Studying individuals over 105 (semi-supercentenarians) offers insights into factors that could enhance the general population's health. This systematic review adheres to PRISMA guidelines and utilizes the Population Exposure Outcome (PEO) framework. It targets people aged 105+ (semi-supercentenarians) with exposures including genetics and socio-ecological factors and aims to explore outcomes in those aged 110+ (supercentenarians). The research included a comprehensive search across seven databases but only incorporated published data, excluding unpublished findings. Of the 844 studies screened, 188 were deemed relevant. The data from these studies were qualitatively synthesized to identify multidimensional themes impacting supercentenarian health such as age validation, social supports, health, mental and cognitive abilities, lifestyle behaviors, and genetic factors. The review highlighted a lack of geographical diversity and inconsistent methodologies across studies, suggesting the need for standardized research methods.
To address these issues, the establishment of a unified research protocol is proposed. This protocol would facilitate consistent data collection across various studies by standardizing methods and terms, thus allowing for more substantial, pooled data analyses. This approach is intended to be supranational, capturing diverse welfare policies' impacts, multidisciplinary, blending biomedical with socio-economic research, and longitudinal, tracking individuals over time to understand aging in context.
Creating a protocol requires a global consensus among researchers, emphasizing integrating rigorous protocol design with thorough substantive research to enhance understanding of supercentenarian health, well-being, and the factors contributing to longevity. This would potentially transform how research in this niche field is conducted, providing clearer, more actionable insights into extending healthy lifespans.

Authors:
Sungsoo Chun, American University in Cairo, Egypt
Wafa Ahmed Mataria, American University in Cairo, Egypt
Omnia Mahmoud Abdelraheem, American University in Cairo, Egypt

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Sungsoo Chun is currently a professor at the American University in Cairo's Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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