馃└ The Viral Claim About Blood Type and Living to 100
A striking claim has been circulating online suggesting that people with a particular blood type are more likely than others to reach the age of 100.
The image accompanying the claim shows four blood samples labeled A, B, O and AB, followed by a statement suggesting that science has identified the blood type with the highest probability of reaching 100 years old.
It is an appealing idea.
After all, our blood type is something we inherit genetically, so it is reasonable to wonder whether our genes might influence how long we live. Scientists have spent decades studying exactly that question.
But there is an important difference between saying “blood type is associated with certain health conditions” and saying “this blood type is most likely to live to 100.”
Those are not the same thing.
Research does show that the ABO blood-group system is associated with several biological processes and disease risks. Recent reviews have found relationships between ABO blood groups and cardiovascular disease, blood-clotting disorders, certain cancers, diabetes and other conditions. However, researchers emphasize that these associations do not establish that blood type independently determines longevity.
So what does the evidence actually tell us?
What Are A, B, AB and O Blood Types?
Before looking at longevity, it helps to understand what blood type actually means.
The ABO blood-group system is based primarily on molecules called A and B antigens found on the surface of red blood cells.
People generally fall into four main ABO categories:
- Type A
- Type B
- Type AB
- Type O
A person with type A blood has A antigens on their red blood cells, while type B has B antigens. Type AB has both A and B antigens, whereas type O lacks both A and B antigens.
Blood type is inherited from our parents through genes.
There is also the Rh factor, which produces the familiar classifications such as A-positive, A-negative, O-positive and O-negative.
The ABO system is extremely important medically because blood compatibility matters during transfusions. But researchers have also discovered that ABO-related genetic differences can influence biological processes beyond transfusion medicine.
ABO antigens can be expressed on various cells and tissues, and they can influence proteins involved in blood clotting and vascular biology.
This is one reason scientists have investigated whether blood type could also influence long-term health.
Does Blood Type Determine How Long You Will Live?
This is where the viral claim becomes much more complicated.
There is currently no scientific consensus that one ABO blood type is the “longevity blood type.”
A 2026 narrative review specifically examining ABO blood groups and aging-related outcomes concluded that associations between blood type and longevity have been reported in some research, but the findings are inconsistent and vary between populations.
The review concluded that ABO blood type is unlikely to be an independent biomarker of aging. Instead, it may be one modest factor affecting certain biological pathways that can influence age-related diseases.
That distinction is extremely important.
A person cannot look at their blood-type card and determine whether they are destined to live to 100.
Longevity is influenced by a huge number of factors, including genetics, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, diet, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, infections, access to medical care, environmental exposures, socioeconomic circumstances and chance.
Even genetics as a whole explains only part of the variation in human lifespan.
Blood type is therefore only one small piece of an enormously complicated puzzle.
What About Research on Centenarians?
Interestingly, scientists have actually examined the blood types of people who have reached 100 years old.
One frequently cited study from Japan examined 269 centenarians in Tokyo and compared them with more than 7,000 controls.
The researchers found that blood type B appeared somewhat more frequently among the centenarians than among the comparison group. The researchers suggested that blood type B might be associated with exceptional longevity, but they also stated that the mechanisms required further investigation.
This study is one reason claims about a particular blood type and reaching 100 have continued to circulate online.
But it is important not to turn one observational study into a universal rule.
The study did not prove that type B causes people to live longer.
It also does not mean that every centenarian has type B blood.
In fact, the majority of centenarians in that study did not have blood type B.
That is a critical point that can easily disappear when a scientific finding is converted into a dramatic social-media headline.
A Much Larger Study Reached a Different Conclusion
Another important piece of evidence comes from research involving Chinese centenarians.
Researchers examined 2,201 centenarians and compared them with 2,330 middle-aged controls.
The study investigated genetic variants associated with ABO blood groups and asked whether they were associated with longevity.
The results were strikingly different from the simple viral claim.
The researchers found no statistically significant differences in the distributions of the A, B, O and AB blood groups between the centenarians and the control group.
Their conclusion was that, in this large Chinese cohort, ABO genetic variants and blood groups were not associated with longevity.
This is why it would be inaccurate to tell readers that science has definitively identified one blood type as the best type for reaching 100.
The evidence simply does not support such certainty.
So Why Does Blood Type Appear in Longevity Research?
The answer may lie in the relationship between ABO blood groups and disease.
Scientists know that the ABO system can influence levels of certain proteins involved in blood clotting, particularly von Willebrand factor (VWF) and factor VIII.
People with type O generally have lower levels of these clotting-related proteins than people with non-O blood types.
That difference can influence the balance between bleeding and clotting.
Research has repeatedly found that people with non-O blood types have a higher risk of certain thrombotic conditions.
A major review of the evidence found an established relationship between non-O blood groups and venous thromboembolism, while other research has investigated associations with heart attack and stroke.
This is biologically interesting because cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death around the world.
If a blood type is associated with a slightly higher or lower risk of certain cardiovascular problems, researchers naturally want to know whether that could eventually influence lifespan.
