Zhong Wenyu, a Shanghai resident, is becoming a social media phenomenon by challenging traditional health and wellness rules, according to SCMP on 15/12. Ms. Zhong celebrated her 100th birthday in September, with her daily life documented by her granddaughter, Xiaodan, a 9x generation (born in the 1990s) individual, on the Xiaohongshu account "Grandma Zhong at 100". She gained initial fame in May, following a video showing her eating hairy crab.

"My grandmother has a distinct personality and a lifestyle different from most elderly people. So, I wanted to capture these interesting moments. I didn't expect so many people to enjoy watching her videos," Xiaodan shared.

Ms. Zhang, Zhong Wenyu's third daughter, shared that despite having lost all her teeth, her mother still enjoys a wide range of foods, from traditional dishes to modern favorites like bubble tea, cola, coffee, and ice cream. Additionally, she likes dining out at restaurants and ordering food through delivery apps. Ms. Zhang stated that apart from blood sugar and blood pressure requiring monitoring, all of Ms. Zhong's other health check indicators are normal.

"My mother is at this age now; there's no need for her to restrict her diet anymore. We let her eat whatever she likes," Ms. Zhang said, adding that her mother always eats in moderation, never overeating at one time.

Addressing comments criticizing the family for "exploiting her image," Xiaodan affirmed, "Even without filming videos, this is still my grandmother's daily routine. It's her real life."

Zhong Wenyu enjoys a wide variety of dishes, from traditional to modern treats like bubble tea and ice cream. Photo: Douyin

According to Ms. Zhang, beyond a good appetite, her mother's secret to longevity is a relaxed mindset and keeping up with trends. "My mother enjoys playing mahjong and other computer games. She likes watching TV dramas and news programs, and often discusses current affairs with us," she recounted.

Ms. Zhang added that her mother never complains about others' shortcomings, only speaks of their strengths. "She is optimistic and content with her life," she said.

A long-term study published in the journal JAMA Neurology, which tracked thousands of elderly individuals, concluded that intellectually stimulating activities such as playing games and using computers significantly reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Interacting with new technology helps the brain maintain neuroplasticity, creating new neural connections even in old age.

Another prominent work, published in 2019 in the prestigious scientific journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America) and led by Doctor Lewina Lee, analyzed data from over 70,000 people. The results showed that the most optimistic individuals had an average lifespan 11-15% longer and a 50-70% higher chance of living to 85 years old compared to pessimistic individuals.

Zhong Wenyu was born and raised in Chongqing, Southwest China. In her youth, she experienced many hardships due to war and poverty. "My mother has witnessed how China has developed into what it is today. She often tells us that life now is hundreds of times happier than before, so we shouldn't complain," Ms. Zhang shared.

Binh Minh (According to SCMP, Shanghai Observer)