Heritability of human lifespan is about 50% when confounding factors are addressed DOI Creative Commons
Ben Shenhar, Glen Pridham, Thaís Lopes De Oliveira

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 21, 2025

Abstract The heritability of human lifespan is a fundamental question in biology. Current estimates are low - twin studies show that about 20-25% the variation explained by genetics, and some large family pedigree suggest it as 7%. However, these do not distinguish between deaths driven intrinsic biological processes caused extrinsic factors such accidents or infections. Here we use mathematical modeling analyses cohorts raised together apart to mortality skews driving down measured correlations among pairs. We also identify nonlinear effect cutoff age—the minimum age death included each study — on heritability. Correcting for more than doubles previous estimates, revealing above 50%. Such high similar most other complex traits. thus challenge consensus genetics has only minor genes explain majority variation. Since important, understanding longevity can reveal aging mechanisms inform medicine public health.

Language: Английский

Heritability of human lifespan is about 50% when confounding factors are addressed DOI Creative Commons
Ben Shenhar, Glen Pridham, Thaís Lopes De Oliveira

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 21, 2025

Abstract The heritability of human lifespan is a fundamental question in biology. Current estimates are low - twin studies show that about 20-25% the variation explained by genetics, and some large family pedigree suggest it as 7%. However, these do not distinguish between deaths driven intrinsic biological processes caused extrinsic factors such accidents or infections. Here we use mathematical modeling analyses cohorts raised together apart to mortality skews driving down measured correlations among pairs. We also identify nonlinear effect cutoff age—the minimum age death included each study — on heritability. Correcting for more than doubles previous estimates, revealing above 50%. Such high similar most other complex traits. thus challenge consensus genetics has only minor genes explain majority variation. Since important, understanding longevity can reveal aging mechanisms inform medicine public health.

Language: Английский

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