Scientists have developed a DNA-based scoring system to forecast whether individuals might live longer or shorter than average. By assessing genetic variations linked to lifespan, those scoring in the top 10% of the population could outlive the bottom 10% by up to five years. The research also uncovers fresh insights into diseases and the biological pathways behind aging.
The team analyzed genetic data from more than 500,000 people, combined with records of their parents' lifespans. They pinpointed 12 significant regions in the human genome influencing longevity, including five not previously identified.
The DNA variants exerting the greatest influence on overall lifespan were those associated with fatal conditions like heart disease and smoking-related illnesses. Genes tied to other cancers, unrelated to smoking, did not emerge, suggesting rarer genetic factors or social and environmental influences play key roles.
Researchers had hoped to identify genes directly controlling the pace of aging, but any such effects proved too subtle to detect in this large-scale study.
"We have found genes that affect the brain and the heart are responsible for the most variation in lifespan," the researcher noted.
