A recent study has uncovered some intriguing insights about those who reach the century mark—they may possess a “superhuman ability” to fend off certain diseases.
This research, which appears in eClinical Medicine, was performed by a team at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. They looked at the health history of a sizable group of Swedish individuals born between 1920 and 1922, analyzing their health over a 30-year period.
As noted by author and epidemiologist, professor Karin Modig, in her write-up for The Conversation, there’s a clear trend that suggests people who live to be 100 seem to dodge diseases remarkably well.
The team discovered that centenarians usually had fewer diagnosed health issues and showed slower rates of disease accumulation compared to those who didn’t reach the age of 100.
Interestingly, this difference in health didn’t just start at old age. When looking at participants starting from the age of 60, researchers noted that health trends began to diverge early on, encompassing aspects like the number and types of illnesses, along with various biomarker values, Modig remarked to Newsweek.
So, what actually boosts centenarians’ health and longevity? Modig admits there’s likely no single answer. While various studies have attempted to pinpoint a common factor, they’ve typically drawn a blank.
Notably, the presence of a healthy cardiovascular system and maintaining a positive, purpose-driven outlook seemed to appear frequently among those who live long lives.
While cardiovascular diseases were the most commonly diagnosed in older adults across the board, they played a lesser role regarding the overall health challenges faced by centenarians. Modig pointed out that neuropsychiatric conditions were also significantly rarer in this demographic.
Centenarians often contend with fewer concurrent health issues and are more likely to have conditions that fall under the same disease category.
When it comes to whether this formidable disease resistance is more about genetics, lifestyle, or a mix of both—Modig explains it’s a tough call. Previous studies suggest that genetics might only influence longevity about 25% of the time, implying lifestyle choices are likely a bigger factor.
Additionally, at very advanced ages, chance plays a role—think of unforeseen accidents or sudden health changes like encountering the flu or battling cancer.
As for preventive steps to stave off compounding health problems? While Modig emphasizes they haven’t dissected the origins of these trends, other research strongly indicates that lifestyle choices are likely key players, particularly as individuals journey through different life stages.
Do you have any leads or insights on captivating science stories? Questions about living longer? Share your thoughts with us at science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Zhang, Y., Murata, S., Schmidt-Mende, K., Ebeling, M., & Modig, K. (2025). Disease accumulation and distribution across the lifespan in Swedish centenarians and non-centenarians: A nationwide life course comparison of longevity and health resilience. eClinicalMedicine, 87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103396
