However, having “good longevity genes” doesn’t guarantee that someone will live to 100.
Lifestyle and environment remain extremely important.
Two people can have similar genetic characteristics but experience very different health outcomes because of differences in diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, sleep, infections, stress, healthcare access, and other factors.
DNA can influence longevity, but DNA does not provide a simple expiration date.
Why Researchers Study People Who Reach 110+
People who live to 110 or older are sometimes referred to as supercentenarians.
They are exceptionally rare.
Researchers are interested in these individuals because they may have biological characteristics that allow them to delay or avoid some diseases associated with aging.
Scientists have investigated areas including:
- Genetic variation
- Immune-system function
- Inflammation
- Cardiovascular health
- Metabolic health
- Cellular aging
- Gut microorganisms
- Lifestyle patterns
But studying a small number of exceptionally old people creates an important scientific challenge.
An observation is not automatically a cause.
If a 117-year-old person regularly ate a particular food, that doesn’t prove the food caused the person to reach 117.
