Researchers Analyze DNA From 'Supercentenarians' Aged 110+ To Discover Secret To Longevity (nytimes.com)

biobricks writes: Scientists looking for clues to healthy longevity in people in their 90s and 100s haven't turned up a whole lot. It is thought that the DNA of the very old may be a good place to look, but people over 110 are one in five million in the United States. The New York Times chronicles one scientific quest to collect their DNA (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source). From the report: "James Clement, a self-described 'citizen-scientist,' has collected blood, skin and saliva samples from individuals aged 110-plus in 14 states and seven countries during the past six years, The New York Times reports. Mr. Clement has detected 2,500-plus differences between supercentenarian DNA and the general population. However, with a sample size of only some three dozen genomes, his team is still working to determine which genes are significant. One analysis suggested supercentenarians tended to inherit fewer genetic variations related to conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. However, since supercentenarians also tend to be more healthy than the general population, some researchers hypothesize there are other genetic benefits at play. For example, supercentenarians may boast genes that protect them from aspects of aging." Mr. Clement plans to release DNA sequences from the project, called the New England Centenarian Study, this month.

Comments

I am related to one

[houghi]

I am related to Henny van Andel-Schipper
When she was born, the doctors told her she would not be older than 6 weeks and her mother should forget about her. She was held warm by her grand mother. She lived at home till in her 40-ies and ran away from home then with a man that was divorced.
As a kid she was often sick. When she became older (80), she decided to give her body to the local University, so not to bother family and/or friends with a funeral.
When she became older than 100, there was a change in interest. It was not anymore about just another body for autopsy lessons. It became serious. She was looked at on a regular basis and when she died at the age of 115, there was a process to replace her blood as soon as possible.

Not only did they discover that their was no trace of Alzheimer anywhere, they found some other stuff about aging as well.

She was also the reason why they started a centenarian process in The Netherlands to as more people who are older than 100 to donate their bodies.

Her real answer on getting old where : keep breathing and don't die. Somebody has to be the oldest and this time it is me. As if she was saying that correlation was not the same as causation.

I have read a bit about real old people and what is evident is that all are positive minded.

So think about donating your body to science or, to put it in a way you would better understand: Open Source your remains. Because why not?