Current research indicates that genes account for approximately 30 percent of longevity in humans which means that healthy habits play a large role in determining lifespan but good genes do help and the question now is how, according to “Longevity Genes: Hunting for the Secrets of the Super Centenarians,” a new popularized publication from The International Longevity Center- USA (ILC-USA) and the AARP Foundation.
“Until recently, why certain individuals live longer than others has been a mystery to scientists,” Robert N. Butler, M.D., president and CEO of the ILC-USA, said. “As we begin to learn more about genetics, we see that there perhaps are certain genes that enable people to cope better with stress, react better to hormones and possibly regulate the rate of aging.”
According to the latest census there are more than 50,000 centenarians living in the United States. In addition, the average American’s life expectancy has risen to 77.2 years, an increase of more than 30 years during the course of the last century. Such marked improvements in longevity have led researchers to ask why such a boost in longevity has occurred. Their search has, in part, looked toward “longevity genes” for the answer.
Although experts are quick to point out that medical advances combined with a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle are still overwhelmingly responsible for improved longevity, they have attributed approximately 30 percent of a person’s longevity to good genes.
“It’s important to recognize that although we cannot do anything about our genetic inheritance, we can adopt healthy lifestyles that will contribute to our longevity,” Dr. Butler said. “Our identification and categorization of the human genome is a first step toward understanding genetics’ contribution to longevity. Right now, positive health choices that include regular exercise, controlled diet, cessation of smoking and drinking limited amounts of alcohol are the best ways to increase one’s longevity. In addition, anti-hypertension and cholesterol-lowering drugs as well as immunizations and antibiotics, when properly used, have saved and extended lives.”
In an effort to identify the common genes present in long-lived individuals, scientists have begun to compare the genetic makeup of centenarians in a process called “association analysis.” Each cell in the human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes that hold approximately 30,000 genes. Both the number and the arrangement of these genes are responsible for an individual’s unique physical characteristics including one’s longevity. With continued research, scientists hope someday to be able to identify genetic “lottery winners.”
These are very exciting times for all of us,” Dr. Butler said. “The more we understand about genetics, the better we will understand longevity.”
Please call 212-606-3383 for copies of “Longevity Genes: Hunting for the Secrets of the Super Centenarians” or download the publication from the ILC-USA web site at http://www.ilcusa.org. Other AARP-ILC-USA publications include “Getting Your ZZZZZZZs: How Sleep Affects Health and Aging,” “Is there an anti-aging medicine?” and “Unjust Desserts: the Financial Realities of Older Women.” Spanish language versions of all the publications are available online. The popularized longevity genes publication is based on the scientific workshop report “Longevity Genes: From Primitive Organisms to Humans” which was sponsored by the ILC-USA, the American Federation for Aging Research, the Ellison Medical Foundation, the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, the Institute for the Study of Aging and Canyon Ranch Health Resort.
The International Longevity Center-USA is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan research, policy and education organization whose mission is to help societies address the issues of population aging and longevity in positive and constructive ways and to highlight older people’s productivity and contributions to their families and to society as a whole. The ILC-USA is an independent affiliate of Mount Sinai School of Medicine and is incorporated as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity.
The AARP Foundation, AARP’s affiliated charity, administers educational, employment, advocacy and community service programs funded by federal and private sources. It is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people over 50, promoting their independence and dignity, providing leadership on important issues and improving the image of aging. While national in scope, the Foundation provides services through volunteers and staff at the community level and through partnerships with local, state and national groups.
