A new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open suggests that living a very long life—often called exceptional longevity—may be influenced by genetics. Researchers examined children of centenarians, people who live to be 100 years old or older, and compared them to a control group whose parents did not live as long. The study combined data from three long-term research projects, involving more than 2,300 people with centenarian parents and over 1,700 individuals from the control group. The findings showed that children of centenarians had a lower chance of dying early and were at reduced risk for conditions like cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Two of the three studies also found a lower risk of stroke. The risk reductions were notable: a 32% lower chance of developing hypertension at any age, a 33% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 42% lower risk of death. Additionally, health issues in these individuals tended to appear later in life, with hypertension occurring about five years later and death delayed by roughly three years compared to the control group. The researchers found that these health advantages remained strong even after considering other factors like diet, smoking habits, education, and socioeconomic status. This implies that being genetically related to centenarians might offer health benefits that go beyond lifestyle choices. However, the scientists emphasized that maintaining a healthy lifestyle—such as eating well and exercising—is still important for everyone, regardless of their genetic background. The study did not find a significant difference in the likelihood of developing cancer between the two groups. However, the researchers suggested that descendants of centenarians might have a stronger natural resistance to cancer, which could lead to lower cancer-related deaths. They also noted that better health outcomes in these individuals could be partially due to more frequent cancer screenings, which may detect less dangerous types of cancer that don’t affect lifespan.