If Your Parent Lives To 100, It Might Spell Good News For Your Longevity

If one or both of your parents lives to 100 – or surpasses that mighty age – it might mean you’re likely to reap the rewards, too.

Not only do you get to spend more time with your parent(s), but a new study suggests children of centenarians are likely to also live longer – and they’re less likely to develop cardiovascular disease and hypertension, too.

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Boston University, and Tufts Medical Center analysed data from three long-running studies. A total of 2,319 centenarians’ offspring were compared with 2,703 controls (the offspring of people who lived to age 85 or younger).

Compared with people whose parents had shorter lifespans, centenarians’ offspring had a 42% lower risk of early death, the study found. They also had a 33% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 32% lower risk of high blood pressure.

Having a centenarian parent didn’t seem to affect cancer or stroke risk, however.

“The overall consistency of these findings across these quite different studies was especially noteworthy and reinforces the idea that exceptional longevity runs in families,” said Eric Reed, a staff scientist in medicine and lead author of the study.

“This is not to say that lifestyle doesn’t count – healthy behaviours remain important for everyone.”

Researchers said studying families with exceptional longevity can provide a window into the biology of healthy ageing and might even lead to treatments that could enhance lifespan, including in those who don’t inherit exceptional longevity from their parents.

Study co-author Paola Sebastiani, director of the Center for Quantitative Methods and Data Science at Tufts Medical Center, ended: “These findings bring us closer to understanding the biological factors that may help protect against age-related disease and promote longer, healthier lives.”

If you’re keen to try and ‘lifemaxx’, Dr Asiya Maula, a GP and functional and lifestyle medicine specialist at The Health Suite, previously shared three habits she swears by for healthy ageing and longevity.

“Building and maintaining muscle mass is so important, especially as we age,” Dr Maula said.

“I try to stick to at least two strength sessions a week, plus making sure I do some kind of daily movement each day, whether that be a brisk walk, some yoga or swimming.”

“Good quality sleep is fundamental to living a healthy life so I always try to prioritise getting at least seven hours each night,” the doctor added.

“That means sticking to a regular bedtime routine and turning off my phone at least an hour before bed each night.”

“Finally, I like to stick to a Mediterranean diet that prioritises whole foods, healthy fats and lean protein,” the GP ended.

“Numerous studies have linked a Mediterranean diet to a reduced risk of chronic disease and increased lifespan. It’s also not overly restrictive, so it doesn’t feel like a diet, but becomes a way of life instead.”