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People have been searching for the secret to a long life for generations. Some swear by exercise. Others point to diet, good genes, strong relationships or simply staying positive.
But after looking across more than five decades of research, scientists say there is no single trick that explains why some people live to 100 and beyond.
A recent review led by researchers at the American University in Cairo examined 124 studies published over 55 years. The studies focused on centenarians, people aged 100 or older, as well as semi-supercentenarians aged 105 to 109 and supercentenarians aged 110 and above.
The conclusion was simple, even if the science behind it is not: exceptional longevity appears to come from many small advantages working together over a lifetime.
There is no single “longevity gene”
Genetics clearly matters, especially at very advanced ages. But researchers did not find one gene that determines whether someone will reach 100.
Instead, long life appears to be influenced by many genetic variations, each contributing a small effect. Together, these differences may influence how well the body repairs damage, controls inflammation and handles the physical stresses of aging.
Some centenarians also appear to age differently at the cellular level. Studies have found signs of more effective DNA repair, healthier mitochondria and better regulation of inflammation.
These biological advantages may help protect the body from diseases that usually become more common with age.
Everyday habits still matter
Genes are only part of the story.
Across different populations, people who lived exceptionally long lives often shared some familiar habits. Many ate diets that were largely based on plant foods, stayed physically active and avoided smoking.
Importantly, physical activity did not always mean intense workouts. Walking, gardening and staying active through everyday tasks appeared repeatedly in the research.
Strong family and social connections were also common.
Personality may play a role too. Researchers frequently found traits such as resilience and greater emotional stability among people who reached very old age.
None of these factors guarantees a long life, but together they may improve the odds of staying healthier for longer.
Living longer does not always mean avoiding disease
One of the more interesting findings was how centenarians experience illness.
Some appear to avoid major age-related diseases until very late in life. Researchers call these people “escapers.”
Others develop conditions such as heart disease or other illnesses later than average. These people are known as “delayers.”
A third group, called “survivors,” may develop disease earlier but manage to live with it for many years.
This suggests that exceptional longevity is not always about staying completely disease-free. In some cases, it may also involve the body’s ability to cope with illness for a long time.
Researchers refer to the delayed development of illness near the end of life as “compression of morbidity.” In simple terms, it means spending more years in relatively good health and a shorter period dealing with serious disease.
There is an important limitation
Studying centenarians comes with a major problem: researchers are looking only at the people who survived.
Many other people may have followed similar diets, exercised regularly, had strong relationships and even carried similar genes, but did not reach 100.
That makes it difficult to say that any one characteristic directly caused someone to live longer.
The review therefore does not provide a guaranteed formula for reaching 100. Instead, it shows how complicated longevity really is.
So, what can we learn from people who live to 100?
The most useful lesson may be that healthy aging is built gradually.
Long life appears to depend on a mixture of genetics, environment, lifestyle, social support and chance. Some factors are outside our control, but many everyday habits are not.
Eating well, staying active, avoiding smoking, maintaining relationships and looking after physical and mental health may not promise a 100th birthday.
But the research suggests they remain some of the best ways to improve the chances of living not only longer, but healthier.
There may be no secret to reaching 100 after all.
Instead, longevity may be the result of thousands of small choices, biological advantages and life circumstances adding up over many decades.
