Genetic, Socioecological, and Health Research on Extreme Longevity in Semisupercentenarians and Supercentenarians: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

People with extreme longevity represent a unique model to study the biology of aging and discover clues to improve the general population's health. Current scoping reviews systematically map and synthesize the existing literature on supercentenarians and semisuper centenarians to identify key themes, methodologies, and findings that can inform the development of a comprehensive framework for a Global Supercentenarian Cohort Study protocol. A scoping review was conducted as per PRISMA-ScR guidelines using the PEO framework (population: semisupercentenarians aged 105+; exposure: genetics, socioecological, and other factors; outcome: supercentenarians aged 110+). Seven databases, Scopus, ProQuest, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus Secondary literature, Scopus Patents, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), were searched, incorporating data from Scopus Secondary literature. Unpublished data were excluded. The scoping review protocol was published to ensure transparency and rigor. 144 were included. A thematic analysis of individual studies' findings was conducted to identify multidimensional themes of supercentenarian health. The following themes were identified: Age validation theme, demographics theme, behavior theme, personality, traits theme, quality of life theme, well-being and life satisfaction, cognition theme, social theme, religiosity/spirituality theme, independence/self-ability theme, mental health theme, health theme, genetics theme, and ecological theme. There was variability in the methods of assessment and tools used for each theme across different studies and inconsistencies in terminology, with similar concepts such as social support, social engagement, social contact, and social isolation being referred to by different names in various studies. We propose a comprehensive framework comprising three components: cohort setting, measuring contributing factors, and full assessment. This framework sets the stage for a unified, supranational protocol that harmonizes survey methods across countries, integrates multidisciplinary perspectives, and adopts a longitudinal approach. It would enable larger sample sizes and more robust statistical analyses, allowing researchers to explore complex relationships and derive more accurate conclusions about supercentenarians' health, well-being, and longevity. Developing this unified protocol necessitates the consensus of global experts.