Genetics may have far more to do with longevity than previously thought

[REWahoo]

A recent study published in the journal Science shows that a person’s genes may play a much greater role in lifespan than previously thought.

In summary, correcting for extrinsic mortality raises the estimate for the heritability of human life span in twin and sibling studies to ~55%, more than twice previous estimates and in line with heritability of most human traits.

Here is a summary of the article: Genetics play a larger part in lifespan than previously thought

Both my parents and DW's dad lived into their 90's. Maybe I need to hold off on our BTD plans for another couple of years...

 

[thenameiwish]

Duh!

 

[stepford]

DW's parents died at 65 and 76, mine at 91 and 99. Even though we're in good health in our mid-60s it makes it tough to guess who goes first.

 

[sengsational]

I didn't read it, but read a book by a prominent scientist (forgot the name) but there was a solid argument that indicated that a person's genetics form their environment. This means genetics drives a lot of attributes of "nurture". For instance, if you were a wild child, you caused your parents to make an environment that kept you in line, while your mild-mannered sibling was treated differently. If you think about it, you do this kind of thing to yourself all through life, thus nature making nurture.

 

[ElizabethT]

K

Duh!

+1. This seems like such a 'Duh!' to me.

My primary reason for eating healthy, exercising regularly, and remaining thin, is to feel good in the moment. Not to prolong my life - just enhance the day-to-day quality of it.

 

[MarieIG]

Yes, I have listened to certain podcasts discussing research on "super-centenarians" and their families. There have been male centenarians in DH's father's line.

 

[keppelbay]

in these discussions, it is important to distinguish between life-span and health-span (the number of years you can function well as you age). Diet and exercise affect the latter more than the former.

 

[Alan]

Knowing how much of the good stuff I got from my parents is what I'd like to know. My mum died at 62, her father at 55 from heart disease. Her grandfather, who I knew very well, was 39 when he signed up and went to war in 1914, served all 4 years, gassed twice and shot once. Fell down a mine shaft in 1939 and shattered both legs, one had to amputated. He was an underground coal miner from age 14 and a smoker. I went to his funeral when he died at age 92.

My Dad went down the mines in 1939 at age 14, underground coal miner for 46 years, heavy smoker, still smoking 40/day when he died at age 84.

One of my sisters died a couple of years ago at age 62 so I guess she missed out on the gene lottery.

 

[razztazz]

Duh!

My primary reason for eating healthy, exercising regularly, and remaining thin, is to feel good in the moment. Not to prolong my life - just enhance the day-to-day quality of it.

Yes, the "everything bad is a lifestyle choice" people are out to lunch. Even my cardiologist says they're delusional. All I've been hearing from The Establishment since my heart attack is "genetics."

 

[Amethyst]

My mom's relatives all lived into their 80's and 90's. They also all got dementia at the later ages.

I want to go before that happens. Of course, I won't know for sure until it happens, and then I won't be able to do much about it.

 

[FIREd]

Both parents are still alive and decently healthy at age 78 and 79. Fingers crossed. Grandparents passed at 74,76, 85, and 90.

 

[harllee]

My mom's relatives all lived into their 80's and 90's. They also all got dementia at the later ages.

I want to go before that happens. Of course, I won't know for sure until it happens, and then I won't be able to do much about it.

Same here, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers at age 90. She is still alive at 95 but it is no life, it is so depressing.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I just read that study this morning. Basically it says you can affect your quality of life with good habits, but not the length of your life. People lived a long time on both sides of my family, but my dad died at 73 because of his job as he was a tool grinder and inhaled all of that for over 30 years. His quality of life was over by 53 because of his job.

My ex-husband just died at 79 from cancer and his brother is still alive at 89 and his dad lived to 91. His dad had very healthy habits just like him and his brother not at all. However, he was in a hot spot for Agent Orange during the Vietnam war and the VA said that is why he ended up with cancer.

My siblings are still alive at 80 and 77 so I figure that bodes well for me. One of them smoked until age 60 and one is a heavy drinker. I guess genetics is winning out which is great.

