Some genes linked to living longer depend on whether they come from your mom or dad — different sets of genes seem to help men and women live longer.

Scientists found 25 spots in the DNA of people with European roots that are linked to how long their parents lived — some of these spots are near genes we already know affect aging, and it looks like living a long life is shaped by lots of little genetic factors working together.

In mice with different genes, scientists found 29 specific gene spots that affect how long they live — but these genes act differently depending on whether the mouse is young or old, and whether it's male or female. Some genes only matter at certain life stages, and some even switch from helping to hurting (or vice versa) as the mouse ages.

In mice, the genes that affect how long they live work differently in males and females — many of the gene interactions are totally separate between the sexes.

If your parents lived a long time, you might have inherited genes tied to aging-related processes like cell aging, inflammation, and heart health — and these could help explain why some people live longer.