For A Long Life: Turns Out Genetics May Be Very Important For Longevity

While genes are not definitive proof of your health or life destiny, it appears from new research that if you want to live a long life, being born into a family with long-living relatives may be your golden ticket. According to a new study published in Science, it now appears that how long you live (your lifespan) is directly related to the genes you possess. Before this new study, scientists believed that anywhere from 6-33% of the differences in the lifespan of humans could be attributed to genes. However, in this new study, scientists developed a new way of thinking about mortality. There is mortality caused by “intrinsic” factors connected to your genes and biological aging, and there are “extrinsic” factors of mortality, related to such causes as accidents or infections. Once researchers were able to separate these two distinct types of mortality, they were able to discern that your genetic makeup has a much more influential bearing on how long you live- perhaps accounting for up to 55% of the length of your lifespan. Previous considerations of the role of genetics in the human lifespan did not account for such events as accidents, murders, infectious diseases, or other considerations having nothing to do with biological aging.

Coming to this realization about the importance of genetics in determining the human lifespan indicates that humans are not so different than, for example, mice, which are regularly studied for their biology, and it means that longevity is akin to other sorts of traits, such as cholesterol or osteoporosis, when it comes to heritability. It also means that if your genes are pegged to a lifespan of 80, you’re not likely to live to 100, even if your diet and exercise have been excellent. This doesn’t mean, however, that lifestyle and health behaviors no longer have relevance when it comes to longevity. Quite the contrary. Lifestyle factors are still important for healthy aging and for supporting longevity. Even if such healthy behaviors now only account for 45% percent of your lifespan, they have still been demonstrated to provide you with up to 10 more years of healthy aging if you follow recommended guidelines. So don’t think about giving up your gym membership or going out for a cheeseburger for dinner tonight. Instead, prep that salad and read here.

An additional study just published also focuses on genetics and aging, this time with a particular focus on Super Agers and Alzheimer’s Disease. According to this new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, it appears that those who can be considered “Super Agers,” that is, they have cognitive abilities and memory scores much more akin to adults 20-30 years younger than themselves, have a distinct genetic advantage when it comes to the genes associated with Alzheimer’s. First, Super Agers who were studied were 68% less likely to harbor the infamous APOE-ε4 gene variant, which poses a significant risk for the development of Alzheimer’s. And they were 19% less likely to have that gene compared to people with normal cognition. Second, Super Agers actually have a higher prevalence of the gene variant APOE-ε2, which is thought to have a protective effect against the development of Alzheimer’s. Super Agers were found to be 28% more likely to carry this variant than cognitively normal older adults and 103% more likely to carry this variant than those with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The conclusion to be drawn? Super Agers clearly appear to have a genetic advantage. So brush up on your memory skills, and read more here.