There are 84,000 Americans who are 100 years old or older.
If that fact surprises you, Barbara Walters has more of them up her sleeve in her new ABC News special “Live To Be 150…Can You Do It?”
The “View” co-host, who is 76, says the quest to live longer and stay younger is stronger than ever. She says the special will highlight great strides in stem cell research that will enable people to replace their broken organs the way they order new car parts.
“It’s scientific and entertaining,” she says of the show.
She’s most excited about some cutting-edge medicine – a pill that will contain a high dosage of resveratrol, the antibacterial chemical found in red wine.
“It will have some effect on diabetes. You can eat what you want and never get fat,” Walters says. “The doctors hope to have it on the market not too far distant future.”
But medical advances are only part of the trick to extending one’s life. The importance of an optimistic attitude and a passion for the things in one’s life cannot be underestimated. The special profiles a group of centenarians who are living full lives. “We have one lady who’s 101. Her boyfriend is 94. She’s never been happier,” Walters says.
Retired actor Paul Newman, 83, and model Carmen, 76, are presented as examples that seniors can still have active lives. Newman still races cars – Walters takes a brave spin around the track with him – and Carmen still models.
“Paul Newman has continued his passion. He has a long marriage [to actress Joanne Woodward] that gives him emotional stability,” Walters says. “Carmen is a gorgeous-looking woman, an example of high maintenance and how it works.”
Walters set herself a new challenge for 2008. She has written a memoir, “Audition,” which will be published May 6 by Knopf.