Research into centenarians

Systematic investigation into what factors influence centenarians' aging

This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Most of the article is based on resarch from 2008-2012. More recent research has likely been done. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (August 2025)

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A centenarian is a person who has attained the age of 100 years or more. Research on centenarians has become more common with clinical and general population studies now having been conducted in France, Hungary, Japan, Italy, Finland, Denmark, the United States, and China.[1] Centenarians are the second fastest-growing demographic in much of the developed world.[2] By 2030, it is expected that there will be around a million centenarians worldwide.[3] In the United States, a 2010 Census Bureau report found that more than 80 percent of centenarians are women.[4]

## Biochemical factors

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Research carried out in Italy suggests that healthy centenarians have high levels of vitamin A and vitamin E and that this seems to be important in guaranteeing their extreme longevity.[5] Other research contradicts this and has found that these findings do not apply to centenarians from Sardinia, for whom other factors probably play a more important role.[6] A preliminary study carried out in Poland showed that, in comparison with young healthy female adults, centenarians living in Upper Silesia had significantly higher red blood cell glutathione reductase and catalase activities and higher, although insignificantly, serum levels of vitamin E.[7] Researchers in Denmark have also found that centenarians exhibit a high activity of glutathione reductase in red blood cells. In this study, those centenarians having the best cognitive and physical functional capacity tended to have the highest activity of this enzyme.[8]

Some research suggests that high levels of vitamin D may be associated with longevity.[9]

Other research has found that people having parents who became centenarians have an increased number of naïve B cells.[10]

It is believed that centenarians possess a different adiponectin isoform pattern and have a favorable metabolic phenotype in comparison with elderly individuals.[11]

## Genetic factors

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Research carried out in the United States has found that people are much more likely to celebrate their 100th birthday if their brother or sister has reached the age.[12] These findings, from the New England Centenarian Study in Boston, suggest that the sibling of a centenarian is four times more likely to live past 90 than the general population.[13] Other research carried out by the New England Centenarian Study has identified 150 genetic variations that appeared to be associated with longevity which could be used to predict with 77 percent accuracy whether someone would live to be at least 100.[14]

Research also suggests that there is a clear link between living to 100 and inheriting a hyperactive version of telomerase, an enzyme that prevents cells from ageing. Scientists from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the US say centenarian Ashkenazi Jews have this mutant gene.[15]

Many centenarians manage to avoid chronic diseases even after indulging in a lifetime of serious health risks. For example, many people in the New England Centenarian Study experienced a century free of cancer or heart disease despite smoking as many as 60 cigarettes a day for 50 years. The same applies to people from Okinawa in Japan, where around half of supercentenarians had a history of smoking and one-third were regular alcohol drinkers. It is possible that these people may have had genes that protected them from the dangers of carcinogens or the random mutations that crop up naturally when cells divide.[16]

Similarly, centenarian research carried out at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that the individuals studied had less than sterling health habits. As a group, for example, they were more obese, more sedentary and exercised less than other, younger cohorts. The researchers also discovered three uncommon genotype similarities among the centenarians: one gene that causes HDL cholesterol to be at levels two- to three-fold higher than average; another gene that results in a mildly underactive thyroid; and a functional mutation in the human growth hormone axis that may be a safeguard from aging-associated diseases.[17]

It is well known that the children of parents who have a long life are also likely to reach a healthy age, but it is not known why, although the inherited genes are probably important.[18] A variation in the gene FOXO3 is known to have a positive effect on the life expectancy of humans, and is found much more often in people living to 100 and beyond – moreover, this appears to be true worldwide.[19]

Some research suggests that centenarian offspring are more likely to age in better cardiovascular health than their peers.[20]

## Other factors

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Further information: Life extension

A 2011 study found people with exceptional longevity (aged 95 and older) not to be distinct from the general population in terms of lifestyle factors such as regular physical activity, diet or alcohol consumption.[21]

A study indicates gut microbiomes with large amounts of microbes capable of generating unique secondary bile acids are a key element of centenarians' longevity.[22][23]

## General observations

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Several studies have shown that centenarians have better cardiovascular risk profiles compared to younger old people. The contribution of drug treatments to promote extreme longevity is not confirmed and centenarians in general have needed fewer drugs at younger ages due to a healthy lifestyle.[24] A study by the International Longevity Centre-UK, published in 2011, suggested that today's centenarians may be healthier than the next generation of centenarians.[25]

