Secret to Living Past 100? Scientists Find ‘Youthful’ Blood Clues
By Health Correspondent
Could the secret to living beyond 100 be hidden in your blood?
Scientists in Switzerland have discovered that people who live past 100 may have blood that behaves more like someone decades younger.
The study, carried out by researchers at the University of Geneva and University of Lausanne, looked at centenarians aged between 100 and 105 and compared them with people in their 80s and others aged 30 to 60.
Led by Professor Daniela Jopp and Professor Karl-Heinz Krause, the team identified 37 key proteins in the blood that appear to be linked to slower ageing.
Surprisingly, these proteins in centenarians were much closer to those found in younger adults than in people in their 80s.
One of the biggest findings was lower levels of oxidative stress — a process that damages cells and speeds up ageing. Researchers say this suggests centenarians don’t stop ageing completely, but their bodies slow it down in important ways.
The study also found better control of inflammation and metabolism, as well as signs the body may be better protected against certain diseases.
Lead author Flavien Delhaes said the results show that ageing is not just about getting older, but how the body manages key biological processes over time.
Experts say the findings could help develop new treatments to support healthier ageing in the future.
But they also stress that genetics only plays a small role. Around 75% of longevity is linked to lifestyle — including diet, exercise and staying socially active.
In short, while scientists are unlocking the biology of living longer, everyday habits still play a major part in reaching that milestone.
The research, part of the national SWISS100 centenarian study, was published in the journal Aging Cell. You can read the full paper here:
👉 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41655127/
