Genes make you live for 100 years—Study

The latest research in the field of life expectancy has revealed that enjoying a lifespan of 100 years is not dependent on the lifestyle of a person. It’s just sheer luck that a person can live up to 100 years.

The study has also declined the belief of those who trust on regular exercises, moderate eating and saying ‘No’ to alcohol for increasing the life expectancy and reaching an age of 100.

The study has given all the credit to genes transferred at birth for those who complete 100 years of age.

Research performed on 500 people
This research was performed at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

For the study, around 500 Ashkenazi Jews with long life span were interviewed.

A research was performed on these 500 people, who were between 95 and 109 of age. Thereafter, the result was compared with around 3,000 other people born during the same period.

It was found that people who had higher life span didn’t set any restrictions in eating, drinking and smoking like their overweight friends.

As per the information provided by Prof. Nir Barzilai, director of the college's Institute of Ageing Research, this group had earlier identified certain genes which were capable of preventing a person from the bad effects of Western lifestyle.

Commenting on the research work which was published in the Journal of the 'American Geriatric Society', Prof Barzilai said, "In previous studies of our centenarians, we've identified gene variants that exert particular physiology effects, such as causing significantly elevated levels of HDL or 'good' cholesterol.”

Credit given to good genes
Prof. Barzilai also told about an astonishing case of a woman interviewed by him.

She was a 109-year-old who smoked 40 cigarettes a day for 90 years without being diagnosed for any type of cancer or heart disease.

Based on the revelations made by this study, Prof. Barzilai suggested, "Although this study demonstrates that centenarians can be obese, smoke and avoid exercise, those lifestyle habits are not good choices for most of us who do not have a family history of longevity.

"We should watch our weight, avoid smoking and be sure to exercise, since these activities have been shown to have great health benefits for the general population, including a longer lifespan."

The research group gave credit to good genes followed by diet and physical exercise for centenarians' long life span.

To everyone’s surprise, certain aspects of life which are given utmost importance in deciding the life span of a person such as belief in God, religion or spirituality were not given much importance in this study.