What's the secret to longevity? Scientists have examined the blood of centenarians.

Scientists from Karolinska Institutet have investigated why Swedes are increasingly living to a ripe old age. Thirty years ago, people aged 85-90 were rare, but today, this age is no longer so surprising. Additionally, two percent of the population lives to the age of 100. Professor Karin Modig, who researches aging and health, and her team conducted research in this area.

The results were published in 2023 in the journal GeroScience. According to the study, it's possible to predict, even at an early stage of aging, who is most likely to live to a very old age. For this purpose, approximately 44,000 Swedes who underwent medical examinations between 1985 and 1996 were examined. Of these, 1,224 lived to the age of 100. According to Professor Modig, "reaching a very old age is not just a matter of chance; it has to do with lifestyle."

Are you 60 and wondering if you'll live to be 100? Scientists have the answer for you.

Scientists analyzing biomarkers related to aging and disease found that centenarians enjoyed better health than their peers even at age 60. Among other factors, low iron and total cholesterol levels (the sum of all types of cholesterol in the blood, including bad and good cholesterol) reduce the chance of living to 100. In people who lived to 100, creatinine levels, which are crucial for kidney health, were almost always within the normal range at age 60.

The same was true for liver markers and uric acid levels. People with the lowest uric acid levels had a 4 percent chance of living to 100, while those with the highest levels had a 1.5 percent chance. Blood sugar levels also rarely exceeded 6.5 millimoles per liter. Professor Modig concluded that lifestyle changes can increase the chances of living to 100, but everyone needs to find the right balance between risk factors and health.

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