New Harvard study suggests certain genes on chromosome 4 might influence lifespan, but it’s not the whole story; learn about the research on twins and families with exceptional longevity, and why more studies are needed.
Could the secret to aging be found in a single human chromosome? That’s the conclusion of a groundbreaking study from Harvard Medical School, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
According to the study, a small number of genes found on a specific chromosome may hold the key to understanding lifespan.
This research analyzed 308 sets of twins and siblings from 137 families with remarkably long lifespans. In most cases, these individuals lived well past 100 years. The average age at death was 98 years for the individual within each family, and 91 years (for men) or 98 years (for women) when considering siblings. Most of the families were of European descent.
Researchers analyzed genes in blood samples from the study participants. The analysis identified a region on chromosome 4 containing genes linked to longevity. Interestingly, these genes themselves may not be entirely responsible for determining lifespan.
Therefore, Vitalo360 recommends conducting further research in a broader and more extensive manner.
