How Your DNA Influences Longevity and Healthy Aging
How well you age is shaped by both your genes and the choices you make over time. MyHeritage DNA 360° reveals inherited factors associated with longevity and healthy aging, helping you make more informed choices for your long-term well-being.
What your DNA results can help you do
Genetics is only one part of healthy aging, but understanding your inherited tendencies can help you focus on the factors within your control.
Support your long-term health
Learn how your genes may influence processes associated with longevity and healthy aging, and use these insights to guide everyday choices that support your health over time.
Focus on what matters as you age
Explore genetic tendencies related to maintaining your cognitive function, muscle strength, vision, and independence as you grow older.
Plan for the years ahead
Use your results to identify areas that may deserve greater attention and discuss appropriate screening, monitoring, or lifestyle changes with your healthcare provider.
Explore longevity and healthy aging reports
Explore longevity and healthy aging reports
Reports include:
Cellular growth and healthy aging (AKT1)
Eye health as you age
Cellular stress response and longevity (FOXO3)
Healthy aging
Growth signaling and longevity (IGF1R)
Cellular protection and healthy aging (Klotho)
Longevity
Telomere maintenance (OBFC1)
DNA repair, cognition, and longevity (PARP1)
Metabolism and longevity (PPARD)
Cellular aging and metabolism (SIRT1)
Telomere maintenance (TERT)
Telomere length
Age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that is a leading cause of vision loss in older people. The vision loss usually becomes noticeable by age 60 or 70 and tends to worsen over time.
AKT1 (Longevity)
A meta-analysis using data collected from 3 different population studies found that the "GG" genotype at rs3803304 is linked to a shorter lifespan. The researchers of the study are unsure how exactly this gene affects lifespan.
Biological Age
The following factors may determine your biological age: Genetic factors: Certain genetic variants can influence the rate of aging.
CFH (Eye Health/Longevity)
The main CFH variant is rs1061170. Almost 45% of the world population has at least one copy of its minor 'C' allele, which makes the CFH protein less functional.
Frailty
The clinical presentation of frailty includes symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, slowed performance, and diminished energy reserves. Due to its multidimensional nature, the diagnosis of frailty involves a comprehensive assessment of physical capability, nutritional status, and social and psychological functions.
Healthy Aging
The concepts of longevity and healthy aging go hand in hand, emphasizing not just the number of years lived but also the quality of those years. This section delves into the genetic factors that contribute to a longer, healthier, and happier life.
Klotho
The KL gene helps make the klotho protein. A KL gene variant, rs9536314-GT, may boost klotho release.
Muscle Loss
About 60% of the differences in sarcopenia may be due to genetics. Some genes associated with muscle growth, repair, and inflammation have been linked to sarcopenia susceptibility.
PARP1 (Longevity, Cognition)
The minor 'T' allele of rs7515023 has been associated with an enhanced PARP1 regulation, meaning carriers are closer to the "sweet spot" between having too low or too high levels of the active PARP1 enzyme. Probably because it reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, this variant has been associated with a decreased risk of cognitive disorders and "brain fog".
SIRT1 (Longevity)
A handful of studies have shown that people with certain SIRT1 variants are more likely to live very long lives. One of the variations with the strongest effect so far is rs12778366: even one copy of the 'C' allele may reduce all-cause mortality risk by as much as 30%.
Telomere Length
Telomeres serve as protective caps on chromosomes. As our cells divide, telomeres shorten.
Aging Eyes
Unlike other refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia is due to a natural change in the eye's internal structure rather than the shape of the eyeball or cornea. Symptoms of presbyopia include eyestrain, headaches while doing close work, and the need to hold reading materials at arm's length to focus properly.
APOC3 (Blood Lipids/Longevity)
The main APOC3 variants, rs5128 and rs2542052, may influence the metabolism of blood lipids.
CETP (Cholesterol/Longevity)
Certain variants in CETP are associated with longevity in some studies. According to researchers, this life-extending effect may be due to improved cholesterol levels, which may help prevent a number of heart conditions.
FOXO3 (Longevity)
In the last decade or so, a large body of research has linked certain variants in the FOXO3 gene with longer lifespan.
Haptoglobin
Low haptoglobin levels indicate red blood cell destruction. Interestingly, high blood levels of haptoglobin have also been associated with increased longevity.
IGF1R (Longevity)
There is some evidence that certain genetic variations in the IGF1R gene are associated with longer lifespans. For example, one study examined the rs2229765 SNP of 668 elderly people from Northeastern Italy.
Longevity
A bio-marker related to the genetic potential for a longer life span, not a specific condition but a complex trait influenced by many genes.
OBFC1 (Longevity)
The following alleles have been associated with longer telomeres and are more commonly found in very elderly people: 'G' of rs10786775, 'G' of rs11191865, 'A' of rs4387287, 'T' of rs9419958, 'C' of rs9420907.
PPARD (Longevity)
The rs2016520 polymorphism (also known as PPARD +294T/C) was found to be significantly more common in those who live exceptionally long lives. According to a study of nearly 1,000 Chinese people originating from a region called Bama, the 'TT' genotype is more frequently found in those aged 90 and above.
TAS2R16 (Bitter Taste/Longevity)
Some researchers have suggested that people with highly sensitive bitter taste receptors may not consume as many bitter foods—including healthy vegetables like broccoli. But avoiding vegetables may have consequences: people who regularly eat cruciferous vegetables live, on average, longer lives than those who don't.
TERT (Longevity)
The TERT gene has a lot of known variations. Most people will probably have a mix of variations that increase and decrease relative telomere length, so it's important to look at as many SNPs as possible to see which way you lean.
Explore all 22 reports
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