Centenarian thanks her genes
Ásta Bryndís Guðbjartsdóttir pictured yesterday celebrating her 100th birthday. "I never think about my age," she says. Kristinn Ingvarsson
Ásta Bryndís Guðbjartsdóttir celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday surrounded by family and friends at the Nauthóll restaurant in Reykjavík. "I guess it's in my genes to be able to become such an old woman," she said to mbl.is. Life expectancy in Iceland is high with the longest male life expectancy in Iceland, Switzerland and Australia.
Guðbjartsdóttir's mother, Jensína Guðmundsdóttir also reached the age of 100.
"It's a beautiful sunny day and it's a great location to celebrate," said the birthday girl who offered cakes and coffee to guests.
When asked whether she had done anything special to reach such an old age she answers that it just happened naturally. "My health is good and therefore I can't complain about living to such an old age. Health is what matters most. I don't feel any different now that I'm a hundred. I don't even think about it. I've never really thought much about age." Guðbjartsdóttir has four children and lives in Reykjavík.
"I haven't got any particular plans for the future," she explains. " I mean, I could die at any moment," she says laughing.
The oldest living Icelander on record is Guðrún Björnsdóttir who emigrated to Canada at a young age. She lived to be 109 years and 310 days old.
