This new Nature Communications study provides strong evidence that centenarians carry fewer harmful, loss-of-function mutations in key genes compared to the general population. These protective genetic patterns likely help maintain healthier biological systems over time, especially in pathways related to immune stability, cellular repair, and metabolism. By identifying specific genes that are consistently preserved in long-lived individuals, researchers can better understand which biological processes are essential for healthy aging.
This is important because it shifts part of the focus in longevity research from searching only for “longevity genes” to understanding which damaging mutations people don't have. When combined with broader genetic studies, the findings support the idea that exceptional longevity comes from a combination of fewer harmful variants and many small, beneficial genetic effects. This research moves scientists closer to identifying targets that might one day help extend health span or prevent age-related diseases.
Main Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52967-2
2nd Article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11312667/
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