Ninety percent of the centenarians studied in the New England Centenarian Study were functionally independent the vast majority of their lives up until the average age of 92 years and 75% were the same at an average age of 95 years.[26] Similarly, a study of US supercentenarians (age 110 to 119 years) showed that, even at these advanced ages, 40% needed little assistance or were independent.[27]

A study supported by the US National Institute on Aging found significant associations between month of birth and longevity, with individuals born in September–November having a higher likelihood of becoming centenarians compared to March-born individuals.[28]

In the United States, a 2010 Census Bureau report found that more than 80 percent of centenarians are women.[4]

## Possible errors in records

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In 2024, Saul Justin Newman published a pre-print paper finding that reports of supercentenarians and extreme age population tend to come from areas with dubious demographic data. The study argues that document validation, the only method that demographers use to verify old age, is susceptible to errors that have often been ignored due to confirmation bias and other factors, causing inflated number of valid cases. This suggests that many figures of supercentenarian population, and studies that rely on those populations especially in the so called Blue zones, may contain substantial errors that have yet to reassessed critically. In one blue zone example, 82% of the supercentenarian population were discovered to be missing, imaginary, clerical errors, or dead upon verification. In another example, 72% of the centenarian population were misreported as still living to collect pension benefits.[29] The study was awarded with the Ig Nobel Prize in 2024.[30]

## See also

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* Centenarian
* Food choice of older adults
* New England Centenarian Study
* Okinawa Centenarian Study
* Acciaroli § Centenarians (study project of UC San Diego Health[31])

