The gene of longevity was a myth
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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The gene of longevity, which for a long time trying to find specialists turned out to be a myth. Specialists from the United States of America, after studying the most elderly people on the planet, did not find anything in volunteers that could resemble this gene.
Experts studied 17 people aged 110-116 years and their hereditary material in a cage. Most of the long-livers appeared among women (16 women).
After studying the genome of volunteers, experts concluded that there is no specific genetic basis for claiming that the gene for longevity exists.
As Dr. Stuart Kim, who participated in the scientific project, said, life expectancy is not related to a certain gene that slows down the aging process, most likely, longevity is the result of a complex impact.
All the volunteers were completely different from each other, led a different lifestyle and belonged to different ethnic groups. It is worth noting that all the long-livers did not adhere to proper nutrition and had bad habits (for example, half of the volunteers had nicotine dependence). But scientists argue that this fact does not indicate that it is necessary to neglect the principles of a healthy lifestyle, since some of them can delay the development of senile dementia on average by 12 years. In addition, sports and proper nutrition can help prevent the development of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
According to WHO recommendations, it is necessary to take a daily 10-minute run. Specialists have already shown a certain benefit from physical exertion on the human body.
At the Iowa Public Research University, scientists found that only 7 minutes of running reduces the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke by 55%.
5-10-minute run has an equally positive effect on the body, like 15-20 minutes of physical exercise (with an average load). As studies have shown, even short physical exertions help to strengthen health.
Specialists for more than 15 years have studied the health status of more than 55 thousand people from 18 to 100 years to identify the relationship between life expectancy and running.
As a result, for those who made regular runs, the risk of death (for any reason) was reduced by 30%. Also, the risk of death from heart disease or blood vessels decreased by 45%.
In people who regularly ran for more than 6 years, the risk of death was lower by 29%, and mortality from cardiovascular pathology was halved. As scientists have established, 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 lifespan of runners is increased by three years, while running speed, distance, and run time did not matter. Also, the result was not affected by age, sex, weight, general health, bad habits.
Also, specialists found that those who ran less than 10 km, with a speed below 10 km / h, were engaged 1-2 times a week, the risk of death also decreased, in contrast to those who did not exercise at all.