Centenarian
A doctor performs a medical check after French cyclist Robert Marchand (L) climbed the Robert Marchand pass, in the Ardeche mountains, to celebrate his birthday near Saint-Felicien November 26, 2014. French centenarian Robert Marchand, born November 26, 1911, set a record cycling 26.98 kms in one hour, in the Masters + 100 category established by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in January 2014, and continues his passion for cycling as his health permits. Reuters/Robert Pratta

In one of the latest studies on how to slow down aging, Swiss researchers identified the molecule urolithin A as driving a process that allows part of a defective cell to be cleared away and pave the way for replacements. In a new analysis of centenarians, Stanford University scientists identified not acquiring chronic diseases as the secret why some people reach 100 years old.

The analysis was triggered by the question if centenarians have some anti-aging genes that lets them reach the century mark or is it because they do not acquire chronic ailments such as diabetes, dementia arthritis and cardio conditions the cut short the life of people? Other studies say that the centenarians have as many genes that cause the chronic diseases as those with average life spans.

But in a study published in PLOS Genetics, the Stanford University found that centenarians have fewer of the genes which contribute to major chronic diseases. They also have some protective anti-aging genes, but at the same time, not suffering from chronic ailments is the bigger factor why they live longer, says Stuart Kim, professor of developmental biology and genetics at Stanford University.

Time notes that most studies on aging compare the genomes of centenarians and average life-spanned people and identify regions where the maps differ. Stuart focused on known genes that cause diseases in his analysis. He explains, “With that, we can make better guesses about what is really bad for becoming a centenarian.”

He pinpointed four major regions of interest for longevity. Four of the regions involve the gene linked to Alzheimer’s, heart disease, A-B-O blood type and the HLA region in the immune system which needs to be matched for organ transplants to avoid rejection. The fifth region is the first time it was linked to longevity. It is mutations that can contribute to neurological ailments such as ALS.

Stuart concludes, “We found that, at least in part, they live longer because they don’t get sick.”

VIDEO: How to live past 100 – Secrets to Longevity from 5 Centenarians

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