## References

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1. ^ Ritchie, Karen (March 1998). "Mental Health of the Oldest Old: The Relevance of Centenarian Studies to Psychogeriatric Research". International Psychogeriatrics. 10 (1). Cambridge University Press: 7–9\. doi:10.1017/S1041610298005109. PMID 9629520. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
2. ^ Stamford, Bryant (May 26, 2022). "Fastest growing age group is people over 85. How to live long and well". Courier-Journal. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
3. ^ Yong, Ed (September 7, 2009). "Secrets of the centenarians: Life begins at 100". New Scientist. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
4. ^ a b "2010 Census Report Shows More Than 80 Percent of Centenarians are Women". United States Census Bureau (Press release). U.S. Department of Commerce. December 10, 2012. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
5. ^ Mecocci P, Polidori MC, Troiano L, Cherubini A, Cecchetti R, Pini G, et al. (April 2000). "Plasma antioxidants and longevity: a study on healthy centenarians". Free Radical Biology & Medicine. 28 (8): 1243–1248\. doi:10.1016/S0891-5849(00)00246-X. PMID 10889454.
6. ^ Polidori MC, Mariani E, Baggio G, Deiana L, Carru C, Pes GM, et al. (July 2007). "Different antioxidant profiles in Italian centenarians: the Sardinian peculiarity". European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 61 (7): 922–924\. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602596. PMID 17228351.
7. ^ Kłapcińska B, Derejczyk J, Wieczorowska-Tobis K, Sobczak A, Sadowska-Krepa E, Danch A (2000). "Antioxidant defense in centenarians (a preliminary study)". Acta Biochimica Polonica. 47 (2): 281–292\. doi:10.18388/abp.2000_4008. PMID 11051193.
8. ^ Andersen HR, Jeune B, Nybo H, Nielsen JB, Andersen-Ranberg K, Grandjean P (September 1998). "Low activity of superoxide dismutase and high activity of glutathione reductase in erythrocytes from centenarians". Age and Ageing. 27 (5): 643–648\. doi:10.1093/ageing/27.5.643. PMID 12675104.
9. ^ Noordam, Raymond; De Craen, Anton J.M.; Pedram, Pardis; Maier, Andrea B.; Mooijaart, Simon P.; Van Pelt, Johannes; Feskens, Edith J.; Streppel, Martinette T.; Slagboom, P. Eline; Westendorp, Rudi G.J.; Beekman, Marian; Van Heemst, Diana (November 5, 2012). "Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in familial longevity: the Leiden Longevity Study". CMAJ. 184 (18): E963 – E968. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120233. PMC 3519162. PMID 23128285. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018.
10. ^ "Blood tests 'could be used to predict lifespan'". Daily Telegraph. June 25, 2008. Archived from the original on June 29, 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
11. ^ Bik W, Baranowska-Bik A, Wolinska-Witort E, Kalisz M, Broczek K, Mossakowska M, Baranowska B (April 2013). "Assessment of adiponectin and its isoforms in Polish centenarians". Experimental Gerontology. 48 (4): 401–407\. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2013.01.015. PMID 23396152. S2CID 28072539.
12. ^ "Family link to long life". BBC News. June 10, 2002. Archived from the original on May 23, 2004. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
13. ^ Fackelmann, Kathleen (February 22, 2004). "The secrets to longevity". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
14. ^ Stein, Rob (July 2, 2010). "Study shows genes are key in living to be 100". San Francisco Chronicle. Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 5, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
15. ^ "Mutant genes 'key to long life'". BBC News. November 15, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
16. ^ "Lessons in Longevity: Growing Life Spans Pose Social, Ethical and Economic Dilemmas". Hartford Courant. October 21, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2010.[permanent dead link]
17. ^ "In the Science of Aging, Oldest New Yorkers Hold the Key". Wall Street Journal. July 13, 2011. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
18. ^ "Blood tests 'could be used to predict lifespan'". Daily Telegraph. June 25, 2008. Archived from the original on June 29, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
19. ^ "Living longer thanks to the 'longevity gene'" (Press release). Kiel University. February 3, 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2009 - via Physorg.com.
20. ^ Adams ER, Nolan VG, Andersen SL, Perls TT, Terry DF (November 2008). "Centenarian offspring: start healthier and stay healthier". Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 56 (11): 2089–2092\. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01949.x. PMC 2892731. PMID 18811609.
21. ^ Rajpathak SN, Liu Y, Ben-David O, Reddy S, Atzmon G, Crandall J, Barzilai N (August 2011). "Lifestyle factors of people with exceptional longevity". Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 59 (8): 1509–1512\. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03498.x. PMC 6034120. PMID 21812767.
22. ^ Haridy, Rich (August 1, 2021). "Clues to healthy aging found in the gut bacteria of centenarians". New Atlas. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
23. ^ Sato Y, Atarashi K, Plichta DR, Arai Y, Sasajima S, Kearney SM, et al. (November 2021). "Novel bile acid biosynthetic pathways are enriched in the microbiome of centenarians". Nature. 599 (7885): 458–464\. Bibcode:2021Natur.599..458S. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03832-5. PMID 34325466. S2CID 236514774.
24. ^ Galioto A, Dominguez LJ, Pineo A, Ferlisi A, Putignano E, Belvedere M, et al. (February 2008). "Cardiovascular risk factors in centenarians". Experimental Gerontology. 43 (2): 106–113\. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2007.06.009. PMID 17689040. S2CID 17879395.
25. ^ Grenier, Matthew (November 29, 2011). "Living Beyond 100". ILCUK. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
26. ^ "Overview, New England Centenarian Study website". February 7, 2009. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021.
27. ^ "Half of babies 'will live to 100'". BBC News. October 2, 2009. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
28. ^ Gavrilov, Leonid A.; Gavrilova, Natalia S. (September 2011). "Season of Birth and Exceptional Longevity: Comparative Study of American Centenarians, Their Siblings, and Spouses". Journal of Aging Research. 2011 104616\. doi:10.4061/2011/104616. PMC 3236478. PMID 22187646.
29. ^ Newman, Saul Justin (March 14, 2024). "Supercentenarian and remarkable age records exhibit patterns indicative of clerical errors and pension fraud". bioRxiv 10.1101/704080.
30. ^ Sample, Ian (September 13, 2024). "Ig Nobel prize goes to team who found mammals can breathe through anuses". The Guardian. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
31. ^ "Remote Italian Village Could Harbor Secrets of Healthy Aging" (Press release). UC San Diego Health. March 29, 2016. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.

## External links

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* The Okinawa Centenarian Study
* New England Centenarian Study
* New England Supercentenarian Study
* Living to 100 and Beyond: Search for Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity
* Living Beyond 100, ILC-UK
* 'Centenarians: 2010' - U.S. Department of Commerce, United States Census Bureau report