Scientists crack code on secret to long life, revealing genetics may hold the key. Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have made a groundbreaking discovery, unlocking a crucial component of human longevity - our genes.
A team led by Prof Uri Alon has found that around 50% of the variation in human lifespan is attributed to genetic factors, rather than external influences such as lifestyle or environmental conditions. The study's findings, published in the journal Science, provide new insights into the complex interplay between genetics and aging.
The researchers' breakthrough comes after acknowledging a critical oversight in previous studies - the failure to account for "extrinsic mortality", or deaths resulting from factors outside the individual's control, such as accidents, illnesses, or violence. By taking these external factors into consideration, Alon and his team were able to reveal the true genetic contribution to human lifespan.
The study used advanced mathematical modeling and correlated data from thousands of pairs of twins in Denmark and Sweden, as well as a US study of siblings of centenarians. The results showed that genetics plays a significant role in determining an individual's age at death, with around 50% of variation attributed to genetic factors.
The team found that lifestyle and environmental influences tend to become more important as we age, suggesting that the effects of aging on our bodies can vary greatly depending on external factors. Furthermore, they discovered that the heritability of lifespan varies depending on the cause of death, such as cancer or dementia.
This groundbreaking research has sparked hope that a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanisms driving aging could lead to new therapeutic interventions. Alon emphasized the potential for unlocking the secrets of our internal clocks and developing treatments to slow down aging and its related diseases.
The study's findings have significant implications for our understanding of human longevity, suggesting that we are not an outlier in this regard compared to other species, such as wild mice. The results also offer a degree of confidence that interventions developed for mouse models may be applicable to humans, paving the way for new avenues of research and potential treatments.
A team led by Prof Uri Alon has found that around 50% of the variation in human lifespan is attributed to genetic factors, rather than external influences such as lifestyle or environmental conditions. The study's findings, published in the journal Science, provide new insights into the complex interplay between genetics and aging.
The researchers' breakthrough comes after acknowledging a critical oversight in previous studies - the failure to account for "extrinsic mortality", or deaths resulting from factors outside the individual's control, such as accidents, illnesses, or violence. By taking these external factors into consideration, Alon and his team were able to reveal the true genetic contribution to human lifespan.
The study used advanced mathematical modeling and correlated data from thousands of pairs of twins in Denmark and Sweden, as well as a US study of siblings of centenarians. The results showed that genetics plays a significant role in determining an individual's age at death, with around 50% of variation attributed to genetic factors.
The team found that lifestyle and environmental influences tend to become more important as we age, suggesting that the effects of aging on our bodies can vary greatly depending on external factors. Furthermore, they discovered that the heritability of lifespan varies depending on the cause of death, such as cancer or dementia.
This groundbreaking research has sparked hope that a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanisms driving aging could lead to new therapeutic interventions. Alon emphasized the potential for unlocking the secrets of our internal clocks and developing treatments to slow down aging and its related diseases.
The study's findings have significant implications for our understanding of human longevity, suggesting that we are not an outlier in this regard compared to other species, such as wild mice. The results also offer a degree of confidence that interventions developed for mouse models may be applicable to humans, paving the way for new avenues of research and potential treatments.
This is insane! So basically, it's saying our genes are more important than how we live our lives when it comes to getting old? Like, I'm not gonna start eating ramen noodles all day or something just to slow down my aging process 
. But seriously, this changes everything. If 50% of lifespan variation is genetic, that means there's still so much we don't know about our bodies and how they age. It's like, what if we could just tweak a few genes and suddenly we're not getting sick or anything? That sounds like sci-fi stuff right now! But at the same time, it gives me hope that scientists can actually find ways to slow down aging and its related diseases. It's all pretty mind-blowing 
maybe one day we'll be able to slow down aging and live forever lol 
. And let's be real, what's the fun in understanding our internal clocks if we can't even stop time itself from passing us by 
Please. I'm sure it'll be another 50 years before scientists come up with a cure for aging, and by then we'll just be like, "Yeah, yeah, we knew that all along." 
.
. Like, what about all the factors we can control? Diet, exercise, mental health... those things have a huge impact on how long we live, right? 
Not saying genes don't play a role, but I think it's way more complicated than just a 50/50 split 
. And what about all the other factors that contribute to lifespan, like access to healthcare or living in a polluted environment? Those things are still major game-changers for our health and longevity 
