MEET THE LONGETS-LIVING FAMILY...In Sardinia, world’s longest-living family credits hard work, diet, family

Happy 105th birthday, Consolata Melis! Melis, along with eight of her younger siblings - ages 78 to 99 - have been named the longest-living family in the world by Guinness World Records.

Consolata Melis poses with her nine children, 24 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, outside her house inSardinia.

One Italian family really does have the key for long life.

Consolata Melis celebrated her 105th birthday Wednesday, and eight of her siblings, between the ages of 99 and 78 - were around to watch her blow out the candles.




In fact, the Melis family has been named the longest-living family in the world by Guinness World Records.

The nine siblings - six girls and three boys - have a combined age of 818 years.

The family comes from the village of Perdasdefogu in a mountainous region of Sardinia, known for the long and healthy lives of its residents.

The Melis family says a simple Mediterranean diet, physical activity, hard work and being surrounded by loved ones is essential for longevity.

Consolata has 14 children, 24 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She is still spry and and witty, according to Italy’s Corriere Della Sera newspaper.

Consolata Melis, who will turned 105 Wednesday, poses in her house in the village of Perdasdefogu on the island of Sardinia

"In my day women had to cope with household chores, go to the source to get water to the river to wash clothes. My grandchildren have washing machines, dishwasher and a vacuum cleaner. And when I hear these new words ‘we are stressed,’ I do not understand."

The hard work runs in the family. Claudina, 99, goes to church every day, while Adolfo, 89, still works in a bar in their village.

The family is also “sober in diet,” Corriere Della Sera reported. The Melis diet consists largely of fruits and vegetables accompanied by the family’s old recipes of “herbs and infusions.”

Consolata Melis poses with her three brothers. The Melis family are officially the world's oldest with nine brothers and sisters clocking up a total of 818 years between them.

Sardinia has long been a subject of research for the longevity of its residents, and the Mediterranean island has one of the highest rates of centenarians in the world.

Diet is thought to be essential.

A typical meal could be minestrone soup or “a glass of red wine and a chunk of sheep's cheese or goat's ricotta ... all local, genuine food,” said Luca Deiana, a professor at the University of Sassari in Sardinia.

But genetics and environment also play big factor.

"Local DNA is geared to long life and has not been diluted,” Deiana told Corriere Della Sera. “But there is also the bounty of the land and the local fruit, particularly pears and prunes,” he said.

Sardinians also treat their elderly well and are “respected as the living memories of their communities,” Deiana said.

Nine siblings: Vitalio (86); Antonino (93); Adolfo (89); Consolata (105); Claudina (99); Mafalda (78); Concetta (91); Vitalia (80); Maria (97), are entering the Guinness World Records book for family longevity.