Materials and methods
Patients and Anthropometric data
Study design and participants. A total of 350 subjects were enrolled by three Italian study centers (Bologna, Milan, and Cosenza) and surrounding areas. The group of centenarians (CENT) consisted of 112 subjects (25 men, median age 102.2, IQR= 3 years and 87 women, median age 101.0, IQR=4.0 years).
The group of centenarian offspring (CENTOFF) consisted of 160 subjects (64 men, median age 72 , IQR = 7.0 years and 96 women, median age 69 , IQR = 12.25 years), having a centenarian parent born between 1899 and 1909. The group of controls (CTRL) consisted of 78 age-matched subjects (38 males median age 70.5 , IQR = 7.0 years and 40 women, median age 70.3 , IQR = 7.0 years) with no long-lived parents. The lists of centenarians and their offspring were obtained by the Register Office, while the controls were identified by checking the
birth and death dates of their parents in paper population records from Registers Office. All
participants signed the informed consent before undergoing the questionnaires, measurements and
blood sampling. The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of Sant’ Orsola Malpighi University Hospital (Bologna, Italy).
Anthropometric and phenotypic traits
Medical and personal history of all subjects were recorded. Clinical and biochemical information included: Age, Sex, BMI , Weight, Height, Urea, Creatinine, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Calcium, Iron, Albumin, Erythrocytes, Hemoglobin (Hbg), Hematocrit, What Is the Red Cell Distribution Width (RWD),
UREA
CREATININA
AST
ALT
CALCIO
FE.2
ALBUMINA
Eritrociti
HGB.Emoglobina
Ematocrito
RDW
IGF1
CMV
ADL_score_6
ADL_score_12
ADL_score_5
IADL_SCORE_16
IADL_SCORE_8
SMMSEcalcolato
Punteggio_EuroQol_5D
FT3.x
FSH
LH
PTH
Vit_D_25OH
Measurement tools.
Functional status was assessed by ADL-Activities of Daily Living scale (scores ranging from 0 [all functions lost] to 5 [all functions preserved]) (\cite{Katz1970}).
Physical performance was assessed by Handgrip strength test measuring the maximum
isometric strength of the hand and forearm muscles. Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer (SMEDLYS’ dynamometer, Scandidact, Kvistgaard, Denmark) for two
performances with each hand. The best performance was selected for the analysis. Cognitive status
was assessed by SMMSE-Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination test (\cite{Burns_1998}). Depression status
was investigated by Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS, 15 items) \cite{Yesavage1982}. History of past and current diseases was accurately collected by checking the participants'
medical documentation and addressing the major age-related pathologies. Current use of medication
(including inspection of the drugs by the interviewer) was recorded.
Laboratory measurements.
Overnight fasting blood samples were obtained in the morning.
Serum was obtained after clotting and centrifugation at 760 g for 20 min at 4°C, rapidly frozen and
stored at -80°C. Plasma was obtained within 2 hours from venipuncture by centrifugation at 2000 g
for 20 min at 4°C, rapidly frozen and stored at -80°C.
INSERIMENTO ALE