What’s the Secret to Living to 100? Local Centenarian Thinks She’s Solved the Puzzle.

Jeanette Mazur can remember the streetcars that were once a prominent part of many U.S. cities. She remembers the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the first automobile she drove and so much more. With a century’s worth of memories, Jeanette knows the importance of keeping her mind sharp now that she’s celebrated her 100th birthday, and she thinks she’s found just the right exercise – right within the senior living community where she resides.

At Harrogate, an Ocean County retirement community, Jeanette has gained a reputation as “master of puzzles.” Jigsaw puzzles have your mind constantly working - calculating piece sizes, unique shapes and color patterns, and finding the right fit to assemble a masterpiece. It can be a challenge for people of any age. For Jeanette, it may be the secret to longevity and health.

Research indicates that simple brain exercises such as playing games, doing puzzles and using a computer can help in fighting off Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

"Jeanette's longevity is a credit to her lifestyle," said Charles Benjamin, executive director of Harrogate. "She's always keeping busy, exercising her mind and talking with her many friends here at Harrogate."

When it comes to a century of life, Jeanette Mazur seems to have made the pieces fit for successful aging.