Project Goal
- To identify genes that contribute to exceptional longevity in humans, and analyze associations of these genes with age-related diseases and longevity (Barzilai).
- To discover additional longevity genes, aging genes, to discern interactive/protective pathways by utilizing high throughput methods (Bergman)
- To identify new polymorphisms in major genes in the GH/IGF pathway and their relationship to GH/IGF levels, function and age-related diseases (Barzilai, Suh, Cohen)
A cohort of offspring of centenarians and age-gender-matched controls will be followed prospectively, to determine the incidence of cardiovascular disease (Rajpathak) and cognitive impairment (Lipton), pursuing investigation into favorable genotypes and their phenotypic expression.