By Pawel Kordowitzki & Kejun Ying – NPJ | Aging –
Precise recommendations for humans to reach more than 100 years remain elusive. A recent multiomics study revealed that extreme age and poor health are not inherently linked. Longevity stems from a multifactorial resilience that involves protective genetics, efficient metabolism, low inflammation, and favorable lifestyle choices. Insights from centenarians and Blue Zones suggest that healthy aging is rooted in the synergistic interplay of biological, environmental, and above mentioned factors.
A groundbreaking study by Santos-Pujol and colleagues1 provides a comprehensive multiomics blueprint of the individual recognized as the world’s oldest validated living person from January 17, 2023, until her demise on August 19, 2024, having attained an age of 117 years and 168 days. Interestingly, their findings show that extreme advanced age and poor health are not intrinsically linked; people who live longest tend to be the healthiest. This profound decoupling suggests that the prescription for longevity isn’t about escaping aging entirely, but rather about maintaining remarkable resilience against age-associated diseases, meaning living a long time and remaining healthy until the end of life.
