers, Sodimedjo, also known as Mbah Ghoto (grandpa Ghoto), was born in December 1870.

But Indonesia only started recording births in 1900 - and there have been mistakes before.

Yet officials told the BBC his papers were valid, based on documents he provided and interviews with him.

He was taken to hospital on 12 April because of deteriorating health. Six days later he insisted on checking out to return home.

"Since he came back from the hospital, he only ate spoonfuls of porridge and drank very little," his grandson Suyanto told the BBC.

"It only lasted a couple of days. From that moment on to his death, he refused to eat and drink."


Patience and love

When asked about the secret of his longevity, Mbah Ghoto told the BBC last year that patience was key and that he had "a long life because I have people that love me looking after me".

A heavy smoker until the end, he outlived four wives, 10 siblings and all his children.
In his village, he was a local hero famous for telling great stories about the wars against Japan and the Dutch colonisers.



Grandson Suryanto said his grandfather was buried on Monday morning in a local cemetery plot he bought several years ago.

A tombstone that had sat beside his house for many years was placed above the grave.

"He didn't ask much. Before he died, he just wanted us, his family, to let him go," his grandson said.

If independently verified, his age would make Grandpa Ghoto older than French centenarian Jeanne Calment, who was 122 when she died, and is considered the longest living human in recorded history.

'Oldest human' dies in Indonesia 'aged 146' - BBC News

Originally Posted by misskit

A heavy smoker until the end

Interesting, that...

God bless his soul. RIP.


Sorry, bit sentimental thinking of my Grandad. RIP.

Fook it... RIP to all our lost Grandads bros.

I don't buy the 146 bit.

Like those folks in the Balkans and Caucuses who are 103 who claim to be 122.

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

I don't buy the 146 bit.

Originally Posted by misskit

According to his papers, Sodimedjo, also known as Mbah Ghoto (grandpa Ghoto), was born in December 1870.

But Indonesia only started recording births in 1900

Yeah. If he was 30 at the time the government started recording, you'd expect his kids to have had papers. If he has (or had) kids with birth papers from the early 1900's then his claim might be not too much of an exaggeration.

It wouldn't surprise me if it were true... humans are beginning to live much longer, due to better technology, knowledge about health and nutrition, etc..

This article is interesting, allow me to post below:-

Who wants to live forever? - Why are people living longer?

This section looks at the reasons why people now live longer than they ever have done.
Key questions

• What changes have occurred which mean we are now living longer than previous generations?
• Are we now more informed about how to prolong our lives?

Key concepts

• Place
• Human Processes
• Cultural Understanding and Diversity

What changes have occurred which mean we are now living longer than previous generations?

During the twentieth century, life expectancy rose dramatically amongst the world's wealthiest populations from around 50 to over 75 years. This increase can be attributed to a number of factors including improvements in public health, nutrition and medicine. Vaccinations and antibiotics greatly reduced deaths in childhood, health and safety in manual workplaces improved and fewer people smoked. As a result of this - coupled with a decline in the fertility rate (the average number of children that women have in their lifetime) - many major industrial countries are facing an ageing population.
It is likely that life expectancy of the most developed countries will continue to slowly advance and then reach a peak in the range of the mid-80s. According to UN statistics for the period 2005 - 2010, Japan (82.6 years) has the world's highest life expectancy followed by Hong Kong (82.2 years) and Iceland (81.8 years). The world average is 67.2 years and the UK average is 79.4 years.
In the U.K, Life expectancy at birth increased by almost a decade in the first 50 years of the NHS (established in 1948). In 1948, 40% of people died before reaching pensionable age, but by 1996 this was reduced to just 7%.
During the Roman Empire, Romans had a approximate life expectancy of 22 to 25 years. In 1900, the world life expectancy was approximately 30 years and in 1985 it was about 62 years, just five years short of today's life expectancy.
Life expectancy changes as you get older. By the time a child reaches their first year, their chances of living longer increase. By the time of late adulthood, your chances of survival to a very old age are quite good. For example, although the life expectancy from birth for all people in the United States is 77.7 years, those who live to age 65 will have an average of almost 18 additional years left to live, making their life expectancy almost 83 years.
Are we now more informed about how to prolong our lives?

The three big reasons that people in the UK are living increasingly longer lives are:

• Food supply and nutrition
• Health
• Hygiene

These three things have all seen marked improvements in standards since the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. However, another important factor is our knowledge of their importance to our health and life expectancy, and of the steps we can take to ensure that we lead a healthy lifestyle. Our access to relevant information has also improved dramatically as a result of scientific research and methods of information dissemination, for example the Internet.
For example:

• The packaging of food products at increasing numbers of shops and supermarkets displays the nutritional content of food and uses colour coding so that we know whether it is good for us. The importance of eating a balanced diet is widely known
• Government and charity websites provide information about the lifestyle choices we can make in order to reduce our risk of developing diseases. The effect that smoking cigarettes can have on our health is widely advertised, and warnings included on packaging. In the UK, a smoking ban in public places has been introduced and the age at which young people can buy cigarettes has been raised to 18 years
• Adverts on buses and tubes inform us of the importance of washing our hands and covering our mouths when we cough or sneeze in order to reduce the spread of illnesses and diseases. Health and safety legislation provides strict regulations for hygiene in restaurants, hospitals and factories

But following a healthy lifestyle is still a choice that we make, and not everyone chooses or is able to do so.