 

[brett]

Just one piece of the puzzle.

 

[Gumby]

All I know for sure is this -- Regardless of how old you are or how long your parents lived, time's a wasting and it's later than you think.

 

[Koolau]

Quantifying the genetics piece of the puzzle is difficult. I've always assumed it's all about 50:50 genetics vs environment. I recall perhaps 5 years ago an article suggesting that genetics were NOT as important as "we once thought." Pick your point of view.

 

[Koolau]

All I know for sure is this -- Regardless of how old you are or how long your parents lived, time's a wasting and it's later than you think.

Right and (my personal favorite): None of us get's out of here alive.

 

[pacergal]

Paternal GF: died at 42, heart attack
Paternal GM: age 100, healthy until she had a stroke 2 months after her 100 birthday!
Dad: age 86, COPD and renal failure (smoker since age 14)
Maternal GF: age 79, cancer (smoker)
Maternal GM: 85, Alzheimers
Mom: 79, COPD (smoker since age 14)

Hoping I have my PGM genes, I plan our retirement calculators on me living to 100, just in case.

 

[sengsational]

I got my dad's (low) BP, and somebody's good ASCVD prevention genes. I figure my heart could be yanked out after I die of something else and still have another 100k miles left

 

[brett]

My parents lived until their late 80's. They were health conscious and at the ideal weight for all of their lives.

My older sister dropped dead at 78. She was obese, poor diet, never exercised, and was a smoker. Diabetic.

Back problems, knee problems..you name it. All sorts of medication. Many visits to her physician and to multiple specialists.

She ignored the advice and entreaties of her health care professionals. I was always surprised that they kept her as a patient for so many years. Always an excuse or claimed that they did not understand her.

At some point you have to take control of and actively partipate in your well being......or be prepared to take responsibility for the consequences of not doing so. It is not rocket science. Garbage in, garbage out.

 

[Winemaker]

DF was the healthiest person I knew; normal BP, cholesterol, etc. Retired at 66, died of AML 4 years later afte a 2 year fight. Ya never know.

 

[Act2]

Both of my Grandmothers lived a long life. One to age 98, the other 100. The 98 year old was a big fan of sausages, lard cooking, sour cream, beer, and high fat everything. Much physical work on the family farm until her 70’s. She was clear-headed until about age 94, then increasing dementia. Her longest lived child died at 91. The 100 year old was clear-headed to the end; read the New York Times daily, ate a relatively healthy diet. Never had to do hard labor but walked everywhere into her 90’s. Her longest lived child died at 89. I hope I lucked out genetically. Time will tell.

 

[Montecfo]

Well I think the real headline for me is that non-genetics is 45%.

I tend to think the genetics angle is overplayed personally. And varies widely of course from person to person.

I have long assumed that a small proportion of people will live long despite poor habits. Like George Burns. Maybe 10%.

Another small percentage will experience poor longevity despite good habits. Maybe Jim Fixx is in this category. Say another 10%.

For the rest of us lifestyle and habits matter a great deal. This is my non-scientific view.

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

Two of my grandparents died in accidents (car and occupational).

DF died at 96. His sister died at 100. Their brother died much earlier.

DM (only child) died 78. DS1 died 78. Both aggressive cancers. DS2 had big birthday party when she passed that threshold, and is going strong at 81.

I figure I’ll live to 100 unless the cancer gene pops up or a widow-maker appears.

 

[Sojourner]

The lifespans of my older relatives line up with what the Science study found, i.e., high genetic heritability. It was especially striking in DF's family. All of his maternal aunts, his grandmother and his mother died in their mid-to-late 80s, with one making it just to 90. His father also died at 86. I remember noticing this trend many years ago and wondering if DF would make it past 85. I got my answer a few years ago when he died just shy of 87. This was in spite of very different lifestyles and health habits (e.g., some were smokers, some weren't; some were highly sedentary, some [like DF] were very active; etc.).