Improved lipids, diastolic pressure and kidney function are potential contributors to familial longevity: a study on 60 Chinese centenarian families

Abstract

Centenarians are a good healthy aging model. Interestingly, centenarians’ offspring are prone to achieve longevity. Here we recruited 60 longevity families and investigated the blood biochemical indexes of family members to seek candidate factors associated with familial longevity. First, associations of blood indexes with age were tested. Second, associations of blood parameters in centenarians (CEN) with their first generation of offspring (F1) and F1 spouses (F1SP) were analyzed. Third, genes involved in regulating target factors were investigated. We found that total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) increased with age (20–80 years), but decreased in CEN. Similarly, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood creatinine (BCr) increased with age (20–80 years), but were maintained on a plateau in CEN. Importantly, we first revealed dual changes in blood pressure, i.e., decreased diastolic blood pressure but increased systolic blood pressure in CEN, which associated with altered CST3 expression. Genetic analysis revealed a significant association of blood uric acid (BUA) and BCr in CEN with F1 but not with F1SP, suggesting they may be heritable traits. Taken together, our results suggest serum lipids, kidney function and especially diastolic pressure rather than systolic pressure were improved in CEN or their offspring, suggesting these factors may play an important role in familial longevity.

Demographics, phenotypic health characteristics and genetic analysis of centenarians in China

“…Based on 60 longevity families (206 subjects, consisting of 61 centenarians and their first and second generation of offspring with their spouses), the research group led by Yaping Zhang and Qingpeng Kong found that serum lipids, kidney function, and diastolic pressure rather than systolic pressure were more favorable among centenarians and their offspring, suggesting that these factors may play an important role in familial longevity (He et al 2016). Yin and colleagues (2012) found that, compared with the younger elderly, centenarians had lower levels of diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides (TG), higher levels of total cholesterol (TC) (but in the normal range), and higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, which means that the centenarians had good blood lipid profiles and thus had low risk of cerebro-vascular disease (Yin et al 2012).…”

Prevalence and clinical profile of metabolic syndrome in longevity: study from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

“…Instead, centenarians from Poland showed that mildly elevated blood pressure is a marker for better health status [ 7 ]. Recent study of familial longevity from China revealed decreased diastolic blood pressure but increased systolic blood pressure in centenarians [ 8 ]. Similar discrepancy can also be found among studies of lipid profile and longevity.…”

Cardiovascular risk profiling of long‐lived people shows peculiar associations with mortality compared with younger individuals

“…Another remarkable detail emerging from the present study is that hypertension was not significantly associated with mortality, and a trend for a U‐shaped relationship between DBP and survival was also observed. Several factors might contribute to the observed disruption of the negative prognostic implications of hypertension among nonagenarians and centenarians, which is in keeping with results obtained in recent centenarian studies . Hypertension is known to be among the most prevalent chronic diseases in centenarians, although the percentages of people affected could significantly change as a function of the population studied .…”

“…Several factors might contribute to the observed disruption of the negative prognostic implications of hypertension among nonagenarians and centenarians, which is in keeping with results obtained in recent centenarian studies. 26 Hypertension is known to be among the most prevalent chronic diseases in centenarians, although the percentages of people affected could significantly change as a function of the population studied. 27 Hypertension is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and several studies have reported that both DBP and SBP exert a stronger influence on the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases.…”