Genetics of healthy aging and longevity

Abstract

With the increase in life expectancy, there is an increase in the number of elderly people among the population, therefore, an important task for Russian health care is to ensure healthy aging. An examination of a group of centenarians can help in studying the factors and causes that contribute to a long life without development or with the later development of age-associated diseases. In many ways, the long life expectancy and better health of such people are genetically determined. At the same time, longevity, as a complex sign, is influenced by many genetic polymorphisms, often with a small individual effect. Identification of hereditary determinants and their effects on the mechanisms of aging is necessary to identify the foundations of healthy longevity and to find protector mechanisms and targets by which it is possible to prevent the occurrence or slow the progression of age-related diseases.The pathology of the cardiovascular system is the most significant of the diseases associated with aging, since it is the leading cause of mortality according to world statistics. Thus, cardiovascular aging is an important factor in determining a person’s life expectancy.This article examines the methodological aspects of studies involving centenarians, and also provides an overview of genes that affect both life expectancy and longevity, as well as the development and course of cardiovascular diseases.