While the ultimate end is inescapable for all, certain individuals exhibit remarkable resilience against the passage of time.
The typical human lifespan spans approximately seven decades; however, a select cohort of robust individuals persist into becoming centenarians—those who attain at least one hundred years of age. A fraction of these, roughly one in a thousand centenarians, will endure an additional decade, thereby earning the distinction of ‘supercentenarian’ upon reaching their 110th birthday.
These notable survivors naturally pique the curiosity of scientists, as they may possess vital keys to understanding the phenomenon of longevity. While numerous indicators have emerged from investigations, including genetic predispositions, behavioral patterns, and environmental influences, definitive resolutions remain elusive.
This lack of clarity might stem, in part, from insufficient data, according to the proponents of an ongoing, long-term investigation into centenarians and supercentenarians within Brazil.
Although Brazil’s average life expectancy may not parallel that of nations renowned for longevity such as Japan or Italy, the country does host a significant number of individuals who have surpassed the century mark, as noted by the researchers.
In a recent perspective piece, they consolidate contemporary findings concerning the biological distinctions among centenarians. This includes data gathered from their Brazilian cohort, where the prevalence of centenarians within a genetically diverse population offers potentially crucial insights into human longevity.
Prior studies have predominantly utilized genomic data derived from populations exhibiting a degree of homogeneity, particularly when contrasted with Brazil’s populace.
The limited representation from such varied demographics creates a void in our understanding, potentially impeding efforts to identify the mechanisms underpinning extended lifespans.
“This deficit is particularly restrictive in longevity research, as admixed supercentenarians might harbor unique protective variants that are undetectable in populations with greater genetic uniformity,” explains the lead author and gerontologist, Mateus Vidigal de Castro, who is affiliated with the Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center in São Paulo.
Brazil’s genetic diversity ranks among the highest globally. This heterogeneity is a consequence of historical colonization, enslavement, and subsequent immigration waves, which have resulted in extensive genetic admixture, meaning the intermingling of genetic material from distinct ancestral groups.
This demographic tapestry includes indigenous peoples, Portuguese colonizers who began arriving in the 16th century, vast numbers of enslaved Africans transported to Brazil over subsequent centuries, and subsequent waves of immigrants from Europe, Japan, and other regions.
In a viewpoint article accompanied by a press release, de Castro and his associates elucidate their ongoing research initiatives in Brazil.
They successfully enrolled participants from diverse geographical areas across the nation, forming a cohort comprising over 160 centenarians, of whom 20 are classified as supercentenarians. This group includes Inah Canabarro Lucas, a religious sister who held the distinction of being the world’s oldest living person until her passing in 2025 at the age of 116. The cohort also features two of the planet’s most venerable males, one of whom is reportedly currently 113 years old.
Many individuals within the study not only achieved the milestone of 100 years but also maintained a remarkable level of functional capacity.
“Notably, at the time of their engagement with our research personnel, several Brazilian supercentenarians demonstrated cognitive lucidity and retained independence in fundamental daily activities, such as self-feeding,” state the study’s authors.
One particular family within the cohort exhibited an extraordinary concentration of centenarians: a woman aged 110 and her three nieces, who were 106, 104, and 100 years old respectively at the time the viewpoint was published. Such instances corroborate existing evidence suggesting a familial component to longevity and can contribute to a clearer understanding of the multifactorial influences on human lifespan.
“The investigation of such exceptionally rare familial clusters provides a unique vantage point into the polygenic inheritance of resilience and may aid in differentiating the genetic and epigenetic contributions to extreme longevity,” observes de Castro.
However, as prior research indicates, genetic factors represent only one facet of this complex equation, with lifestyle determinants potentially exerting an even more significant influence on lifespan.
The new publication highlights recent insights into common characteristics observed in centenarians, such as a tendency for their immune systems to exhibit markers of youthfulness.
A considerable number of centenarians within the cohort originate from underprivileged regions of Brazil, characterized by limited access to medical interventions. This observation suggests the presence of protective mechanisms that operate independently of contemporary healthcare systems.
For instance, three Brazilian supercentenarians successfully recovered from COVID-19 in 2020, prior to the widespread availability of vaccines. The researchers attribute this resilience to robust immune function and unimpaired proteostasis.
The research team is continuing its analysis of the collected data, both to identify contrasts with less diverse populations and in the hope of uncovering protective adaptations unique to Brazil.
To achieve a comprehensive understanding of human longevity and to ensure that our discoveries benefit everyone, research endeavors must increasingly focus on diverse populations like that of Brazil, according to co-author Mayana Zatz, a professor of genetics at the University of São Paulo.
“International longevity and genomics consortia should broaden their recruitment strategies to encompass ancestrally diverse and admixed populations, such as Brazil’s, or provide financial backing for genomic, immunological, and longitudinal studies that advance scientific comprehension and promote equity in global health research,” advocates Zatz.
