3 Common Traits of People Who Live to 100

The Thai headline from Sanook.com, translating to “คนอายุยืน” มีอะไรเหมือนกันบ้าง? มีแค่ 3 ข้อก็โชคดีมาก เตรียมฉลองวันเกิดปีที่ 100 ได้เลย! (“What do people who live to 100 have in common? Just three things mean you’re very lucky—get ready to celebrate your 100th birthday!”), points to recent research identifying three key blood biomarkers associated with exceptional longevity. While the Sanook.com article itself does not provide the detailed findings, verified reporting from Best Life Online, based on a study published in GeroScience, specifies what those three factors are.

According to the study, people who live to 100 years old tend to have lower levels of glucose, creatinine, and uric acid in their blood from their 60s onwards. Karin Modig, MD, associate professor at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet and a co-author of the research, explained in The Conversation that very few centenarians had a glucose level above 6.5 mmol/L or a creatinine level above 125 µmol/L earlier in life. The study analyzed medical test data from 44,000 older adults in Sweden who were tested between the ages of 64 and 99.

These three biomarkers are clinically significant: elevated glucose can indicate insulin resistance or diabetes, high creatinine may reflect reduced kidney function, and increased uric acid is linked to gout, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. The researchers suggest that maintaining lower levels of these compounds over decades may help prevent or delay the onset of age-related diseases, thereby supporting a longer, healthier lifespan.

The findings align with broader research on longevity highlighted in other verified sources. For example, The Healthy notes that while genetics play a role—having a parent who lived past 95 is associated with significantly lower risks of hypertension, stroke, and cardiovascular disease—lifestyle habits still account for about 75 percent of longevity potential. This means that even with favorable genetics, behaviors such as diet, physical activity, and stress management are critical in determining how long and how well one lives.

Similarly, Time.com reports that centenarians often share psychological and social traits, including positivity, a strong work ethic, and close connections with family, religion, or community. These psychosocial factors may contribute to resilience against stress and inflammation, which are known drivers of aging.

Additional support comes from Harvard Health’s coverage of Blue Zones—regions of the world where people live significantly longer lives—where lifestyle patterns such as plant-based diets, regular moderate physical activity, strong social engagement, and purpose-driven routines are common. Although the biomarker study from Sweden did not directly measure these lifestyle factors, the consistent association between lower glucose, creatinine, and uric acid levels and longevity suggests that these blood markers may reflect the cumulative impact of healthy living over time.

the study identifies correlation, not causation. Having low levels of these three biomarkers does not guarantee a longer life, nor do elevated levels mean that a person cannot live to 100. Instead, the findings suggest that these measurements may serve as indicators of underlying metabolic health that influences aging trajectories. The researchers emphasize that lifestyle interventions—such as maintaining a balanced diet, staying physically active, managing weight, and avoiding smoking—can help regulate glucose, kidney function, and uric acid levels, thereby supporting long-term health.

For individuals interested in monitoring their own metabolic health, routine blood tests that include fasting glucose, serum creatinine, and uric acid can provide insight into these key areas. However, interpretation of results should always be done in consultation with a healthcare provider, who can consider individual risk factors, medical history, and overall clinical context.

As research into aging advances, studies like this one help identify measurable biological signatures associated with exceptional longevity. While no single factor guarantees a century of life, the convergence of evidence—from biomarker analysis to genetic studies and lifestyle observations in Blue Zones—points to a combination of inherited advantages and modifiable behaviors that together support the possibility of living not just longer, but better.