Kirsten Schwalbe
- Full name: Kirsten Anna Schwalbe
- Lifespan: (10.03.1914 – present)
- Age: 110 years
- Birthplace: Midtjylland, Denmark
- Last residence: Struer, Struer Municipality, Midtjylland, Denmark
- Application date: 10.03.2024
- Validation date: 15.08.2024
- Validation source: Waclaw Jan Kroczek
Biography
Kirsten Schwalbe was born in Midtjylland, Denmark on 10 March 1914. She got married in 1938 and had three daughters. Her husband died in 1981. Two of her siblings lived to be 100 and 103. Her brother Bertel was aged 103 as of 2024.
Schwalbe mentioned she did not start drinking alcohol until she was 70. At the age of 104, she developed heart problems and was given a pacemaker. On 10 March 2024, she celebrated her 110th birthday surrounded by her descendants.
She became the oldest living person in Denmark following the death of 110-year-old Karen Rigmor Moritz on 4 April 2024. After the death of Jens Peter Westergaard on 23 July 2024, she became the last living person in Denmark who was born before 1915.
As of her 110th birthday, Schwalbe lived in Struer, Midtjylland, Denmark.
Report
We Are Living Longer and Longer—Even Reaching Extreme Old Age
The number of centenarians is skyrocketing. If you aspire to reach a ripe old age—perhaps even 110 years, like Kirsten Schwalbe from Struer, Denmark’s oldest resident—here are some valuable tips from Kaare Christensen.
He is a professor at the Danish Aging Research Center at the University of Southern Denmark and offers five pieces of advice:
♀️ 1. Be a Woman According to the professor, the most important factor in reaching old age is being a woman.
“At every age, women have a lower risk of dying than men. Women are better at coping with illness, frailty, and adversity. Additionally, men tend to develop cardiovascular diseases 10 years earlier than women,” says Kaare Christensen.
👶 2. Be Born as Late as Possible With each generation, it becomes easier to live longer, a trend that began in the 20th century—around the time today’s centenarians were born.
“In the early decades, infant mortality dropped significantly, allowing more to survive. After World War II, more people also began reaching old age.”
“So, when more people make it to 90, more also make it to 100,” the professor explains.
Better living conditions, such as improved housing, sanitation, child welfare, and advancements in medicine, also contribute.
👪 3. Choose Your Parents Carefully If your family has a tradition of longevity, you’re in a better position. The chance of living a long life is also genetically influenced.
“I often say you should choose your parents carefully. Longevity, especially extreme longevity, is largely genetic.”
The University of Southern Denmark has conducted studies on long-lived individuals and their children and grandchildren. They are generally healthier than others, partly because habits can also be ‘inherited,’ according to the professor.
🥦🚭🏃 4. Do All the Boring Things Then there are all the familiar recommendations: Eat healthily, stay physically active, get a good night’s sleep, and avoid smoking.
“You can do all the boring things. If there were a quick fix, we would all know it,” says Kaare Christensen.
👵👴 5. If You Make It If you do reach 100, it’s crucial to enjoy it and take one year at a time, because it’s uncertain how much longer you’ll live, according to the professor. Very few—if any—centenarians are completely healthy.
“There’s a 50/50 chance of making it another year once you’re over 100. By then, you’re quite worn out, and there’s a lot of ‘weeding out.’ Growing old is not all rosy.”
Only one-third of 90-year-olds can take care of themselves, according to Kaare Christensen
Kirsten Schwalbe at age 110.
Longevity recognition
- Doyenne of Denmark (04.04.2024 – present)
Validation
The case of Kirsten Schwalbe was meticulously examined and verified using scientific age validation standards by Waclaw Jan Kroczek, GRG Correspondent for Poland and Nordic Countries, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on 15 August 2024.
Kirsten Schwalbe at age 109.
Kirsten Schwalbe together with photographer Line Morell Holm and journalist Frederik Helms, who are behind the series Long live the 100-year-olds.
Kirsten Schwalbe at age 110.
Kirsten Schwalbe (110) and her brother Bertel (103).
Photo courtesy of https://www.tvmidtvest.dk.
