The secret to living to 100? Scientists may have found a clue in the stem cells of centenarians

Researchers may have uncovered a groundbreaking secret to living a long, healthy life – by studying the stem cells of centenarians. As scientists explore the biological factors behind extreme longevity, new findings suggest that the key to achieving a 100-year life may lie in how our stem cells function and regenerate over time.

By studying the unique properties of these cells in people who live to be 100 years old, experts are uncovering valuable information about the aging process and the potential for extending human life.

Scientists in Boston, Massachusetts, have reprogrammed stem cells from the blood of centenarians, aiming to share them with researchers to better understand the factors that contribute to longevity. The first results are already shedding light on brain aging.

George Murphy, a stem cell biologist at Boston University’s Tchoban and Avedisian School of Medicine, told Nature that one centenarian he knows survived both the 1912 Spanish flu and Covid-19 twice. One possible explanation for their remarkable resilience is that centenarians may have a genetic code that protects them from disease.

However, testing this theory is difficult due to the lack of centenarians, which makes samples of their blood and skin a very valuable resource for research. This prompted Murphy and his team to create a cell bank containing long-lived cells that could be shared with other scientists.

Chiara Herzog, an expert in epigenetics and aging at King’s College London, told Nature that the bank’s potential was impressive, calling it “a very useful resource in this field.” Vadim Gladyshev, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, agrees, emphasizing the importance of this study for the study of aging.

Murphy worked with Tom Perls, a geriatrics physician at Boston University who is leading the New England Centenarian Study, the largest study of people aged 100 and older. According to Perls, many centenarians were eager to participate, knowing the uniqueness of their experience.

Participants were assessed for their physical and cognitive abilities and had their blood collected for testing. Many of them had good cognitive health and were independent in daily activities.

From about 30 centenarians, the team isolated blood cells and reprogrammed them into pluripotent stem cells—cells that can transform into any type of cell in the body. This process allows researchers to study the genetic factors that influence aging without changing the genetic code. According to Herzog, this method helps study the genetic determinants of aging.

Experiments using these cells have already begun. Aging is associated with the loss of quality control mechanisms in cells that control protein production, which contributes to the development of diseases. Preliminary results show that neurons derived from centenarians are more efficient at handling this process under stress, quickly sorting out harmful proteins at a higher rate than neurons derived from centenarians.

Another research group created 3D models of Alzheimer’s brains using cells obtained from centenarians and compared them with models of people in their 60s. According to Doo Young Kim, a neuroscience researcher at Harvard Medical School, initial studies show that cells obtained from centenarians express higher levels of genes associated with protection against Alzheimer’s disease.

Looking to the future, the researchers hope to expand their work by using these stem cells to develop other types of cells associated with aging, such as liver, muscle and intestinal cells, or even mini-organs.