Most of us dream of reaching 100, but only a small fraction of people ever do — and scientists are discovering why. New research from Swedish health records suggests that centenarians don’t just live longer; they live healthier by avoiding or delaying serious diseases that shorten most lives.
Researchers tracked tens of thousands of people born in the early 20th century, comparing those who reached 100 with those who didn’t. The results were striking: centenarians developed fewer illnesses over their lifetimes, and when they did get sick, it happened much later. At age 85, just 4% had experienced a stroke, compared to 10% of those who lived to 90–99. Even at 100, only 12.5% had suffered a heart attack — about half the rate of their shorter-lived peers.
The advantage extended beyond major illnesses like heart attacks and strokes. In a follow-up study of over 270,000 people, centenarians still accumulated diseases at a slower rate, often keeping conditions confined to a single organ system. Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, was far less common among them. At age 80, only 8% had such a diagnosis, compared to over 15% of people who died at 85.
Mental health resilience was also notable. Centenarians were less likely to develop dementia or depression, and even when multiple health issues arose, they tended to cluster much later — around age 89. Unlike non-centenarians, they didn’t experience the steep health decline that often precedes death.
These findings challenge the belief that living longer means enduring more years of illness. Instead, they point to a distinct pattern of aging — one marked by delayed disease onset and slower health decline. Whether it’s due to genetics, lifestyle, or environment, centenarians prove it’s possible to extend not just lifespan, but healthspan.