The Study
Human longevity: 25 genetic loci associated in 389,166 UK biobank participants
This study looked at the DNA of hundreds of thousands of people and found certain genetic differences that are more common in people whose parents lived longer. It's like finding clues that some genes might help people live longer, but it doesn't prove those genes are the reason.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists looked at the DNA of nearly 400,000 people to find genes linked to having long-lived parents.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1These genes affect heart health, aging cells, and inflammation, which matter for living longer.
- 225 gene spots were linked to longer-living parents.
- 310 were strong matches.
- 4People with more of these gene variants were 19% more likely to have a parent who lived to 100.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Aging (Albany NY)
Year
2017
Authors
L. Pilling, Chia-Ling Kuo, K. Sicinski, Jone Tamosauskaite, G. Kuchel, L. Harries, P. Herd, R. Wallace, L. Ferrucci, D. Melzer
Related Content
Claims (5)
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.
If someone has a higher genetic score based on 10 specific DNA variants, they're more likely to have a parent who lived to 100 or beyond — each step up in the score means about a 19% better chance of having a centenarian parent.
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.
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.
Some people have a specific gene variation that’s linked to parents who lived longer and had a lower chance of heart disease — it might be related to how our blood vessels age.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.