We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Evidence of genetic enrichment for exceptional survival using a family approach: the Leiden Longevity Study.
- Authors
Schoenmaker, Manja; de Craen, Anton J M; de Meijer, Paul H E M; Beekman, Marian; Blauw, Gerard J; Slagboom, P Eline; Westendorp, Rudi G J
- Abstract
We conducted a sib pair study in very old subjects for the purpose of mapping longevity loci. In the present analysis, we explore whether our recruitment strategy has resulted in a population enriched for a heritable component for exceptional longevity. Our study includes families with at least two long-living siblings (men aged 89 years or above; women aged 91 years or above). Data were collected on date of birth and, if applicable, date of death of parents, brothers and sisters, offspring, and spouses of the long-living participants. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) compared with the general Dutch population, were calculated. The SMR for all siblings of the long-living participants was 0.66 (95% CI 0.60-0.73). A similar survival benefit was also observed in the parents (SMR=0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.87) and in the offspring of the long-living subjects (SMR=0.65, 95% CI 0.51-0.80). The SMR of the spouses of the long-living subjects was 0.95 (95% CI 0.82-1.12). The familial clustering of extended survival is unlikely to be caused by ascertainment bias, because in all analyses the long-living participants were excluded. Moreover, it is also unlikely to be caused by environmental factors, because the spouses of the long-living participants had a mortality risk comparable with the general Dutch population, whereas they share the same environment. We conclude that our sample is genetically enriched for extreme survival.
- Publication
European journal of human genetics : EJHG, 2006, Vol 14, Issue 1, p79
- ISSN
1018-4813
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201508