The Genetic Puzzle of Lifespan: New Insights from Twin Studies

A recent study challenges previous understandings of genetics' role in lifespan, suggesting a 50-55% genetic influence. It highlights how historical changes in mortality and improved living conditions alter our perception of genetic and environmental impacts on longevity, urging continued exploration of genetic mechanisms in ageing.

Solna, Sweden - A new study published in Science has reignited the ongoing debate about the genetic contribution to human lifespan, suggesting it might be significantly higher than previously thought. Researchers have posited that genetic factors may account for 50-55% of the variation in how long people live, based on new analysis.

Historically, genes were estimated to influence 20-25% of lifespan variability. This study highlights changing mortality causes over the past century, where deaths in developed nations have increasingly resulted from age-related diseases rather than extrinsic causes like accidents or infections.

The research, focusing on Scandinavian twins and US siblings of centenarians, sheds light on how diminished environmental threats emphasize genetic impacts. While the findings underscore the complexity of genetic-environmental interactions, scientists stress that both elements play crucial roles in determining longevity.

(With inputs from agencies.)