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Road to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 100
The Times of India • • health
Key Points:
- Japanese researchers from Osaka University discovered that people over 110 have a higher proportion of rare immune cells called CD4 cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which may help fight infections, clear aging cells, and prevent cancer.
- The study, published in Cell Reports, involved 28 participants and showed that CD4 CTLs increased from 4% in those aged 70-99 to 17.6% in supercentenarians over 110, suggesting a possible immune system adaptation in extreme old age.
- These immune cells are rare in most people but may play a role in detecting and destroying abnormal cells before tumors develop, although the small study size means findings are preliminary.
- Beyond biology, longevity research emphasizes lifestyle factors such as regular physical activity, healthy eating, good sleep, and social connections as key contributors to maintaining health and sharpness with age.
- Consistent moderate exercise like walking, cycling, gardening, or swimming is strongly linked to better cardiovascular health, stronger muscles, and reduced frailty risk, supporting longer independence and vitality.
