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Related Experiment Videos

What does it take to live to 100?

Thomas Perls1, Robin Levenson, Meredith Regan

  • 1Gerontology Division, Harvard Division on Aging, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. thomas_perls@hms.harvard.edu

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
|November 24, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Centenarians remain healthy for most of their lives, defying aging myths. Genetic factors likely contribute to their exceptional longevity and delayed onset of age-related diseases.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Genetics
  • Longevity Research

Background:

  • Centenarians challenge the notion that aging inevitably leads to severe illness.
  • They experience a prolonged period of excellent health, with disease onset typically in the final years of life.
  • This suggests a slower aging process and resistance to age-associated diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the factors contributing to the exceptional healthspan and lifespan of centenarians.
  • To explore the role of genetic advantages in achieving longevity.
  • To identify genes associated with delayed aging and reduced susceptibility to age-related diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of genetic data from centenarian families (sibships).
  • Comparative studies focusing on genetic variations between centenarians and the general population.

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  • Longitudinal studies to track health trajectories and disease onset in long-lived individuals.

    • Main Results:

    • Centenarians exhibit a remarkable ability to delay or escape age-associated diseases.
    • A significant genetic component is implicated in their extended survival and healthspan.
    • Ongoing genetic studies aim to pinpoint specific genes responsible for this longevity advantage.

    Conclusions:

    • Living to 100 involves aging slowly and delaying age-related diseases, likely due to genetic factors.
    • Identifying these longevity genes can provide insights into the aging process and disease susceptibility.
    • Understanding these genetic influences may pave the way for interventions to promote healthy aging.