Supercentenarians in Brazil may have mastered the key genes for human health and longevity

There are extremely rare individuals in the world who live past 110 years old, and they are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases or develop them later in life. According to new research, Brazil, with the world’s most diverse mixed-race population, may hold the key secrets to human “extreme longevity” and “healthy aging” in its unique and highly mixed gene pool.

Centenarians aged 110 years and older are known as supercentenarians. As of today, there are 34 undisputed cases of people living to 116 or older (33 women and 1 man), and only 4 undisputed cases of people living to 118 or older (all women). The oldest known person in history is Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years and 164 days old. As for the Brazilian, the oldest known person whose age has been documented in history is Francisca Celsa dos Santos, who lived to 116 years and 349 days old. The oldest living person in Brazil whose age has been documented is Yolanda Beltrão de Azevedo, who is currently 115; and the oldest living man in Brazil is João Marinho Neto, who is currently 113 and also the WORLD’S OLDEST LIVING MAN that verified by Guinness World Records.

Why do so few people live to be over 110, while most do not live to be 100? Researchers have long been fascinated by this question but have been unable to provide a clear explanation until recently when scientists analyzed a group of Brazilian supercentenarians and pointed out that the country’s genetically diverse gene pool has been long neglected in the field of longevity research.

Brazil’s genetic characteristics, which differ from those of other countries, stem from its history and culture. From 1500 AD, under Portuguese colonial rule, approximately 4 million Africans were forced to migrate due to the need for enslavement. Later, immigrants from Europe and Japan joined in, forming the world’s richest gene pool of genetic diversity.

The research team conducted an early genome analysis on more than 1,000 Brazilians over the age of 60, discovering approximately 2 million previously unknown genetic variations, as well as more than 2,000 mobility factor insertions and more than 140 human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles not found in global genome databases.

One family in the study is particularly noteworthy, highlighting the extreme longevity across generations. The family consists of a 110-year-old woman and three nieces aged 100, 104, and 106, making them one of the longest-living families on record in Brazil. The eldest niece was even participating in swimming competitions a few years ago.

The team stated that studying this rare, elderly family can provide a better understanding of polygenic inheritance and may help unravel the contributions of genetics and epigenetics to extreme longevity.

The study also found that the number and function of immune cells in these supercentenarians are still similar to those in young people, maintaining an active and efficient cell clearance process and preventing the accumulation of damaged proteins. These extreme long-lived individuals are not completely immune to illness, but rather possess an exceptionally strong immune system.

Supercentenarians represent not only longevity, but also extraordinary resistance, adaptability, and resilience. Scientists are developing new therapies or drugs by identifying the unique protective gene variants and biological mechanisms of Brazil’s extremely long-lived population to help ordinary people enhance their immunity and delay aging-related diseases, hoping that ordinary people can also “age healthily”.

English: Brazil May Hold the Missing Keys to Extreme Human Longevity
Chinese (traditional): 巴西一群超級人瑞，可能掌握人類健康長壽關鍵基因

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