BOSTON – Researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center have unveiled a groundbreaking study focusing on centenarians—individuals over 100 years old—who provide invaluable insights into longevity and healthy aging. These exceptional individuals demonstrate a remarkable ability to delay or avoid age-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular issues, and Alzheimer’s, while maintaining their independence.
To address the lack of effective models for studying human aging, the team has developed the largest collection of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from centenarians and their descendants. These iPSCs can be cultured indefinitely and transformed into any cell type, preserving the genetic characteristics of their donors.
“By creating stem cells from centenarians, we aim to uncover the mechanisms that allow them to resist age-related diseases,” explained Todd Dowrey, a PhD candidate and lead author. The research offers a unique opportunity to explore how these individuals maintain their health into advanced age.
The study involved analyzing over 100 peripheral blood samples from centenarians and their offspring, examining factors related to their resistance to disability and cognitive decline. The researchers identified significant differences in gene expression linked to biological aging, revealing that many centenarians exhibited biological ages up to 20 years younger than their chronological ages.
This work illustrates the growing intersection of regenerative medicine and aging biology. “Studying centenarian resilience ‘in a dish’ may reveal a roadmap to healthier living and increased longevity,” stated George J. Murphy, PhD, the study’s corresponding author and co-founder of the BU and BMC Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM).
CReM unites nine principal investigators focused on various aspects of developmental biology and disease modeling, with a particular emphasis on iPSCs. Thomas T. Perls, MD, a co-author and founding director of the New England Centenarian Study, emphasized the importance of the study’s participants, noting that their contributions will benefit researchers globally through the enduring stem cell lines derived from them.
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