It turns out they could.
The Markers That Matter
The study examined 12 routine blood markers. They were glucose and total cholesterol for metabolic health, creatinine for kidney function, liver enzymes including gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LD), iron markers, and uric acid, which may be a sign of inflammation, and albumin, a proxy for nutrition and protein intake.
The results showed very clearly that extreme values, both too high or too low, were associated with a lower probability of reaching 100.
As researcher Karin Modig explained in a Live Science article:
“We found that, on the whole, those who made it to their hundredth birthday tended to have lower levels of glucose, creatinine, and uric acid from their 60s onwards. For example, very few of the centenarians had a glucose level above 6.5 earlier in life, or a creatinine level above 125.”
It indicates that even a small edge in midlife, sustained over years, can bring about a subtle shift in the odds of reaching extreme longevity.
Cholesterol and Iron: Moderation Is Key
Clinical practice guidelines often recommend aggressive cholesterol lowering, but the Swedish study demonstrated something more nuanced. Higher total cholesterol levels were actually associated with a modest increase in the probability of surviving to age 100. The researchers commented that this result is consistent with prior research indicating that elevated cholesterol may, on occasion, be beneficial in the very elderly.