But again, risk is not destiny.
Type O and Cardiovascular Health
Among the four ABO categories, type O has received considerable attention.
Research generally finds that people with type O blood have lower levels of certain clotting proteins than people with non-O blood types.
Some studies consequently find that type O individuals have lower risks of certain blood-clotting events.
A recent 2026 review reported that non-O blood groups have substantially higher risks of venous thromboembolism than type O, although the precise magnitude varies depending on the condition and population studied.
Other reviews have similarly reported associations between non-O blood groups and cardiovascular conditions.
But there is a major limitation.
Having type O blood does not automatically mean someone has a healthy heart.
A person with type O blood can still develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease or other cardiovascular conditions.
Conversely, someone with type A, B or AB blood can live a very long and healthy life.
Blood type does not override lifestyle and medical risk factors.
Does Type O Mean You Will Live Longer?
No.
This is one of the most common misunderstandings surrounding the subject.
Because type O has been associated with lower risks for some clotting disorders, people sometimes jump to the conclusion that type O must therefore be the blood type most likely to reach 100.
That conclusion has not been established.
The 2026 review of ABO blood groups and aging specifically noted that relationships between ABO phenotype and longevity remain inconsistent. The authors concluded that blood type is unlikely to function as an independent marker of aging.
In other words, type O may provide a statistical advantage for certain health outcomes without translating into a guaranteed increase in overall lifespan.
This distinction appears frequently in medical research.
A factor can increase or decrease the risk of one disease while having a much smaller effect—or no clear effect—on total lifespan.
Human longevity is simply too complex to reduce to one variable.
What About Type B?
Type B is particularly interesting because of the Japanese centenarian study mentioned earlier.
The study found type B represented 29.4% of centenarians, compared with 21.9% of the control population. The authors reported that this difference suggested a possible relationship between blood type B and exceptional longevity.
That finding sounds impressive when presented alone.
But science does not work by selecting the most interesting result and ignoring conflicting evidence.
The much larger Chinese centenarian study did not find a statistically significant relationship between ABO blood groups and longevity.
The 2026 review likewise concluded that longevity findings are inconsistent across populations.
Therefore, it would be misleading to tell people:
“Type B is the blood type that will help you live to 100.”
A scientifically responsible statement would be:
“Some research has reported an association between type B and exceptional longevity, but other large research has not confirmed that blood type predicts reaching 100.”
That may not be as sensational, but it is much closer to the evidence.
What About Blood Type A?
Type A has also attracted attention because of research involving cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Several studies have found associations between type A and certain diseases.
For example, a large meta-analysis involving more than 100,000 cancer cases reported that type A was associated with a modestly higher overall cancer risk compared with non-A blood groups. The analysis also identified associations involving several specific cancers.
But once again, this does not mean that people with type A blood will develop cancer.
These are statistical associations across populations, not predictions about individual people.
A person with type A blood may never develop any of those diseases.
And a person with type O blood can still develop cancer.
Blood type is not a diagnostic test.
What About AB Blood?
Type AB is the least common of the four major ABO categories in many populations.
Research has also investigated whether AB blood is associated with certain health conditions.
Some studies have reported relationships between AB blood and cardiovascular or cognitive outcomes.
A broad review of ABO-related diseases found that AB blood has been associated in some research with increased risk of cognitive impairment and various diseases. However, these relationships are complicated and do not establish that AB blood determines lifespan.
Again, this illustrates the central lesson:
Association does not equal destiny.
A blood group can influence biological pathways without becoming a reliable predictor of an individual's age at death.
The Newest Scientific Perspective
The most useful recent evidence comes from researchers looking at the issue as part of the broader biology of aging.
A 2026 review examined the relationship between ABO blood groups and age-related diseases.
The researchers found evidence connecting ABO blood groups with several conditions relevant to older adults, including cardiovascular disease, thrombotic disorders, diabetes, cancer and cognitive disorders.
However, they emphasized that findings about longevity itself remain inconsistent.
Their overall conclusion was that ABO blood type is probably not an independent biomarker of aging. Instead, it may act as a modest, context-dependent factor that affects some disease pathways.
Another recent review published in 2026 similarly concluded that ABO blood groups are associated with a range of diseases, but emphasized that these findings are primarily hypothesis-generating and require additional research.
That is a much more nuanced picture than the viral graphic suggests.
Why Do Some Studies Disagree?
There are several reasons.
1. Different populations
Blood-type frequencies vary significantly between populations.
A finding in Japan may not necessarily apply to Europe, Africa, North America or other parts of Asia.
Genetic backgrounds, environmental exposures, healthcare systems and lifestyle patterns also differ.
2. Different sample sizes
A study of several hundred centenarians can produce interesting findings, but a larger study may produce a different result.
Larger studies generally have greater statistical power.
3. Longevity has many causes
People who live to 100 are not simply people who avoided one particular disease.
They often have combinations of favorable genetics, lifestyle, environment and circumstances.
