Scientists have discovered the “Methuselah” genes whose lucky carriers have a much improved chance of living to 100 even if they indulge in an unhealthy lifestyle.
The genes appear to protect people against the effects of smoking and bad diet and can also delay the onset of age-related illnesses such as cancer and heart disease by up to three decades.
No single gene is a guaranteed fountain of youth. Instead, the secret of longevity probably lies in having the right “suite” of genes, according to new studies of centenarians and their families. Such combinations are extremely rare ”” only one person in 10,000 reaches the age of 100.
Let’s hope the anti-aging gene has a companion sense-of-humor-gene.
Extending mortal life is a ‘good thing’ although there are valid points that I might make to ‘temper’ my ‘good thing’ comment regarding those who are trying to ‘live forever.’
But, we Christians accept our immortality and the aging process within our mortal lives because we realize that Salvation through Jesus Christ leads to immortal life in God’s immortal spiritual realm.
However, since many of the disabling/painful/personal-dignity-diminishing afflictions that we suffer in later-life can be connected the aging process, it will be a true blessing if medical science can use a knowledge of genetically related causality in order to reduce/eliminate the suffering of those ‘afflictions’ in the later part of our lives.
Many of the women on my father’s side of the family must have had the Methuselah gene. They routinely lived to over 90 or 100, without the benefit of modern medicine or intensive care. My great grandmother and grandmother (106 and 96, my great great aunt and grandmother’s 1st cousin made it past 100 too) definitely had the sense of humor gene, as well.