Researchers are closer to finding why some people live past 100. Genomic analysis of about 800 people who are over the age of 100 and 5,400 people over the age of 90, has identified several new genes that shield the centenarians against the effects of aging.
“There’s a reasonably strong genetic component to becoming a centenarian, and we want to find out what that is,” Stuart Kim, who is a professor in the Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics at Sanford University, told Live Science. “We’re beginning to unravel the mystery” of why some people age so successfully compared to the normal population.
According to the paper published in PLOS Genetics, 4 Genes, namely – the ABO gene, CDKN2B Gene, APOE Gene and SH2B3 Gene are the keys to longevity and are found more commonly in centenarians than in people with a normal life span. As Live Science notes, the gene ABO determines blood group, CDKN2B helps regulate cellular life cycles, a gene APOE is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and SH2B3 has been shown to extend lifespan in fruit flies.
One of these four genes causes type O blood, which is associated with better health outcomes and survival. Moreover, the gene APOE has a variant that can decrease or increase one’s chances of living beyond 100. The variations are common in the general population, but centenarians seem to have fewer “bad” variants, according to New Scientist. Kim suspects that there could be more genes associated with a longer life span.
Reference: Genome-Wide Scan Informed by Age-Related Disease Identifies Loci for Exceptional Human Longevity
ScienceSwitch 
*pop
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It should be in an entirely different world. Btw, your typo made my day. 😀
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hehehe 😛
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interesting, hahaha..just wishing if these were available at chemists to poop 😉
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It’s an interesting thought, but it can cause problems as well, don’t you think?
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I don’t think so, because people who get sick a lot lack one or two of these four genes. However for the centenarians, all genes seem to be present.
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Living to that age can cause other problems as seen by my in-laws who are about to become centenarians. I keep picturing millions more of them – and there will be problems.
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Oh you’re right, I thought of something completely different. Apologies.
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Gene research is very interesting hope to see more articles about it.
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I will make sure I deliver more posts about Gene Research here on Sparkonit. Thanks, Lee!
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Simple health maintenance an extender as well. Far too many die what would otherwise be considered prematurely due to lack of it. But a big problem with extended life is the financial burden on the family for care. I was able to have my parents move in with me in 2002 and they were able to care for themselves but I had to do the driving and cook and manage decision making. Mother passed in 2012. Father still with me at 92 now, Seems he has the good genes.
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Good point there, Carl. Never thought about financial burden before, but the good thing is that you are still with your father. And also, sorry to hear about your mother. I hope he lives to be a super centenarian. As always, thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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