Healthier lifestyle scores were linked to longer survival among Chinese centenarians
A longitudinal study found longer estimated survival in centenarians with more favorable lifestyle scores, but it cannot show that changing habits caused the difference.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Centenarians with more favorable lifestyle scores had longer estimated survival than those with unfavorable scores, after adjustment for demographic characteristics and major chronic conditions. This was an association within a population already at extreme old age. It does not show that changing a particular habit would add the same amount of life.
An observational study cannot establish that lifestyle differences caused longer survival. The abstract also does not identify which components of the combined score contributed most, limiting conclusions about any single habit.
What researchers found
Longer estimated survival
Favorable versus unfavorable lifestyle groups; absolute survival-time difference, 95% CI 7.10–15.43 months. Mean follow-up was 28.7 months.
What the score captured
The researchers combined dietary variety, exercise status, sleep quality, smoking and drinking into a lifestyle score. Because these factors were assessed together, the main comparison concerns an overall pattern, rather than a separately tested change in behavior.
Who the result describes
The study followed people who had already reached extreme old age in China. Its result addresses survival within that group; it cannot be used to estimate how long younger people would live after changing their habits.
The original publication
Healthy lifestyles and survival beyond age 100: Evidence from a national cohort of Chinese centenarians.
Wang X, Qin A
Maturitas · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41825263
- Record checked
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