"A team of scientists from Swiss universities studied a
group of 100-year-olds to explore the secret to their longevity. Based on
analysis of their blood, they reached surprising conclusions. They found that
their results were comparable to those of much younger people.
The first large-scale Swiss study on centenarians was
conducted by scientists from the University of Geneva and the University of
Lausanne. The results have just been published in the medical journal
"Aging Cell."
The blood of centenarians sheds light on the mechanisms of
longevity. What did the scientists find?
In the "Swiss 100" study,
scientists compared the blood profiles of centenarians with those of
octogenarians, and then with those of people aged 30 to 60. In the blood of
centenarians, they identified a large number of proteins whose profiles appear
to be associated with slower aging." In the case of seniors over 100, as
many as 37 proteins showed a profile surprisingly similar to that of much
younger than 61 years old individuals. This was evident primarily in the
exceptionally low markers of oxidative stress. At least three of the identified
proteins are involved in regulating the extracellular matrix, a network of
proteins and sugars, such as collagen and elastin, that fill the space between
cells. Other proteins may play a role in cancer protection or participate in
lipid and glucose metabolism.
"A truly remarkable result." What was the research
method?
The study involved 39 centenarians aged 100 to 105, 85% of
whom were women. The remaining participants were 59 octogenarians and 40 people
aged 30-60. "Octogenarians allow for a more detailed analysis of how
certain blood markers evolve throughout life and help distinguish normal aging
from the exceptional aging of centenarians," explains Professor Karl-Heinz
Krause from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geneva.
The researchers measured 724 proteins in the participants'
blood serum, including 358 inflammatory markers and 366 cardiovascular markers.
These represent two areas critical for longevity.
Centenarians have significantly lower
levels of antioxidant proteins than the standard geriatric population.
"Of these 724 proteins, 37 yielded truly remarkable
results. In our centenarians, the profiles of these 37 proteins are closer to
those of the youngest participants than to those of the octogenarians. This
suggests that centenarians do not completely avoid aging, but that certain key
mechanisms are significantly slowed down," emphasizes Flavien Delhaes from
the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geneva, the study's lead author.
Is less oxidative stress a recipe for longevity?
According to the researchers, the
clearest findings concern five proteins linked to oxidative stress, which is
considered a factor in accelerating aging. It is caused by free radicals and
results primarily from chronic inflammation. The question is, therefore, do
centenarians produce fewer free radicals or have stronger antioxidant defenses?
"The answer is clear:
centenarians have significantly lower levels of antioxidant proteins than the
typical geriatric population. Although this seems counterintuitive, it actually
indicates that since they have lower levels of oxidative stress, they have a
reduced need to produce defense proteins," explains Professor Karl-Heinz
Krause.
What else lies behind centenarians' secret? Do we influence
longevity?
Other key findings concern the
specifics of the extracellular matrix, fat metabolism, and inflammation
mechanisms in centenarians. Simply put, they have a healthier metabolism and
less inflammation.
First, proteins that form the
scaffolding for cells in all our tissues and organs exhibit
"youthful" characteristics in centenarians. Protein levels involved
in fat metabolism, which typically increase rapidly with age, increase at a
more gradual rate in centenarians. The main inflammatory protein, Interleukin-1
alpha, is present at significantly lower levels in them.
However, the DPP-4 protein, which
breaks down the hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and is the basis of
modern medications for diabetes and obesity, remains well-preserved in
centenarians. This helps them maintain lower insulin levels.
"Because genetics only accounts
for about 25% of longevity, lifestyle in adulthood is a powerful lever.
For example, eating fruit in the
morning can reduce oxidative stress in the blood throughout the day.
Physical activity helps maintain the
extracellular matrix in a youthful state, and avoiding excess weight protects
metabolism," the study authors conclude.”
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