BEIJING, Oct. 17 -- Shanghai is expected to have about 800 centenarians by end of this year, approaching the status of a "place of longevity" by the United Nations, Oriental Morning Post said today.

    Shanghai had 600 elders over 100 years of age last year, with 468 females and 132 males. The proportion is already near the UN standard of 75 centenarians out of one million people. Shanghai has a registered population of 13 million.

    Experts in gerontics attributed the city's longevity to a range of factors, including healthy diet, improved medical care, optimism and proper exercise.

    "Heredity accounts for only 15 percent of a person's life span," Wang Chuanfu, vice chairperson of the Shanghai Gerontology Association, told the newspaper yesterday. "Social environment contributes 10 percent, medical support 8 percent and climate 7 percent."

    The factors that a person can control, such as exercise, no smoking or drinking and a suitable diet, contribute 60 percent.

    A healthy lifestyle may reduce the possibility of suffering from high blood pressure by 55 percent and stroke by as much as 75 percent. It may also lower the dangers of developing cancer and diabetes, Wang said.

    The association summarized 10 tips to lengthen one's life span after interviewing 50 centenarians in the city, including by keeping an open mind, being kind, proper exercise and eating a balanced diet.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)