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Living to 100 is no longer an abstract rarity, yet it remains uncommon enough to raise a persistent question. Do people who reach such ages differ in measurable ways from their peers long before the milestone is reached? Modern healthcare systems now hold decades of routine clinical data, offering an opportunity to examine ageing as it occurs in ordinary populations rather than selected study groups.
Blood tests taken during standard medical visits capture information about metabolism, kidney and liver function, and inflammatory balance. When these records are examined over time, they allow researchers to compare later-life biological patterns in those who eventually reach 100 with those who do not. Evidence from primary care data in Catalonia suggests that such differences may already be visible by the years commonly associated with retirement.
What routine blood tests show in those who lived past 100
An analysis of primary care records published in Biogerontology focused on adults born before 1923 who were alive in 2015. Researchers compared individuals who later reached 100 years of age with others from the same birth cohort who died earlier. The research focused on routine blood tests routinely taken during everyday clinical care, and not specialised research measurements. These tests mirrored the functioning of different organ systems during later life.
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The following markers demonstrated consistent differences between centenarians and non-centenarians:
- Lower fasting blood glucose levels among those who reached 100
- Lower levels of glycosylated haemoglobin, showing better long-term blood sugar control
- Reduced creatinine levels, signalling differences in kidney function
- Lower uric acid concentrations
- Cholesterol levels are more often falling within intermediate ranges
- Ferritin levels, associated with iron storage, are more frequently in moderate rather than extreme ranges
These results, when combined, illustrated that centenarians were not biologically characterised by one single trait. Rather, they tended to manifest a pattern across several markers that differed from those who died earlier.
Blood marker differences linked to survival to 100
| Biomarker | Centenarians | Non-centenarians |
| Fasting glucose | Lower levels are more common | Higher levels are more frequent |
| HbA1c | Lower average values | Higher average values |
| Creatinine | Lower concentrations | Higher concentrations |
| Uric acid | Lower concentrations | Higher concentrations |
| Cholesterol | Intermediate ranges | More extreme values |
| Ferritin | Moderate levels | Greater variation |
How blood markers shifted in later years
The study also examined how blood markers changed over time, rather than focusing only on single measurements. The COVID-19 pandemic created a defined period during which follow-up data were available for many older adults.
By comparing results from before and after this period, researchers assessed whether changes in biological measures were linked to survival to age 100.Patterns observed among those who reached 100 included:
- Improvement in measures of blood sugar regulation over time
- More favourable changes in cholesterol levels
- Stability or improvement in kidney function markers
- Similar trends in liver function indicators
- No consistent association for alkaline phosphatase under stricter criteria
These results suggested that centenarians were more likely to show stable or improving values across several systems during later life. The findings were based on standardised changes to account for natural variation in test results.
Why biology alone does not explain reaching 100
Blood markers alone do not explain why some individuals live to very advanced ages.
The study controlled for various factors such as socioeconomic conditions and area, level characteristics, which are known to influence health outcomes throughout the lifespan. Centenarians are not a homogeneous group, and their journeys to old age differ greatly.Longevity factors discussed included:
- Differences in lifetime exposure to disease
- Variation in the timing and severity of age-related conditions
- Broader social and economic environments
- Access to healthcare and preventive services
- Population-level differences between countries and regions
The probability of reaching 100 differs substantially across the world, with higher proportions reported in certain European regions and parts of East Asia.
These contrasts reflect long-term differences in public health history and social conditions rather than biology alone.
What everyday medical records show about ageing
The use of primary care records allowed ageing to be examined as it occurs in the general population. Blood tests ordered for ordinary clinical reasons provided a long view of physiological change without altering patient care. This approach captured people with a wide range of health states, rather than focusing only on those in unusually good health.Insights drawn from routine data included:
- Ageing affects multiple biological systems at the same time
- Later-life blood markers can reflect long-term health trajectories
- Patterns across markers may be more informative than single values
- Ordinary clinical records can be used to study extreme longevity
Together, these observations show that signs linked to survival into very old age can be found within everyday medical data, well before the age of 100 is reached.Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on published research. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be used to guide individual health decisions or clinical care.Also Read | Protect your heart during winter with 5 simple daily habits
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