Scientists call them supercentenarians. These are people who have reached the remarkable age of 110 years or older. Only a very small number of such individuals exist in the world today. They were born in a completely different century, long before many modern inventions. They predate the discovery of penicillin and the invention of television. They even lived before zippers became common.
Brazil's Unique Genetic Tapestry
In a recent article published in Genomic Psychiatry, Dr. Mayana Zatz and her colleagues from the University of São Paulo presented fascinating findings. They argue that Brazil's incredible genetic diversity must be studied to unlock the secrets of extreme longevity. The way Brazil's population developed is truly unique and unmatched elsewhere.
Portuguese colonization began in the early 1500s. This was followed by the forced migration of nearly four million enslaved Africans during the 17th to 19th centuries. Later waves of European and Japanese immigrants added to this mix. According to Dr. Zatz's paper, all these groups contributed to what is considered the richest genetic diversity in the world.
Superpowers of Resilience
This immense diversity may have granted Brazilians certain biological advantages or 'superpowers'. When Dr. Zatz's team set out to assemble a nationwide group of 100 centenarians, including 20 validated supercentenarians, they made surprising observations. They found several of these very old individuals to be lucid and managing their daily tasks independently.
Many were living in areas with very limited access to healthcare. This suggests a powerful, lasting biological resilience that did not rely heavily on medical interventions. Among the people they studied was Sister Inah. Born in 1908, she lived until April 2025, reaching the age of 116. She was recognized as the oldest living person at the time. The team also documented two very old men. One passed away last November, while the other is still alive at 113 years old.
Longevity Runs in Families
The researchers discovered strong evidence that long lifespans tend to cluster within families. They documented one 110-year-old woman who had nieces aged 100, 104, and 106 years old. This makes them part of one of the longest-lived families ever known in Brazil. Remarkably, the 106-year-old niece was still competing in swimming championships until she turned 100.
A New Focus for Longevity Research
Traditionally, longevity studies have largely focused on more homogenous population groups. Research often centers on elderly populations in countries like Japan. However, the Brazilian research team argues there is much more to learn from genetically diverse groups. Studying varied populations can reveal different pathways to health and long life.
The Indian Context
India itself has a significant number of centenarians. According to the World Population Review, India is home to over 37,900 people aged 100 or older. This placed India fourth globally last year, behind Japan (99,763), the United States (73,629), and China (48,566).
However, it remains unclear exactly how many supercentenarians live in India. A lack of consistent birth registration records has made age-validation efforts very difficult. Despite this challenge, at least three Indians over the age of 110 have been validated over the years by the global non-profit Gerontology Research Group. The study from Brazil highlights the potential value of exploring genetic diversity, a factor that is also profoundly present in India's vast population.
