Genes and Antiaging Medicine: Longevity Genes and Antiaging

A series of studies on C. elegans from the late 1980s revealed that mutations in the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) genes can extend lifespan by more than double, demonstrating that aging is modifiable. Furthermore, it has been shown that IIS also plays a role in the lifespan control of fruit flies and mice, suggesting the existence of a pathway to longevity that transcends species, and the search for genes that contribute to human lifespan control is being vigorously pursued. The extent to which genetic factors contribute to human lifespan or longevity is reported to be 20–30% based on twin studies, with the remaining 70–80% attributed to the environment. On the other hand, Perls and his team, who lead the New England Centenarian Study, argue that the influence of genetics on longevity is stronger in the general population, as siblings of centenarians have a significantly higher probability of surviving past 80 years of age compared to siblings of those who died near the average lifespan, and there is a concentration of centenarian families. This section will provide an overview of the analysis of genetic factors related to longevity (hereinafter referred to as “longevity genes”), mainly targeting centenarians.