They have pinpointed three genes which can extend life past 100 and prevent diseases that commonly strike in old age.
Two genes boost the production of so-called good cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, while the third prevents diabetes.
People whose DNA prominently includes these genes are also 80 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's, experts reveal on BBC2's Horizon tonight.
Geneticist Dr. Nir Barzilai's team examined the DNA of 500 healthy Ashkenazi Jews with an average age of 100. Amazingly, a third were obese or lifelong heavy smokers.
The chances of living to 100 are one in 10,000 but the group were 20 times more likely to hit the century.
Dr. Barzilai said several labs were now creating a pill that mimics the genes, which could be tested in three years.
