Phenotypic Aspects of Longevity

Abstract

Centenarians are individuals who live over the average life span characteristic of their population. The growing number of old people worldwide makes it necessary to identify a good strategy to reach healthy ageing and avoid or delay age-related diseases. The longevity phenotype is the result of a positive combination between genetic, epigenetic, stochastic and lifestyle factors. So, the analysis of all the known parameters that can influence these single elements or their interaction can give new possible elements to delineate a sort of longevity signature. Starting from the easiest biomarkers as the haematochemical values and reaching the study of molecular and cellular components, as the pool of immune cells and their role in immunosenescence, it is possible to understand potential common elements between centenarians, so possible strategy to attain longevity or healthy life span. The mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases, as the pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways or the pro- and antioxidant systems and their contribution, are crucial to this aim. Moreover, the psychological and cognitive aspects must be taken into account. In this chapter, to understand the phenotypic aspects of longevity, some aspects of centenarian phenotype, as example of positive biology, will be summarized.