Most people slow down with age, trading suits and deadlines for slippers and daytime TV. Not Dr. Howard Tucker.
The Cleveland-born neurologist treated patients for nearly eight decades, earning the Guinness World Record title for oldest practicing doctor just before his 99th birthday.
Now 102, Tucker may have hung up his white coat, but he hasn’t hit the brakes. He spends his days lecturing future doctors at Case Western Reserve University and consulting on medical-legal cases — thanks to the law degree he picked up at the age of 67.
Oh, and he’s gone viral on TikTok while promoting What’s Next, a documentary about his life, produced by his grandson.
Tucker recently peeled back the curtain on his remarkable run — and how he’s stayed sharp, driven and active well into his second century.
“Retirement, I think, is the enemy of longevity,” Tucker recently told TODAY’s Al Roker.
“You have to have some purpose in life and get up in the morning and know what you’re about,” he added.
Tucker continued practicing medicine until age 100, only stopping when the hospital where he worked shuttered its doors in 2022.
If it wasn’t for the closure, Tucker told PEOPLE, he’d “absolutely” still be seeing patients. He’s even “putting out feelers” for another gig — though he admits, “nobody wants me at my age.”
“But I’ll keep trying,” he said.
Tucker has no intention of stepping away from his current workload. But for anyone thinking about throwing in the towel, he’s got a word of advice.
“If they retire from their work, they should at least do something as a hobby, whether it be communal work or self-hobbies,” he told TODAY. “You need a stimulus for the brain daily.”
Science backs him up. Studies show that having a sense of purpose, continually learning new things and engaging in activities that require problem-solving, creativity and attention are key for staying mentally sharp into old age.
The average American lifespan was 77.5 years in 2022 — and Tucker blew past that long ago. His parents lived to 84 and 96, but he said good genes are only part of the equation.
“Heredity and family history of longevity is a healthy start. However, it must be supported by moderation of nutrition, alcohol, and happiness,” Tucker wrote in his Guinness submission.
For Tucker, happiness comes from work, his wife of over 70 years, their four kids, 10 grandchildren — and a lifelong love for Cleveland sports.
Research shows that people with strong social connections and a positive outlook tend to outlive those who are isolated or depressed.
Tucker has also made staying active a lifelong priority. Writing for CNBC, Tucker said he’s always avoided letting himself get out of shape.
He gave up skiing after a fall in his late 80s left him with a broken neck, but he continues to snowshoe and hits the treadmill for at least three miles a day in his home gym.
Tucker noted that even small habits make a difference, with studies suggesting just 15 minutes of walking a day can cut the risk of early death by nearly 25%.
His diet is simple. On the mindbodygreen podcast, Tucker said he starts his day with seasonal fruit and sometimes cereal, washed down with 2% milk and a cup of tea instead of coffee.
He usually skips lunch to stay sharp, and dinner is typically fish and vegetables — especially broccoli — with the occasional serving of meat.
He and his wife end the day with something sweet, sometimes fruit, sometimes ice cream.
Trucker rarely drinks but makes an exception for his favorite cocktail.
“I love my martinis,” he told Medical Economics. He’s never touched a cigarette.
With his 103rd birthday around the corner in July, Tucker isn’t wasting time worrying about the end.
“I never think of death,” he told TODAY. “To be alive is to know that you’re going to die because life is a fatal disease. And so I live it.”