It seems that there is more of a genetic component to their longevity ...
unfortunately. Additionally, in the case of these people, diet/lifestyle
does not even seem to be much of a factor...

. . .

Q. Are you looking for the genetic markers for longevity?

A. Yes, and we've found several so far. The most important thing we've found
is that most centenarians have a lot more than average H.D.L. proteins, the
good cholesterol, in their blood. Also, they had a lot more of them when
they were younger, because their children have a lot more than their peers
do. Also, size matters with the protein molecules. Eighty percent of the
children of the centenarians had larger than average high density lipoproteins.

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Q. What do your findings linking H.D.L. cholesterol and aging mean genetically?

A. This led us to look at candidate genes involved in the regulation of
lipid metabolism, and it means we've found a gene that is important in
longevity. This gene obviously has a purpose. But if it's partially
deactivated, it will cause you to live longer. If you have this genetic
characteristic, your chance of getting from age 70 to 100 increases by over
threefold. Among the 70-year-old control group we studied, 8 percent have
this mutation. Among the 100-year-olds, 25 to 30 percent of them have it. We
will have to look at other parts of this gene to see if there are more
mutations. There are other genes that also control H.D.L. and the sizes of
lipoproteins, and we're looking for them.

The gene that we discovered only explains 18 percent of the longevity. But
it is possible that if everyone has the effect of this gene they will get to
be 100. We want to explain 100 percent of the reasons for exceptional
longevity. So we are looking at other genes. A very few of the oldest people
we've studied actually do not have large lipoproteins and do not have any
mutations that we've discovered so far.


[...]

In fact, 30 percent were overweight. Some smoked. The fact that they had a
strong family history of exceptional longevity seemed to be the main
commonality. This supports the notion that they have special genes
protecting them from their environment.

. . .

Marilyn
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