Skip to content
Back to glossary
Concepts & theories

Centenarian

DEHundertjähriger (Centenarian)

A centenarian is a person who has reached the age of 100 or more. Centenarians are a key research group in longevity research. Why? Because they tend to delay or escape the major age-related diseases. Studies look at what lets them do it: their genes, their lifestyle, and their environment. Two famous ones are the New England Centenarian Study and Japan's Okinawa Centenarian Study. This work probes what gives a rare few an exceptional lifespan and healthspan, the kind you might hope for.

Last reviewed:

This definition is educational and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment. Talk to a doctor about any health decisions. Read our full medical disclaimer

Sources

  1. Sebastiani P, Perls TT. (2012). The genetics of extreme longevity: lessons from the New England Centenarian Study. *Frontiers in Genetics*doi:10.3389/fgene.2012.00277
  2. Christensen K, Johnson TE, Vaupel JW. (2006). The quest for genetic determinants of human longevity: challenges and insights. *Nature Reviews Genetics*doi:10.1038/nrg1871