4. Correlation can be misleading
Suppose researchers discover that a certain blood type is more common among centenarians.
That does not automatically mean the blood type caused longevity.
There could be another factor associated with both.
5. Medical care changes over time
A person born in 1925 experienced a completely different medical environment from someone born in 1975.
Vaccinations, antibiotics, cancer treatment, cardiovascular care and emergency medicine have dramatically changed survival.
What Really Helps People Reach 100?
This is perhaps the most important question.
If blood type is not a reliable predictor of reaching 100, what factors matter?
There is no single recipe for becoming a centenarian.
However, research into healthy aging consistently emphasizes controllable health behaviors and prevention.
❤️ Protect your cardiovascular health
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes can substantially increase cardiovascular risk.
Regular medical checkups can identify these problems before they cause serious complications.
馃毉 Avoid smoking
Smoking is one of the most important preventable causes of disease and premature death.
Regardless of blood type, avoiding tobacco is a major health advantage.
馃 Maintain a balanced diet
A healthy dietary pattern generally emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish or other nutritious protein sources while limiting excessive amounts of highly processed foods, added sugars and unhealthy fats.
There is no special diet required for a particular ABO blood type.
馃毝 Stay physically active
Regular physical activity supports cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, mobility and metabolic health.
Walking, cycling, swimming, strength training and other activities can all contribute to maintaining physical function as people age.
馃槾 Get sufficient sleep
Sleep is important for physical and mental health.
Persistent sleep problems should not simply be dismissed as a normal part of aging.
馃 Maintain social and mental engagement
Healthy aging involves more than the cardiovascular system.
Maintaining meaningful relationships, learning, staying socially connected and engaging in mentally stimulating activities can contribute to quality of life in older age.
馃┖ Get appropriate preventive care
Screening and medical checkups can help detect conditions before they become severe.
The specific screenings appropriate for someone depend on age, sex, family history and personal risk factors.
Your Blood Type Is Not Your Destiny
The viral image is attractive because it offers a simple explanation for an extremely complicated phenomenon.
It suggests that if you have the “right” blood type, you may have a special biological advantage that helps you reach 100.
The reality is more complicated.
Your ABO blood type is genetically determined and does influence certain biological characteristics. Research has demonstrated associations with blood clotting, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
But that does not make blood type a crystal ball for lifespan.
One study found a possible association between type B and exceptional longevity in Japanese centenarians.
A much larger study of Chinese centenarians found no statistically significant relationship between ABO blood group and longevity.
And a 2026 review concluded that the evidence linking blood type directly to longevity remains inconsistent.
Therefore, the strongest conclusion is not that one blood type wins the longevity race.
It is that blood type may influence certain health risks, but it is not a reliable predictor of whether someone will live to 100.
The Bigger Lesson About Longevity
There is something encouraging about this conclusion.
If longevity were determined almost entirely by blood type, there would be little people could do about it.
But the evidence does not suggest that.
People with all four major ABO blood types can become centenarians.
There are people with type A who live beyond 100.
There are people with type B who live beyond 100.
There are people with type AB who live beyond 100.
And there are people with type O who live beyond 100.
The blood-type label on a medical record does not determine the final chapter of someone's life.
Instead, longevity appears to emerge from the interaction of genes, biology, environment, behavior, medical care and chance.
That is why researchers continue studying centenarians: not because they have discovered one magic blood type, but because understanding exceptional aging could reveal biological mechanisms that help more people remain healthy for longer.
Final Fact Check 馃└馃攷
Claim:
“People with this blood type are more likely to live to 100 years old, according to science.”
Verdict: MISLEADING / NOT PROVEN
Scientific research does show that ABO blood groups are associated with some disease risks. Non-O blood groups, for example, have been associated with higher risks of certain clotting and cardiovascular conditions, while other blood groups have been linked to differences in the risk of particular diseases.
There have also been studies suggesting that certain blood types may be more common among centenarians. A Japanese study found a possible association between blood type B and exceptional longevity.
However, this finding has not established a universal rule.
A large Chinese study involving more than 2,000 centenarians found no statistically significant association between ABO blood groups and longevity.
Most importantly, a 2026 review of the evidence concluded that relationships between ABO blood type and longevity remain inconsistent and that blood type is unlikely to be an independent marker of aging.
So if your blood type is A, B, AB or O, there is no reason to believe that your blood type alone determines how long you will live.
Your blood type is part of your biology—but it is not a countdown clock.
The most useful approach is to focus on the factors you can actually influence: don't smoke, stay physically active, eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, monitor blood pressure and cholesterol, manage conditions such as diabetes when present, get appropriate preventive care, sleep well and maintain strong social connections.
And perhaps the most important message of all is this:
馃К There is no “magic” blood type for reaching 100. Healthy aging is far more complicated—and far more interesting—than a viral graphic suggests.
This article is for general educational purposes and does not diagnose or predict an individual's health or lifespan. Blood type should not be used to make medical decisions without guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
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