Originally Posted by misskit

A heavy smoker until the end

Clove cigarettes

Jeanne Calment smoked till the age of 116.

You'd think they could infer his age roughly, from the ages of various relatives.

Originally Posted by NZdick1983

humans are beginning to live much longer, due to better technology, knowledge about health and nutrition, etc..

Yes, but none of that applies in his case.

Originally Posted by Latindancer

You'd think they could infer his age roughly, from the ages of various relatives.

Yes, particularly any children with birth certs, or even children without but who have age claims of their own.

At some point all the statistics just don't matter...We know the average lifespan age has always been rising...It should be no surprise...Since we, on the whole, are such clever bastards...

It's the "quantum leap" that's coming, perhaps sooner than we think...Telepathy is seriously being discussed now...Being implemented "into" our "communicating devices" so there are fewer steps to take...

Such is the physical side, as well, and I expect to hear "quantum leaps" very soon...Hell, they are 3D printing human organs already, or near as dammit...

Truly, we are only limited by our imaginations...Never been more apparent than it is now...

Plus the advent of AI (Artificial Intelligence)...{Not the TeakDoor type, mind}...Would your head or "brain on a machine" give you more years to live?...Depends on the "life of your brain," I'd assume...But don't think that that won't be "copied" in the future...That gets pretty heavy...But, after all, what is thought?...

"I think, therefore I am"...Cogito ergo sum...Originally "appeared" as Je pense, donc je suis...

I tell you for sure, I've always been amazed at the "leathery ancients" who live so long and have actually "spanned 3 centuries"...I study them closely, fascinated by what they must have seen...And just as fascinated by what they must be thinking...

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

Originally Posted by misskit

A heavy smoker until the end

Interesting, that...

Yea, just what was he smoking. Bet you could sell it for a mint if the story were proven true.

Must beat drinking the piss then.

Depends on the piss, I suppose...

They say the first human to live to 150 years of age is alive today. They just don't know how old they are now.



Like woahhh, deep man.

Might even be a punter here...

BBoy, some people believe that humans were born with ancient gifts like telepathy, etc, but because of our lifestyle and technology, we forget those gifts.

^ I like that line of thought, Fawn...

Originally Posted by GracelessFawn

BBoy, some people believe that humans were born with ancient gifts like telepathy, etc, but because of our lifestyle and technology, we forget those gifts.

So why aren't people who don't live our lifestyle or have our technology, that is most of the people in the world, telepathic? Why would you consider telepathy a gift anyway?

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

I've always been amazed at the "leathery ancients" who live so long and have actually "spanned 3 centuries"...I study them closely, fascinated by what they must have seen...And just as fascinated by what they must be thinking...

Super Centenarians (those over 110 yrs) often...though not always... look a lot younger than you might expect....like a young 80.
It's not always "just genetics" or long telomeres. I think some of it has to do with stem cells which are still active.

Fascinates me too. My father's father lived to be 95 (and had all his marbles to the end....was very interesting to chat with) , and his grandfather lived to 100. So I'm hoping for at least 100.

Back in Yorkshire where I used to live, in a small village in the country side, in the dales there was a church I used to visit. In it's graveyard was a grave of a man who had died aged 128 years old. I asked rhe local vicar about this and he said it was true but it couldn't be verified as his birth certificate said he was born at home without a doctors signature.

Originally Posted by Latindancer

I think some of it has to do with stem cells which are still active.

You're possibly right.
My grandad died this year at 96 and only because his stupid daughter took the advice of the first doctor to not administer antibiotics when he got pneumonia (that doctors advice being "we'll only delay the inevitable). Before coming down with it, he had all his wits about him, cooked his own meals, walked to the RSA for a beer, went shopping etc.
Pa was the 1st of 5 living generations with my grandson being the 5th.
Pa's father was still alive when my daughter was young (5 generations again) and died while mowing the lawn, also in his late 90's.
While not quite centenarians, they lived normal lives right to the end.

Lifestyle certainly is a factor, but genetics can not be ignored.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

He has great great grandchildren...so did my Pa at 96. This guy was 40 years older than Pa, so I would have expected great great great, and even great great great great grandchildren....but apparently not.
I am having my doubts as to his claimed age.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

that doctors advice being "we'll only delay the inevitable

What an idiot! Treatment of any disease no matter the age "only delays the inevitable".

Originally Posted by NZdick1983

humans are beginning to live much longer, due to better technology, knowledge about health and nutrition, etc..

Dude begin to think about it.. lol... The guy was born in 1870 and a smoker. If you are going to insert a thesis statement have it be correct with regard to your topic....