Parents Who Live to 100 May Pass More Than Longevity to Their Children, Study Finds

The research, published in JAMA Network Open, examined health data from more than 2,300 people whose parents had reached exceptionally old ages. Researchers compared them with a separate group of more than 1,700 people whose parents had not lived as long.

The most significant difference was found in the risk of death. The children of exceptionally long-lived parents had a 42% lower risk of death compared with the other group. Their risk of heart disease was also about 33% lower, while the likelihood of developing high blood pressure was around 32% lower.

Researchers also found that high blood pressure tended to develop later among the children of long-lived parents. On average, the condition appeared about five years later than in the comparison group. Their deaths also occurred, on average, about three years later.

However, the findings do not mean that children of people who live to 100 will necessarily reach the same age. Scientists say longevity is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, lifestyle, diet, physical activity, environment and overall health.

The researchers took several factors into account, including smoking, education, socioeconomic conditions and diet. Even after accounting for these factors, some health advantages remained among the children of exceptionally long-lived parents.

This suggests that certain genetic and biological characteristics found in some families may help people maintain better health as they age.

The study also indicates that what may be inherited is not simply a tendency to live longer, but potentially some characteristics associated with healthier ageing. People from such families may be more resilient to certain diseases in later life or may develop them at a relatively older age.

Scientists are particularly interested in families with exceptional longevity because studying them could help explain how the human body responds to the ageing process. A better understanding of the genetic and biological factors involved could eventually contribute to new strategies for promoting healthier ageing.

The findings suggest that reaching 100 is unlikely to depend on a single food, habit or lifestyle choice. Instead, a combination of genetic characteristics, lifestyle and environmental factors may contribute to a longer and healthier life.