Genes can predict longevity with 77% accuracy: Study

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDJul 2 2010

In an analysis of genes of more than 1,000 centenarians, American researchers have come to the conclusion that genes play a large role in completing a century in life. The research team studied 1,055 Caucasians born between 1890 and 1910 and compared them with 1,267 people born later. They claim that there are signatures in the genetic makeup of these people that have a possible link with their longevity.

Paola Sebastiani and Thomas Perls from Boston University, who led the research said that these signatures can predict with 77 per cent accuracy whether someone would live to be a centenarian. Dr Perls said, “These genetic signatures are a new advance towards personalised genomics and predictive medicine.” The findings were published in the online issue of the journal Science today. They successfully identified 19 genetic signatures of exceptional longevity that characterised 90 per cent of the centenarians. The signatures wrote the researchers were also predictive of good health, age of onset of dementia, eye problems, heart disease and even cancer. Centenarians with these signatures do not develop common age related diseases till they reach their 90’s said the study authors. 40 percent of "super-centenarians" aged 110 and over had three specific genetic variants in common.

The researchers however did not negate the benefits of a healthy, diet, lifestyle and regular exercises as reasons for longevity.

Dr. Kenneth S. Kendler of the Department of Human and Molecular Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University also said, “Inheritability of longevity has been looked at, so genes do play a role…” But he cautioned that others factors also determine mortality “such as driving motorcycles fast and smoking.”

The study was funded by grants from the National Institute of Aging and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

According to gerontologist – doctor who deals with the elderly and their ailments, John McCormack of La Trobe University, “Familial clustering is very important.” The 2006 Australian census identified 3157 people older than 100. Dr McCormack said less than 3 per cent were older than 105.

Researchers believe that although the “genetic puzzle” that determines longevity is complex, it may not be long before someone produces a “DNA chip” test for the long-life genetic variants.