Demographic, phenotypic, and genetic characteristics of centenarians in Okinawa and Japan: Part 1-centenarians in Okinawa

Bradley J Willcox; Donald Craig Willcox; Makoto Suzuki

doi:10.1016/j.mad.2016.11.001

Demographic, phenotypic, and genetic characteristics of centenarians in Okinawa and Japan: Part 1-centenarians in Okinawa

Mech Ageing Dev. 2017 Jul;165(Pt B):75-79. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2016.11.001. Epub 2016 Nov 12.

Authors

Bradley J Willcox¹, Donald Craig Willcox², Makoto Suzuki³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Hawaii, HPM-9 347 N Kuakini Street, Honolulu HI, 96817, United States; Department of Research, Kuakini Medical Center, 347 N Kuakini Street, Honolulu HI, 96817, United States; Okinawa Research Center for Longevity Science, 1-27-8 Ahacha, Suite 202, Urasoe, Okinawa, 901-2114, Japan. Electronic address: willcox@hawaii.edu.
² Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Hawaii, HPM-9 347 N Kuakini Street, Honolulu HI, 96817, United States; Department of Research, Kuakini Medical Center, 347 N Kuakini Street, Honolulu HI, 96817, United States; Okinawa International University, Department of Human Welfare, 2-6-1 Ginowan, Okinawa, 901-2701, Japan; Okinawa Research Center for Longevity Science, 1-27-8 Ahacha, Suite 202, Urasoe, Okinawa, 901-2114, Japan.
³ University of the Ryukyus, Department of Medicine, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan; Okinawa Research Center for Longevity Science, 1-27-8 Ahacha, Suite 202, Urasoe, Okinawa, 901-2114, Japan.

PMID: 27845177
DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2016.11.001

Abstract

A study of elderly Okinawans has been carried out by the Okinawa Centenarian Study (OCS) research group for over four decades. The OCS began in 1975 as a population-based study of centenarians (99-year-olds and older) and other selected elderly persons residing in the main island of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. As of 2015, over 1000 centenarians have been examined. By several measures of health and longevity the Okinawans can claim to be the world's healthiest and longest-lived people. In this paper we explore the demographic, phenotypic, and genetic characteristics of this fascinating population.

Keywords: Caloric restriction; Centenarian; Diet; Environment; Genetics; Longevity; Okinawa.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Japan
Longevity / genetics*
Male
Phenotype*
Population Dynamics*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding