Population aging is changing societal dynamics and poses significant global challenges. By 2050, an estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide will be over age 65. Because aging is the primary risk factor for many common chronic diseases, it is essential to reduce the burden of age-related illnesses and promote healthy aging. Hong Kong has one of the largest proportions of elderly adults and has the highest life expectancy in the world, with approximately 11,575 centenarians reported in 2021. Thus, the long-lived population in Hong Kong is a valuable resource for studying healthy aging.
Longevity is a complex trait influenced by genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. To unveil the mechanisms leading to longevity and healthy aging, researchers focused on centenarians who are extremely long living. Comparisons between long-lived individuals (LLIs) and others have identified several genetic factors and protein markers associated with longevity. Previous centenarian studies revealed that centenarians and their offsprings have a 5-fold lower risk of developing age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and higher cognitive reserve. Certain protein signatures predict longer survival and centenarians acquire aging signatures much later than elderly in the general population. Certain healthy lifestyle leads to higher chance becoming centenarians, including never smoking, exercise and greater dietary diversity.
Despite emerging studies on centenarian population, an integrated approach to understand diverse molecular signatures of longevity is still lacking. Moreover, most of the centenarian studies are based on European descents. To conclude, a multi-omics study examining the genetic, proteomic, metabolomic, and microbiota profiles of LLIs in Chinese population is necessary.
Hence, the study proposed herein aims to identify multi-omics biomarkers that can be used to monitor aging processes and related diseases. In addition, it will provide candidate modifiable factors to promote healthy aging, focusing on Chinese population and local Hong Kong population for the first time. Ultimately, the insights gained from this research will inform the development of effective strategies to enhance healthy aging and improve the quality of life of our local aging population.
Han Chinese ethnicity
Able to provide official evidence for being 95 years or older (e.g., a birth certificate)
Mentally capable of consenting to join the study with or without informant presence
Consent to donation of biospecimens (i.e., blood)
Mentally incapable of consenting to join the study even with the presence of an informant
Refusal to provide blood samples
Elderly with extreme longevity (aged \>=95 years old)
Cohort
Cross-sectional
Observational
Other interventionClinical profile, blood collection, cognitive assessment, questionnaires on modifiable risk factors
Biobank of LLIs
A comprehensive cohort of LLIs with data on demographics, clinical profiles, cognitive and functional assessments, lifestyle, and genomic and proteomic biomarkers
Genetic and modifiable factors associated with longevity
Genetic and modifiable factors associated with longevity
AI-based model
AI-based model to elucidate candidate modifiable factors that promote healthy aging
Healthy aging strategies
Recommendations for personalized strategies to enhance healthy aging in the elderly population
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Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Lead sponsor
Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Collaborator
