Centenarians, once rare, are now common, with numbers rapidly increasing since the 1970s. Understanding how long humans can live and what determines a long life is an age-old question. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle were already discussing it 2300 years ago.
However, unlocking the secrets of longevity is not easy, it requires understanding the interaction between genetics and lifestyle. Recently, a study published on GeroScience revealed common biomarkers among people living beyond age 90, including cholesterol and glucose levels. Nonagenarians and centenarians have long been the subject of study to understand how to live longer and healthier.
This is the largest study of its kind, analyzing the profiles of 44,000 Swedes followed for 35 years. Of these, 1,224 reached the age of 100, 85% of them women. Twelve biomarkers related to inflammation, metabolism, liver and kidney function, malnutrition and anemia were included. Uric acid, a waste product, has been identified as an indicator of inflammation. Other markers examined included total cholesterol, glucose, and various liver enzymes.
The results show that those who reach 100 years old tend to have lower levels of glucose, creatinine and uric acid since the age of 60. Although median values do not differ significantly between centenarians and non-centenarians, older adults rarely exhibit extreme values. This study suggests a link between metabolic health, nutrition and exceptional longevity. However, it does not conclude which lifestyle factors or genes are responsible.
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