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The longevity gene turned out to be a myth
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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The longevity gene that experts have been trying to find for a long time turned out to be a myth. Experts from the United States of America, after studying the oldest people on the planet, did not find anything in the volunteers that could resemble this gene.
The specialists examined 17 people aged 110-116 years and their hereditary material in a cell. The largest number of long-livers were found among women (16 women).
After studying the volunteers' genomes, experts concluded that there are no specific genetic grounds to assert that a longevity gene exists.
As Dr. Stuart Kim, who was involved in the research project, noted, life expectancy is not related to a specific gene that slows down the aging process of the body; rather, longevity is the result of a complex effect.
All the volunteers were completely different from each other, led different lifestyles and belonged to different ethnic groups. It is worth noting that all the centenarians did not adhere to proper nutrition and had bad habits (for example, half of the volunteers had nicotine addiction). But scientists say that this fact does not indicate that one should neglect the principles of a healthy lifestyle, since some of them can delay the development of senile dementia by an average of 12 years. In addition, sports and proper nutrition will help prevent the development of heart and vascular diseases.
According to WHO recommendations, it is necessary to jog for 10 minutes daily. Experts have already proven certain benefits of physical activity on the human body.
At the Iowa State University of Public Health, scientists have found that just 7 minutes of running reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke by 55%.
A 5-10 minute jog has the same positive effect on the body as 15-20 minutes of physical exercise (with a moderate load). As studies have shown, even short physical activity helps to improve health.
Experts studied the health of more than 55 thousand people aged 18 to 100 for more than 15 years to identify the relationship between life expectancy and running.
As a result, those who jogged regularly had a 30% lower risk of death (from any cause). Also, the risk of death from heart or vascular disease was reduced by 45%.
People who regularly ran for more than 6 years had a 29% lower risk of death, and cardiovascular mortality was halved. As scientists have found, it is best to run at a speed of 12-13 km/h, which will reduce the likelihood of developing a heart attack or stroke by 60%.
As studies show, on average, the life expectancy of runners increases by three years, while the running speed, distance, and running time did not matter. Age, gender, weight, general health, and bad habits also did not affect the result.
Experts also found that those who ran less than 10 km, at a speed below 10 km/h, and exercised 1-2 times a week, also had a reduced risk of death, in contrast to those who did not exercise at all.