Ever wonder why some people can drink regularly, smoke, eat all of the “wrong foods” and still live past 100? We’ve known that lifespan has a strong genetic component despite being affected by lifestyle factors. Now scientists believe they have identified the “genetic signature” that can tell us who is more likely to live for a century or more:
The researchers, who studied more than 1,000 people over the age of 100, identified a set of 150 unique genetic markers that, taken together, are linked to extreme longevity. They acknowledged they didn’t know all the genes involved, nor their exact function in extending old age.
“This is an extremely complex trait that involves many processes,” said lead researcher Paola Sebastiani, a biostatistician at BU’s School of Public Health. Even so, “we can compute your specific predisposition to exceptional longevity.”
The researchers said they had no plans to patent the technique nor profit from it. Instead, they expect to make a free test kit available on the Internet later this month to foster longevity research.
The free test will be offered by the the New England Centenarian Study and can tell you whether you have the unique genetic characteristics that will increase your chances of living past 100. However, there’s a catch – you’ve got to provide them with your complete genome sequence, which will cost several thousand dollars. That said, the price has been rapidly falling, and you may be able to purchase this service for a mere $30 in the next few years.