Factors Influencing Longevity:
– Genetics play a significant role in living to 100.
– Mutant genes have been identified as crucial for long life.
– Blood tests have shown potential for predicting lifespan.
– A longevity gene has been linked to longer life.
– Lifestyle factors, such as healthier habits, influence exceptional longevity.
– High levels of vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin D may be linked to longevity.
– Centenarians may have genes protecting them from diseases despite risky habits.
– FOXO3 gene variation is common in centenarians worldwide.
– Inheriting a hyperactive version of telomerase may lead to living to 100.
– People with centenarian siblings are more likely to reach 100.
– 150 genetic variations are associated with longevity.
Health Factors in Centenarians:
– Healthy centenarians in Italy have high levels of vitamin A and vitamin E.
– Centenarians in Sardinia show different factors influencing longevity.
– Centenarians in Poland have higher red blood cell glutathione reductase and catalase activities.
– Danish centenarians have high activity of glutathione reductase.
– Gut microbiomes with unique secondary bile acids may contribute to longevity.
– Cardiovascular risk factors in centenarians have been explored.
– Adiponectin and its isoforms have been assessed in Polish centenarians.
Studies on Centenarians:
– Research on centenarian offspring indicates they start and stay healthier.
– Gut bacteria of centenarians offer clues to healthy aging.
– Novel bile acid biosynthetic pathways enriched in centenarian microbiomes.
– Season of birth may impact exceptional longevity.
– Centenarian studies like the New England and Okinawa Centenarian Studies.
– Acciaroli Centenarians study project by UC San Diego Health.
Demographics and Age Distribution:
– More than 80% of centenarians are women.
– Half of babies born today are expected to live to 100.
– American centenarians, siblings, and spouses show longevity patterns.
– Census data highlights the prevalence of female centenarians.
– Studies on centenarians provide insights into age distribution.
Social, Ethical, and Economic Implications:
– Growing life spans pose dilemmas in society.
– Longevity research raises ethical considerations.
– Economic impacts of an aging population are significant.
– Lessons from centenarians can inform social policies.
– The Science of Aging is a key area of study for societal implications.
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. Centenarians are the second fastest-growing demographic in much of the developed world. By 2030, it is expected that there will be around a million centenarians worldwide. In the United States, a 2010 Census Bureau report found that more than 80 percent of centenarians are women.