Summary
Study of centenarians found that SDNN (a measure of HRV) predicted survival even in people who have already achieved exceptional longevity, with low-HRV centenarians having 5x higher mortality risk.
Methods
Longitudinal follow-up of 14 centenarians with HRV measurements until death
Key Findings
- SDNN correlated with survival prognosis in centenarians (ρ = 0.536)
- SDNN < 19ms associated with death within 1 year
- Low-HRV group survived 0.6 years vs 1.6 years for high-HRV group
- Mortality risk 5x higher in low-HRV centenarians
- HRV remains predictive even at extreme ages
Limitations
Small sample size, observational design
What This Means for You
HRV matters at every age. Even among people who've lived past 100, higher HRV predicts longer survival. This reinforces that maintaining autonomic flexibility through lifestyle factors benefits longevity throughout life.
Source
Read the original paper in Frontiers in Physiology ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2026-01-21