Health Risks Decrease in Children of Parents Over a Hundred Years Old

According to a new study, individuals whose parents live past the age of 100 show a 42 percent lower risk of premature death, a 33 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 32 percent lower risk of high blood pressure, while their age of death is delayed by an average of three years and the onset of hypertension is delayed by about five years.

Scope of the Research

Data from more than 4,000 individuals, obtained from three long-term studies conducted in the US and the UK, were analyzed. Individuals with at least one parent who reached the age of 100 were compared with individuals whose parents had shorter lifespans.

As a result of the analyses, significant decreases in mortality risk and the incidence of various health problems were identified in the children of centenarians.

Heart Disease and Blood Pressure

Across the studies, the risk of death was found to be 42 percent lower, the risk of cardiovascular disease 33 percent lower, and the risk of high blood pressure 32 percent lower in the children of centenarians.

The age of death for these individuals was recorded as being delayed by an average of three years, and the onset of hypertension by approximately five years.

Other Diseases and Lifestyle

While the risk of stroke appeared lower in two of the three cohorts, researchers did not detect a significant difference regarding cancer risk.

Even when differences in smoking, education level, diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status were taken into account, the findings remained largely the same.

Limitations and Future Studies

Researchers state that the genetic and environmental factors behind this situation need to be examined in more detail.

The fact that some health and lifestyle information relied on self-reports by participants and that the majority of participants were white limits the generalizability of the findings.