The variety of Brits dwelling to be 100 or extra reveals no signal of slowing. New figures from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) reveal that, in comparison with the earlier yr, 2022 noticed a rise of three.7% within the variety of centenarians (an individual aged 100 or extra) in England and Wales. The variety of UK centenarians has greater than doubled since 2002.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), medical lead at London Medical Laborator (LML), says: “Increasingly of us reside into our second century. That’s excellent news in some ways, however it does imply that we must be planning for an extended future than we’d have anticipated. The growing likelihood of a really lengthy life means we could have to rethink our retirement and healthcare provisions. Additionally, with extra folks dwelling longer, all of us have to act now to make sure that we stay as wholesome and cellular as attainable to take pleasure in an energetic outdated age.

“Traditionally, many extra ladies than males dwell to be 100 or extra within the UK. That’s nonetheless backed up by the numbers. In mid-2022, there have been 12,390 feminine centenarians in England and Wales, up 3.5% from 2021. Nonetheless, the variety of males dwelling to be 100 or extra, whereas nonetheless comparatively low (2,730), was 5% up on 2021, and that quantity is rising quick. The ratio of feminine to male centenarians has virtually halved within the final 20 years. In 2002, there have been 8.2 ladies for each man aged 100 or over, whereas in 2022, there have been 4.5 ladies for each man.

“Our possibilities of dwelling to triple digits are literally larger in Wales than in England. Wales had 27 folks per 100,000 aged 100 or over, in contrast with 25 folks per 100,000 in England.

“As we’d count on, extra folks dwelling to be 100 means that there’s additionally a document variety of Brits dwelling into their 90s. The estimated inhabitants of England and Wales aged 90 years and over has additionally grown to 550,835, its highest-ever whole, up from 539,637 in 2021. The two.1% leap is the largest enhance since 2019.

“Aside from protecting King Charles busy sending out a centesimal birthday messages, what does this enhance imply? Nicely, it’s nice that many individuals reside longer, however high quality of life is as essential as amount. Our physique modifications considerably as we get older, and our underlying physiology modifications with it.

“The ONS says the explanation persons are dwelling into their 90s and past is due to ‘improved public well being and medical advances all through their lifetimes’. Which means dwelling to age is just not solely down to raised healthcare and drugs but additionally improved way of life components.

“It’s as much as every of us to make sure we attain our 90s and past in pretty much as good a form as we are able to presumably be. For instance, as we get older, all of us want growing quantities of vitamin B12.  We will get this from meat, fish, poultry, milk, and fortified breakfast cereals. Nonetheless, the Nationwide Institute on Getting older cautions that some folks over 50 have hassle absorbing the vitamin B12 discovered naturally in meals. We could have to take dietary supplements and eat meals fortified with this vitamin.

“One method to observe our altering wants is by repeatedly monitoring our well being and vitamin ranges. A easy finger-prick vitamin B12 blood take a look at could be a super method to monitor ranges over time, for instance, to see if we’d like added dietary supplements.

“One other key mineral to assist guarantee higher well being and mobility as we grow old is calcium. Calcium is essential for sturdy bones and tooth, so there are particular suggestions for aged people who find themselves in danger for bone loss. We will get calcium from milk and different dairy merchandise, some types of tofu, darkish inexperienced leafy greens, soybeans, canned sardines, salmon, and calcium-fortified meals. Nonetheless, we may want dietary supplements as we get older.

“London Medical Laboratory’s personal normal well being profile take a look at provides a complete test of our liver and kidney perform, bone well being, iron ranges, diabetes (HbA1c), and a full ldl cholesterol profile. It’s a helpful method to map altering necessities through the years, serving to us to dwell longer, happier, and extra energetic lives, whilst we strategy our century.”

London Medical Laboratory’s normal well being profile blood take a look at could be taken at house by way of the publish or at one of many many drop-in clinics that supply these assessments throughout London and nationwide in over 120 chosen pharmacies and well being shops. For full particulars, see right here.