Centenarians’ offspring as a model of healthy aging: a reappraisal of the data on Italian subjects and a comprehensive overview

Abstract

Within the scenario of an increasing life expectancy worldwide it is mandatory to identify determinants of healthy aging. Centenarian offspring (CO) is one of the most informative model to identify trajectories of healthy aging and their determinants (genetic and environmental), being representative of elderly in their 70th whose lifestyle can be still modified to attain a better health. This study is the first comprehensive investigation of the health status of 267 CO (mean age: 70.2 years) and adopts the innovative approach of comparing CO with 107 age-matched offspring of non-long-lived parents (hereafter indicated as NCO controls), recruited according to strict inclusion demographic criteria of Italian population. We adopted a multidimensional approach which integrates functional and cognitive assessment together with epidemiological and clinical data, including pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines, lipid profile, and insulin resistance. CO have a lower prevalence of stroke, cerebral thrombosis-hemorrhage, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and other minor diseases, lower BMI and waist circumference, a better functional and cognitive status and lower plasma level of FT4 compared to NCO controls. We conclude that a multidimensional approach is a reliable strategy to identify the health status of elderly at an age when interventions to modify their health trajectory are feasible.

Factors associated with healthy aging in septuagenarian and nonagenarian Mexican adults

“…Several previous studies have found that individuals with long-lived parents tend to age healthier [3,29]. Parental longevity influences aging not only because of genetics, but also because of shared lifestyle and environmental factors [3].…”

“…Body weight and height were self-reported. In order to define BMI categories, cut-off points proposed by the Official Mexican Regulation to treat obesity and overweight (NOM-008-SSA3-2017) in adults aged 60 years or older and by the Social Security in Mexico to evaluate and treat the nutritional status of adults aged 60 years or older, were used and are as follows: underweight (< 22), normal weight (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), overweight (27)(28)(29)(30) and obese (> 30) [17,18]. We define drinking categories according to the NIAAA: "for women, low-risk drinking is defined as no more than 3 drinks on any single day and no more than 7 drinks per week.…”

The 100-plus Study of cognitively healthy centenarians: rationale, design and cohort description

“…Square: male, circle: female, diamond: both genders are possible. urinary tract infections (6.7%); urge incontinence, catheter (6.2%); prostate hypertrophy benign (with/without surgery) (4.8%); neurological/psychiatric disease (15.8%) epilepsy, insomnia, migraine (5.3%); balance problems, dizziness (3.8%); depression, loneliness (2.9%); delirium after infection or fracture (1.9%); Parkinson's disease (1.9%), starting cognitive decline (1.9%); gastrointestinal (14.8%) kidney stones (removed), renal failure (6.7%); diverticulitis, (bleeding) ulcers, polyps, stomach bleeds, appendectomy (5.7%); resection gall bladder, removal gall stones (2.4%); lung disease (10.5%) pneumonia (5.3%); COPD (5.3%); Other erysipelas, chronic leg ulcer, pericarditis (4.3%); hysterectomy, prolapse, cysts removal (4.3%); cholesteatoma (0.5%); anemia (1.0%); restless legs (1.0%); (48,88,19) 119 (11,102,6)…”

“…Indeed, results from the New England Centenarians Study indicated that siblings from centenarians are ~8--12 times more likely to reach 100 years compared to individuals with no centenarian siblings [18]. Children of centenarians also profit from Holstege et al, the advantage they inherited by their centenarian parent: they live longer, and have almost 90% lower risk of developing myocardial infarction, stroke and diabetes compared to age--matched peers whose parents have average life spans [16,19,20].…”

“…Indeed, results from the New England Centenarians Study indicated that siblings from centenarians are ~8--12 times more likely to reach 100 years compared to individuals with no centenarian siblings [18]. Children of centenarians also profit from Holstege et al, the advantage they inherited by their centenarian parent: they live longer, and have almost 90% lower risk of developing myocardial infarction, stroke and diabetes compared to age--matched peers whose parents have average life spans [16,19,20].Together, this suggests that first--degree family--members of centenarians are also enriched for protective (genetic) factors and that efforts to identify protective factors should include targeting the families of centenarians [21]. For this reason, we extended the 100--plus Study with a second phase in 2017, in which we also include first--degree family--members of centenarians and their partners.Here we present the rationale for the 100--plus Study (See Box), we describe the study design and procedures, and we introduce the 100--plus Study cohort based on demographic characteristics relative to their birth--cohort, and we describe the clinical presentation of the centenarians at baseline.…”