Great piece Charles -- I remember a TV program about a Jew in NY [I think] he was 112, smoked his whole life, and traded stock for a living still every day [no mental degeneration either]- he had a similar relative, woman [it couldn't have been his wife - probably sister] couple of years younger, she also smoked like the proverbial chimney- they were supposed to have a 'supportive' gene. Grat piece, I'm surprised there are only 18 million heart attacks per year worldwide! [as bad as that is]