Silvio Garattini, 96-year-old oncologist: "I don't eat breakfast, but I never say no to dessert at night."

Silvio Garattini , a world leader in pharmacology and a pioneer in oncology research, continues to impress with his philosophy of life at 96: he takes no medication, skips breakfast, and allows himself dessert every night . From the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, which he founded in Milan in 1963, he continues to work daily, firmly defending prevention as a key pillar of public health.

As he explained in an interview with the Italian outlet Corriere della Sera , his routine, which deviates from medical convention, has aroused the curiosity of many. “I have coffee in the morning, then another one, and for lunch, just orange juice and a couple of biscuits,” he explained. However, in the evening he prepares “ a good dinner : a first course, or a portion of fish and vegetables. And, in fact, a dessert .” Garattini points out that the brain needs about 90 grams of sugar a day, and that's why he never says “no to a small dessert at night.”

40 years without antibiotics

Despite having reached an age at which most people depend on chronic treatments, he claims to require no medication, except for an anticoagulant for mild atrial fibrillation. "I think many medications are prescribed unnecessarily," he warns, highlighting the impact of overmedication and the lack of prevention in the healthcare system. Garattini says he hasn't taken an antibiotic in 40 years, and when he has a fever, he stays "at home."

What is health?

For Garattini, longevity doesn't depend on genetics, but on acquired habits . He vividly recalls a childhood without national health services and a youth marked by war. His professional life has been guided by a commitment to public health, leading research into chemotherapy and speaking out against the use of tobacco , alcohol, and unnecessary supplements. "Dietary supplements only benefit those who sell them," he asserts emphatically.

For him, health means walking five kilometers a day, writing books, praying, having friends, and attending conferences. He affirms that "every day is a gift." In the face of grief, faith and connection with his loved ones serve as a refuge: "I still talk to my two wives, even though they're gone."