Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The genetics of aging.

Thomas Perls1, Louis Kunkel, Annibale Puca

  • 1Geriatrics Section, Boston University Medical Center, 88 East Newton Street, F4, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. thomas.perls@bmc.org

Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|June 22, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Genetic research is uncovering the biological basis of exceptional longevity. Studies in model organisms and centenarians reveal genetic factors influencing lifespan and delaying age-related diseases.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Interstitial cystitis: a phenotype and rare variant exome sequencing study.

EBioMedicine·2026
Same author

Utility of Polygenic Risk Scores in Families with Exceptional Longevity.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2025
Same author

Interstitial Cystitis: a phenotype and rare variant exome sequencing study: Interstitial Cystitis: a phenotype and exome sequencing study.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2025
Same author

Tailored Approach to Designing a Digital Research Platform for Adults Aged 95 and Older: SuperAgers Family Study.

The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences·2025
Same author

Race and ethnicity dynamics in survival to 100 years in the United States.

Journal of internal medicine·2024
Same author

The relationship between 11 different polygenic longevity scores, parental lifespan, and disease diagnosis in the UK Biobank.

GeroScience·2024

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Gerontology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Exceptional longevity was previously considered a complex interplay of subtle genetic and environmental factors.
  • Genetic mutations in model organisms have been shown to significantly extend lifespan.
  • Centenarian studies identify individuals who lack genotypes associated with premature mortality and age-related diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the genetic underpinnings of exceptional human longevity.
  • To identify specific genes and biochemical pathways that regulate aging and lifespan.
  • To pave the way for interventions that promote healthy aging and disease delay.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of genetic variations in centenarian populations.
  • Comparative genomics studies in lower organisms and mammals.
  • Pedigree analysis to assess familial aggregation of longevity.
  • Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify longevity-associated genetic loci.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests a significant genetic component to extreme longevity.
  • Evolutionarily conserved genetic variations impact longevity pathways.
  • A specific locus on chromosome 4 has been linked to exceptional longevity in humans.
  • Identification of genotypes protective against age-related lethal diseases.

Conclusions:

  • The genetics of aging and longevity are becoming increasingly understood.
  • Discovery of longevity genes will facilitate the development of drugs to slow aging.
  • These advancements hold promise for delaying or preventing age-associated diseases and extending healthspan.

Related Experiment Videos