Posted on 05/15/2010 5:41:32 PM PDT by Steelfish
May 16 Found: Genes That Let You Live To 100 Jonathan Leake
SCIENTISTS have discovered the “Methuselah” genes whose lucky carriers have a much improved chance of living to 100 even if they indulge in an unhealthy lifestyle.
The genes appear to protect people against the effects of smoking and bad diet and can also delay the onset of age-related illnesses such as cancer and heart disease by up to three decades.
No single gene is a guaranteed fountain of youth. Instead, the secret of longevity probably lies in having the right “suite” of genes, according to new studies of centenarians and their families. Such combinations are extremely rare — only one person in 10,000 reaches the age of 100.
The genes found so far each appear to give a little extra protection against the diseases of old age. Centenarians appear to have a high chance of having several such genes embedded in their DNA.
“Long-lived people do not have fewer disease genes or ageing genes,” said Eline Slagboom of Leiden University, who is leading a study into 3,500 Dutch nonagenarians. “Instead they have other genes that stop those disease genes from being switched on. Longevity is strongly genetic and inherited.”
Slagboom and her colleagues recently published studies showing how the physiology of people in long-lived families differs from normal people. Other studies, showing the genetic causes of those differences, are due for publication soon.
“People who live to a great age metabolise fats and glucose differently, their skin ages more slowly and they have lower prevalence of heart disease, diabetes and hypertension,” she said.
“These factors are all under strong genetic control, we see the same features in the children of very old people.” The so-called Methuselah genes — named after the biblical patriarch who lived to 969 —
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
...so you can spend your last 15 or 20 years being abused in a nursing home. No thanks.
Genetics or not — if its your time to go, its your time to go. There isn’t a gene in this world that can save you if you’re hit by a bus or shot in the head.
SnakeDoc
The effects of Obamacare will equalize this gene driven gift so we are all happily equal.
Only 30% of people older than 100 have this gene. Sounds to me like they still don’t have a clue.
There’s no law that says you must go to a nursing home. As long as your mind is still sharp there’s other options.
Everything I’ve got is worn out now, I sure don’t want to drag it around for another 30 years!
I did not know they were lost.
I am not surprised there are genes that will let me live until I’m 100. The ones I’m worried about are all those other genes that are trying to kill me.
Oh,great! They’ll raise the retirement age to 85 now!
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Our society has already collapsed.
Why would anyone want to live to 100 right when civilization is dying?
bookmark
I think within much less than a century the well-born will have had genes to prolong productive/useful life substantially already put into their dna makeup, if the parents so desire it, as well as other future discovery/modifications to prevent any number of other ailments/aging effects.
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