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DNA Sequenced of Woman Who Lived To 115

Posted by Soulskill on from the now-sequence-her-boosterspice dept.

chrb writes "The DNA of W115 — an anonymous woman who lived to the age of 115 years and left her body to science — has been sequenced. Despite her old age, W115 showed no signs of dementia or heart disease, and tests at the age of 113 showed she had the mental abilities of a woman aged 60-75 years. Dr. Henne Holstege of the Department of Clinical Genetics at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam has suggested W115 had rare genetic changes in her DNA which protected against Alzheimer's and other late-life diseases."

4 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Hopefully by Totenglocke · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Hopefully this leads to people being able to have their DNA modified so that we no longer have to deal with mental diseases like Alzheimer's.

    --
    "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson
    1. Re:Hopefully by tirefire · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Hopefully this leads to people being able to have their DNA modified so that we no longer have to deal with mental diseases like Alzheimer's.

      And once a precedent has been set, it's just 20 precious years until GATTACA.

    2. Re:Hopefully by houghi · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Her mother became 99 and 10 months. A brother and sister also became pretty old. Not sure what happened to another sister. My father is in his 90-ies and behaves like a 65 year old. We are directly related to her. She was my grand-fathers sister.

      For that reason I have contacted the doctor to ask him how I (and my father agreed to do the same) could be able to help. e.g. by giving some blood so they can see after we die if there was anything there. She did not have any children herself, so for now all we know is that she might have been the only person with that part of DNA.
      Not sure if my sister (and her kids) is willing to do the same. Or my nephews. We all live in different countries around the world and some I have no way of contacting.

      She also was under investigation for about 20 years, so they already knew a lot about her lifestyle. It is not like they dropped a body on the doorstep and they had to go from there.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  2. Not surprising... by demonlapin · · Score: 2, Interesting

    People over the age of 90 are typically very healthy - people with bad health habits often die before 70, though a few last until their mid-80s. If you make it to 90, you've got a very good chance of making 100. In addition, healthy people usually have good intellects regardless of their age - I've met more than a few 90+ year olds who are quite sharp.