While reversing the dial on ageing may seem impossible, ageing scientists wholeheartedly disagree as evidence continues to highlight the power of lifestyle interventions.
New Yorker Dorothy Wiggins, 99, recently shared that doctors frequently ask her to detail her daily routines, particularly her breakfast choices.
“The doctor was asking me how I’ve lived so long, he was asking about the secrets. It was funny to have the doctor asking me," she told viewers.
When pressed for specifics about her diet, Dorothy emphasised the significance of the first meal of the day.
The 99-year-old considers breakfast to be essential to her well-being
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The nonagenarian's morning meal consists of porridge topped with banana, three prunes and blueberries, which she considers essential to her wellbeing.
But beyond nutrition, Dorothy stressed that rest plays an equally crucial role in longevity.
"And then I told them the most important thing of all was sleep, but people think they can get away with not sleeping," she said. "But if they don’t sleep, they won’t make it."
Oatmeal is widely touted as a longevity food in scientific circles due to its wide-ranging health benefits.
As a nutrient-rich whole grain, it's been closely studied for its role in heart health, aiding with weight management and blood sugar levels.
In 2015, the ingredient became the subject of a major study led by Harvard University, reviewing two studies of more than 100,000 people who were quizzed about their eating habits.
It transpired that those who ate at least 33 grams of whole grains daily, equivalent to a bowl of oatmeal, cut their risk of premature death by nine per cent compared to those who barely ate whole grains.
The findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine highlighted a 15 per cent lower risk of dying from heart disease among those who eat whole grains.
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Scientists who research people in their 90s to uncover which factors are most influential to longevity often highlight the importance of breakfast.
On TikTok, a lawyer named Richard Greene documented his mum's diet to help others make healthy dietary choices.
The 95-year-old revealed that she tops her breakfast with organic ground flaxseed and chia seeds to kickstart the day with an antioxidant boost.
An octogenarian also revealed the kitchen staples that helped reverse his biological clock.