Photographer Alex Mello, now 65 years old, suffered at age 34 a severe meningoencephalitis caused by a protozoan that reached his brain. He entered a coma for five days and woke up with paralysis on the right side of his body, later diagnosed as hemiparesis, a neurological condition that affects muscle strength. Mello reports that he had a very active life, running on the sand, cycling, surfing, and doing marathons, using his body naturally without thinking about it.
After overcoming this life-changing near-death experience that profoundly transformed him, Alex Mello began dedicating himself to giving lectures across the country teaching how to reach an advanced age despite obstacles. He shares his story and knowledge about longevity as part of the series "Long Lives," which is on its third day of publication.
The series brings Alex Mello together with other longevity specialists to offer a kind of recipe for living longer and healthier. The goal is to guide the public on the paths to a long and well-lived life, combining personal experiences with scientific knowledge on the subject.
The content also includes a quiz available for readers to test whether they are on the right track for a healthy and long life, allowing each person to evaluate their own habits and behaviors in relation to the recommendations presented by the specialists.
