Extreme longevity is an emerging phenomenon that is not well understood. More and more people are exceeding the theoretical limit of human survival. In fact, according to the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians (SEMG), living more than 100 years, which was previously exceptional, is today a frequent phenomenon . And what is more interesting: some of these centenarians reach this age in remarkably good mental and physical health.
To study genetically and biochemically the longevity of these people, the National Centennial Registry of Spain (RENACE) has been launched, an original idea of Dr. Juan Martínez Hernández, head of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the Carlos III Hospital in Madrid, sponsored by the SEMG. The objective is to find out what genetic and environmental factors allow a person to live more than one hundred years, and thus discover if there is a secret "recipe" for turning 100. Among other things, telomerase will be studied, an enzyme that "appears to be the key element that allows individuals to live longer."
According to its promoters, RENACE could become a pioneering landmark in the world , since most of the records do not cover any specific territory, or they are demographic, not biological, records. It is estimated that in Spain there are about 10,000 centenarians , in a ratio of two women to each man, and approximately half of them are in good health and independent.
