US EditionStudy Finds Genetics Account for 55% of Human Lifespan
Researchers separated deaths by intrinsic and extrinsic causes to find genetics explain 50%–55% of lifespan variation, doubling previous estimates and emphasizing genetic complexity.
- Thursday, an international team of researchers published in Science that genetics explain about 50% of variation in human lifespan using human twin-study datasets.
- Researchers reanalyzed twin datasets by separating extrinsic mortality from intrinsic mortality, reducing non-genetic 'noise' that obscured genetic influence in prior studies using centuries-old data.
- Using historical twin and sibling records from Denmark, Sweden and the U.S., the mathematical model developed by the study authors estimated heritability could reach 55% after rerunning analyses for age-linked infection vulnerability.
- Study authors argue a substantial genetic contribution supports sequencing centenarians to identify longevity variants and refine polygenic risk scores, aiding drug discovery while IVF startups promise embryo-based lifespan inference.
- Researchers caution that roughly 50% of lifespan reflects environmental factors, while few longevity-associated genes like FOXO3, APOE and SIRT6 are identified, with Eric Verdin urging careful interpretation.
51 Articles
51 Articles
The lifespan of a human could be more dependent on the genes than previously assumed, as shown by the results of a recent study.
How we live seems to affect our lifespan much less than previously thought. A new study based on Swedish data, among other things, shows that genes are all the more important. “There is a limit to how much you can influence your lifespan,” says Sara Hägg, who researches the processes of aging.
It’s gotta be the genes: Israeli study finds genetics play key role in human longevity
Doctoral student at Weizmann Institute says researchers wanted to figure out how much genes and 'everything else' contribute to our lifespans, determining that latter 'is around 50% of the pile'
The heritability of human lifespan is roughly 50%, once external mortality is addressed
An analysis of twin cohort data suggests that human life span is far more heritable than previously believed. The findings of the analysis show that once deaths from external factors, such as accidents or infectious disease, are accounted for, genetics may explain ~50% of how long we live. “[T]he study … has important consequences for aging research,” write Daniela Bakula and Morten Scheibye-Knudsen in a related Perspective. &…
What really determines how long we live? Israeli study delivers a surprise
Genetics play a much larger role in determining how long humans live than previously thought, accounting for about half of lifespan variation, according to a new study by the Weizmann Institute
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