Researchers at the Geriatrics Section, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts have continued to publish informative data from the New England Centenarian Study.

They believe that a "significant component of the ability to survive to exceptional old age may be familial". The aim of thier study was to assess the prevalence of age-related diseases in the children of centenarians.

The study assessed the health histories of centenarian offspring and control subjects over a four year period. The offspring of 192 centenarian subjects enrolled in the nationwide New England Centenarian Study were recruited and enrolled. Controls consisted of offspring whose parents were born in the same years as the centenarians but at least 1 of whom died at an average life expectancy.

Prevalence of age-related diseases including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, stroke, dementia, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, depression, Parkinson's disease, thyroid disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were compared between the two groups in this study.

Of interest, offspring of centenarian offspring had a 56% reduced relative prevalence of heart disease, a 66% reduced relative prevalence of hypertension and diabetes.

The authors of this informative study concluded that the offspring of centenarians demonstrate a markedly reduced prevalence of diseases associated with aging, in particular cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors.

They noted that "along with their parents, the centenarian offspring, who are in their 70s and 80s, may prove to be a valuable cohort to study genetic and environmental factors conducive to the ability to live to very old age in good health."

Reference:
Cardiovascular advantages among the offspring of centenarians, J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2003 58(5):M425-31