Aging-related Genes

Genetic factors affect an individual’s maximum possible lifespan. In humans, the average lifespan is about 40 years shorter than the maximum lifespan. Any gene that influences the development of a disease is called a disease-susceptibility gene. The impacts of disease-susceptibility genes on aging and average lifespan would be much stronger than the impacts of aging genes on maximum lifespan. Multiple genes are associated with the aging process and age-related diseases, and gene-to-gene interactions are important, as are gene-environment interactions; the interactive effects of lifestyle are especially important. A broad-scale, longterm longitudinal study that includes detailed examinations of medicine, nutrition, physical activity, and psychology in a communitydwelling population is necessary for comprehensive genetic epidemiological study of aging and age-related diseases. Risk of disease to individuals can be more effectively assessed with data on genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. The most appropriate health education, lifestyle modifications, and health examination protocols could be then implemented in an individualized manner to prevent diseases and aging processes based on these personalized risk assessments.