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Scientists in Sweden have discovered the key to living to 100 - staying slim, refraining from smoking and no more than four cups of coffee a day

Staying slim, refraining from smoking and cutting your caffeine intake to four cups of coffee a day, is the secret to living to 100, scientists claim. 

For the past 50 years, scientists at the University of Gothenburg have followed the health and lifestyles of 855 men born in 1913.

Ten of the men lived to 100, and the study revealed a number of similarities in how the centenarians lived their lives.

Researchers found it also helps to own your own house by the age of 50 - an indication of a high standard of living.

In addition they highlighted the importance of maintaining good middle-age fitness and having a mother who lived a long time.

The team discovered 27 per cent of those taking part survived to reach the age of 80, while 13 per cent made their 90th birthdays.

Of all the deaths occurring after the age of 80, 42 per cent were attributed to heart disease, 20 per cent to infection, eight per cent to stroke, eight per cent to cancer, six per cent to pneumonia, and 16 per cent to other causes.  

Dr Lars Wilhelmsen, who has been involved in the study for the past 50 years, said: 'The unique design has enabled us to identify the factors that influence survival after the age of 50.

'Our recommendation for people who aspire to centenarianism is to refrain from smoking, maintain healthy cholesterol levels and confine themselves to four cups of coffee a day.'

Surveys at ages 54, 60, 65, 75, 80 and 100 allowed the scientists to highlight factors that promoted longevity.

'Our findings that there is a correlation with maternal but not paternal longevity are fully consistent with previous studies,' Dr Wilhelmsen added.

'The genetic factor appears to be a strong one - but still we found that this genetic factor was weaker than the other factors. 

'So factors that can be influenced are important for a long life.'

Two of the centenarians dropped out of the study due to dementia and one for personal reasons.

Of the remaining seven, two lived at home and five in assisted facilities. 

None smoked, and all displayed good temporal and spatial cognition which involves a sense of time and space. 

In addition, despite universally using walking frames, every 100-year-old was slim and had a good posture.

'Normally we conducted the surveys at hospitals, but we visited the seven centenarians at home,' said Dr Wilhelmsen.

'All of them were clinically healthy, satisfied with their circumstances and pleased to be living where they were.'

The findings appear in the Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal. 

Scientists followed 855 men born in 1913 for 50 years. Ten lived to be 100, while 13 per cent reached their 90th birthdays. Researchers found owning your own home by the age of 50 was also a beneficial factor

114-year-old Anna talks about her incredible longevity (2014)