Centenarians’ blood contains 37 proteins linked to slower ageing, with profiles closer to younger adults than to octogenarians, according to new research.
In Switzerland, around 0.02 per cent of the population lives beyond 100.
As part of the SWISS100 project, researchers compared blood samples from centenarians, octogenarians and adults aged 30 to 60 to identify biological traits associated with exceptional longevity.
The study analysed three groups: 39 centenarians aged 100 to 105, of whom 85 per cent were women, 59 octogenarians and 40 younger volunteers.
Scientists measured 724 proteins in blood serum, including 358 inflammatory markers and 366 cardiovascular markers, both considered critical to longevity.
Of those 724 proteins, 37 showed a distinct pattern.
In centenarians, their levels more closely resembled those of the youngest group than those of octogenarians, representing around five per cent of the proteins measured.
The work was conducted by teams from the University of Geneva and the University of Lausanne as part of SWISS100, described as the first large-scale Swiss research project dedicated to centenarians.
The clearest findings involved five proteins linked to oxidative stress, a process caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals that can damage cells and are thought to accelerate ageing.
Free radicals mainly arise from chronic inflammation and malfunctioning mitochondria, the structures that produce energy within cells.
Centenarians had significantly lower levels of antioxidant proteins than the standard geriatric population, indicating they may generate fewer free radicals rather than relying on stronger antioxidant defences.
Among other findings, at least three proteins involved in regulating the extracellular matrix, the structural framework that supports cells, showed more youthful expression levels.
Some proteins may also play a role in tumour defence. Several proteins linked to fat metabolism rose sharply with age in the general older population but far less in centenarians.
Interleukin-1 alpha, a major inflammatory protein, was also lower in centenarians.
Levels of DPP-4, a protein that degrades GLP-1, a hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and forms the basis of newer diabetes and obesity treatments, remained well preserved in centenarians.
This may help maintain lower insulin levels and protect against hyperinsulinism and metabolic syndrome.
Flavien Delhaes, researcher at the department of cell physiology and metabolism at the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine and first author of the study, said: “In our centenarians, the profiles of these 37 proteins are closer to those of the youngest group than to those of octogenarians.
“This represents approximately five per cent of the proteins measured, suggesting that centenarians do not entirely escape ageing, but that certain key mechanisms are significantly slowed down.”
On the DPP-4 finding, Delhaes said: “By degrading GLP-1, DPP-4 helps maintain relatively low insulin levels, which could protect them against hyperinsulinism and metabolic syndrome.
This is also a counterintuitive mechanism, suggesting that centenarians maintain good glucose balance without needing to produce large amounts of insulin.”
Karl-Heinz Krause, professor emeritus at the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, said: “Do centenarians produce fewer free radicals, or do they have a more powerful antioxidant defence?
“The answer is very clear: centenarians have significantly lower levels of antioxidant proteins than the standard geriatric population.
“At first glance, this seems counterintuitive, but in reality, it indicates that since oxidative stress levels are significantly lower in our centenarians, they have less need to produce antioxidant proteins to defend against it.”
The researchers noted that genetic factors account for around 25 per cent of longevity, suggesting adult lifestyle plays a major role.
They highlighted nutrition, physical activity and social connections, noting that eating fruit can reduce oxidative stress during the day, regular movement supports the extracellular matrix, and maintaining a healthy weight helps preserve metabolic health similar to that observed in centenarians.
