Centenarians, people who live to be 100 or older, have become increasingly common, with numbers roughly doubling every ten years since the 1970s. Research into what determines a long and healthy life has been ongoing for centuries, but finding answers is complex.
A recent study published in GeroScience investigated biomarkers – measurable indicators of health – in people who live past 90. The study included data from over 44,000 Swedes, making it the largest to date. Researchers compared the biomarker profiles of centenarians with those of shorter-lived peers and found links between certain markers and the likelihood of reaching 100 years.
Twelve biomarkers were examined, including levels of cholesterol, glucose, and liver function indicators. Centenarians tended to have lower levels of these markers from their sixties onwards. However, even among centenarians, most biomarker values were within normal ranges, suggesting that current clinical guidelines may not accurately capture the health needs of older adults.
The study found that certain biomarkers, such as glucose and uric acid levels, were linked to a lower chance of becoming a centenarian. This suggests a potential link between metabolic health, nutrition, and exceptional longevity. However, it’s unclear what lifestyle factors or genes are responsible for these biomarker values.
While the study does not provide definitive answers, its findings suggest that tracking kidney and liver values, as well as glucose and uric acid levels, may be beneficial for older adults. Additionally, chance likely plays a role in reaching exceptional ages, but the fact that differences in biomarkers could be observed long before death suggests that genetics and lifestyle also play a role.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/the-blood-of-exceptionally-long-lived-people-suggests-key-differences