Pepita Bernat, 106, “I have an old age that I never expected. I didn’t expect to be so happy, so cheerful, and so well”

Pepita Bernat is living proof that age really is just a number. Some numbers, of course, still stop you in your tracks. The one she reached on July 11 is one of them.

Bernat, who lives in Catalonia, turned 106, an age achieved by only a tiny fraction of the population. Her story also reflects a broader trend in Spain, one of the world’s longevity hot spots. To mark the occasion, she sat down with Dr. Manuel de la Peña, an internationally recognized expert on aging and longevity.

Bernat’s joyful outlook at 106

De la Peña describes Bernat as energetic, sharp and remarkably positive. At 106, she retains an excellent memory and full mental clarity, traits that often surprise even seasoned specialists in aging.

“I’m happy,” Bernat told him. “I have an old age I never expected. I never imagined I would feel this content, this cheerful and this well, with the desire to go out and enjoy life.”

Her words are not just polite optimism. Those who meet her quickly notice her enthusiasm and curiosity, qualities that seem untouched by the passing decades.

One of the oldest women in Spain

So what is her secret? Bernat does not hesitate. She points first to food. She describes her diet as extremely healthy and balanced, something she has maintained for years. Just as important, she says, is staying active, especially through dancing.

Every Sunday, she heads to La Paloma, a legendary dance hall in Barcelona known across generations. There, Bernat takes to the dance floor, a routine that reflects both her physical vitality and her upbeat personality.

Her ambitions are equally striking. “I’m sure I want to reach 110,” she says. “And if I’m feeling well, I would not mind reaching 120.”

How to live to 106

Bernat says she never smoked and drank very little alcohol over the course of her life. She does admit to one humble pleasure. She loves bread with wine and sugar, a traditional treat that she has enjoyed in moderation.

For de la Peña, Bernat represents the best of Spain’s life expectancy, which he says is the highest in Europe. Her life, he argues, carries a message that resonates far beyond any single country.

“Age is not an obstacle,” he says. “It is an opportunity to live better, happier and healthier.”

At 106, Pepita Bernat is not just defying expectations. She is rewriting them, one joyful Sunday dance at a time.

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