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Heat shock proteins are highly conserved proteins that, when produced intracellularly, protect stress exposed cells. In contrast, extracellular heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) has been shown to have both protective and deleterious effects. In this study, we assessed heat shock protein 70 for its potential role in human longevity. Because of the importance of HSP to disease processes, cellular protection, and inflammation, we hypothesized that: (1) Hsp70 levels in centenarians and centenarian offspring are different from controls and (2) alleles in genes associated with Hsp70 explain these differences. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed serum Hsp70 levels from participants enrolled in either the New England Centenarian Study (NECS) or the Longevity Genes Project (LGP): 87 centenarians (from LGP), 93 centenarian offspring (from NECS), and 126 controls (43 from NECS, 83 from LGP). We also examined genotypic and allelic frequencies of polymorphisms in HSP70-A1A and HSP70-A1B in 347 centenarians (266 from the NECS, 81 from the LGP), 260 NECS centenarian offspring, and 238 controls (NECS: 53 spousal controls and 106 septuagenarian offspring controls; LGP: 79 spousal controls). The adjusted mean serum Hsp70 levels (ng/mL) for the NECS centenarian offspring, LGP centenarians, LGP spousal controls, and NECS controls were 1.05, 1.13, 3.07, 6.93, respectively, suggesting that a low serum Hsp70 level is associated with longevity; however, no genetic associations were found with two SNPs within two hsp70 genes.

Objectives: To assess the cause of death for centenarians' offspring and controls., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Community-based, nationwide sample., Participants: Family pedigree information was collected on 295 offspring of centenarians (from 106 families with a parent already enrolled in the nationwide New England Centenarian Study) and on 276 controls (from 82 control families) from 1997 to 2000. Controls were individuals whose parents were born in the same year as the centenarians but at least one of whom died at the average life expectancy., Measurements: Age at death and cause of death., Results: Centenarians' offspring had a 62% lower risk of all-cause mortality (P<.001), a 71% lower risk of cancer-specific mortality (P=.002), and an 85% lower risk of coronary heart disease-specific mortality (P<.001). Significant differences were not found for other causes of death. However of those who died centenarian offsprings dead at a significantly younger age than controls., Conclusion: These findings suggest that centenarians' offspring have lower all-cause mortality rates and cause-specific mortality rates for cancer and coronary heart disease. These results suggest that mechanisms for survival to exceptional old age may go beyond the avoidance or delay of cardiovascular disease and also include the avoidance or delay of cancer. Moreover survival advantage of centenarian offsprings may not be due to factors related to childhood mortality. Ultimately, survival to exceptional old age may involve lower susceptibility to a broad range of age-related diseases, perhaps secondary to inhibition of basic mechanisms of aging.

Background: Previously, the authors have shown that an important component of the ability to survive to exceptionally old age is family health history. This study assessed the age at onset of age-related diseases in centenarian offspring.Methods: The health histories of 177 offspring of centenarians enrolled in the nationwide New England Centenarian Study, and 166 controls were assessed from 1997 to 2000. Controls were the offspring of parents born in the same years as the centenarians but at least one of whom died at average life expectancy. Ages at onset of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, depression, thyroid disease, and stroke were compared in the two groups.Results: The median ages of onset for coronary heart disease (p <.001), hypertension (p <.001), diabetes (p =.002), and stroke (p =.017) were significantly delayed in the centenarian offspring by 5.0, 2.0, 8.5, and 8.5 years, respectively, compared with the age-matched controls. Adjusted hazard ratios were 0.388 (p =.0004), 0.39 (p <.0001), 0.302 (p =.008), and 0.328 (p =.06). No differences were found in the ages of onset for the other diseases investigated.Conclusions: The offspring of centenarians show a marked delay in the age of onset for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke but not for other age-related diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, and thyroid disease. These results suggest that the children of centenarians may be following in their parents' footsteps, markedly delaying the onset of lethal diseases that commonly affect older persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which assessed the prevalence of age-related diseases in the offspring of centenarians. Statistical analysis of the differences of centenarian offsprings and controls used in the study; Role of lower body mass index in longevity; Evidence for a familial component to longevity.