Although long life tends to run in families, genetics has far less influence on life span than previously thought, according to a new analysis of an aggregated set of family trees of more than 400 million people. The results suggest that the heritability of life span is well below past estimates, which failed to account for our tendency to select partners with similar traits to our own. The research, from Calico Life Sciences and Ancestry, was published in GENETICS, a journal of the Genetics Society of America. Continue reading “Family tree of 400 million people shows genetics has limited influence on longevity”
Caloric restriction improves health and survival of rhesus monkeys
Here we present the ‘Abstract‘ of the corresponding paper by Julie A. Mattison, Ricki J. Colman, T. Mark Beasley, David B. Allison, Joseph W. Kemnitz, George S. Roth, Donald K. Ingram, Richard Weindruch, Rafael de Cabo & Rozalyn M. Anderson. Continue reading “Caloric restriction improves health and survival of rhesus monkeys”
New genetic variations linked to educational attainment: Genetic overlap between cognitive ability and longevity
Investigators at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research discovered dozens of new genetic variations associated with a person’s general cognitive ability. The findings, which were published online today in Cell Reports, have the potential to help researchers develop more targeted treatment for cognitive and memory disorders. Continue reading “New genetic variations linked to educational attainment: Genetic overlap between cognitive ability and longevity”
Fasting boosts stem cells’ regenerative capacity
As people age, their intestinal stem cells begin to lose their ability to regenerate. These stem cells are the source for all new intestinal cells, so this decline can make it more difficult to recover from gastrointestinal infections or other conditions that affect the intestine. Continue reading “Fasting boosts stem cells’ regenerative capacity”
Isolated Greek villages reveal genetic secrets that protect against heart disease
A genetic variant that protects the heart against cardiovascular disease has been discovered by researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their collaborators. Reported today (26th May 2017) in Nature Communications, the cardioprotective variant was found in an isolated Greek population, who are known to live long and healthy lives despite having a diet rich in animal fat. Continue reading “Isolated Greek villages reveal genetic secrets that protect against heart disease”
More education is what makes people live longer, not more money
When countries develop economically, people live longer lives. Development experts have long believed this is because having more money expands lifespan, but a massive new study suggests that education may play a bigger role. The finding has huge implications for public health spending. Continue reading “More education is what makes people live longer, not more money”
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