The research team pulled data from the massive AMORIS cohort — over 800,000 blood tests in total. From this pool, they narrowed the sample to 44,636 people who were all roughly the same age when their labs were taken. This made comparisons fair and scientifically solid.
By 2020, 1,224 of these individuals had lived to 100. Most were women, consistent with global longevity trends.
Using statistical tools like logistic regression and cluster analysis, the team evaluated 12 common biomarkers — the same ones you’d see on a standard checkup panel. These included:
- Glucose
- Total cholesterol
- Creatinine
- Albumin
- Uric acid
- Iron & TIBC
- Liver enzymes (AST, ALP, GGT, LD)
Nothing exotic. Nothing specialized. Just routine numbers millions of people get every year.
The Big Lesson: Avoid the Extremes
One of the most important findings was also the simplest:
Moderate values — not too high, not too low — were consistently linked with better odds of reaching 100.
Here’s how the patterns played out:
Glucose
High glucose levels significantly lowered the chances of living to 100. Long-term high blood sugar is known to cause vascular and organ damage — and this study backed that up.
Cholesterol
Low cholesterol — particularly the lowest range — was linked with reduced odds of hitting 100.
High cholesterol didn’t improve longevity, but it also didn’t reduce it. The takeaway: extremely low cholesterol may signal frailty or underlying illness.
Kidney Markers
Higher creatinine levels, which can indicate reduced kidney function, were tied to lower odds of exceptional longevity. Kidney health mattered greatly.
Liver Enzymes
Raised ALP, LD, and GGT levels were associated with decreased odds of reaching 100. Chronically stressed liver = lower longevity.
AST showed a U-shaped pattern: both unusually high and unusually low values predicted poorer long-term survival.
Iron Markers
Very low iron and very high iron-binding capacity both lowered the likelihood of living to 100. Again, moderation was key.
Uric Acid
This biomarker had one of the clearest patterns:
High uric acid = lower odds of becoming a centenarian.
Those in the lowest range had nearly double the chance.
Inflammation (CRP)
In a subset of participants, low CRP — a sign of low inflammation — was linked to better longevity. Although not measured in the whole group, it aligned with decades of research showing inflammation ages the body faster.
Longevity Isn’t About Perfection — It’s About Balance
The researchers were careful not to oversell their findings. A single blood test won’t determine anyone’s fate. Genetics, lifestyle, environment, stress, community, and luck all shape a person’s lifespan.
But the patterns reveal a core truth:
Long life favors bodies that stay stable, balanced, and free from chronic metabolic stress.
No magic number.
No miracle supplement.
Just steady, middle-range markers over many decades.
A century of life is built slowly — and the earliest clues might already be sitting in your medical chart.
What part of this study surprised you the most?
Share your thoughts — your perspective might spark a great discussion.