A variant of a gene associated with active personality traits in humans
seems to also be involved with living a longer life, UC Irvine and other
researchers have found.
This derivative of a dopamine-receptor gene -- called the DRD4 7R
allele -- appears in significantly higher rates in people more than 90
years old and is linked to lifespan increases in mouse studies.
Robert Moyzis, professor of biological chemistry at UC Irvine, and
Dr. Nora Volkow, a psychiatrist who conducts research at the Brookhaven
National Laboratory and also directs the National Institute on Drug
Abuse, led a research effort that included data from the UC Irvine-led
90+ Study in Laguna Woods, Calif. Results appear online in The Journal of Neuroscience.
The variant gene is part of the dopamine system, which facilitates
the transmission of signals among neurons and plays a major role in the
brain network responsible for attention and reward-driven learning. The
DRD4 7R allele blunts dopamine signaling, which enhances individuals'
reactivity to their environment.
People who carry this variant gene, Moyzis said, seem to be more
motivated to pursue social, intellectual and physical activities. The
variant is also linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and
addictive and risky behaviors.
"While the genetic variant may not directly influence longevity,"
Moyzis said, "it is associated with personality traits that have been
shown to be important for living a longer, healthier life. It's been
well documented that the more you're involved with social and physical
activities, the more likely you'll live longer. It could be as simple as
that."
Numerous studies -- including a number from the 90+ Study -- have
confirmed that being active is important for successful aging, and it
may deter the advancement of neurodegenerative diseases, such as
Alzheimer's.
Prior molecular evolutionary research led by Moyzis and Chuansheng
Chen, UC Irvine professor of psychology & social behavior, indicated
that this "longevity allele" was selected for during the nomadic
out-of-Africa human exodus more than 30,000 years ago.
In the new study, the UC Irvine team analyzed genetic samples from
310 participants in the 90+ Study. This "oldest-old" population had a 66
percent increase in individuals carrying the variant relative to a
control group of 2,902 people between the ages of 7 and 45. The presence
of the variant also was strongly correlated with higher levels of
physical activity.
Next, Volkow, neuroscientist Panayotis Thanos and their colleagues at
the Brookhaven National Laboratory found that mice without the variant
had a 7 percent to 9.7 percent decrease in lifespan compared with those
possessing the gene, even when raised in an enriched environment.
While it's evident that the variant can contribute to longevity,
Moyzis said further studies must take place to identify any immediate
clinical benefits from the research. "However, it is clear that
individuals with this gene variant are already more likely to be
responding to the well-known medical adage to get more physical
activity," he added.
First author Deborah Grady, Maria Corrada, Valentina Ciobanu,
Alexandra Moyzis, Chuansheng Chen and Dr. Claudia Kawas of UC Irvine;
Diana Shustarovich and Gene-Jack Wang of Brookhaven; David Grandy of
Oregon Health & Science University; Marcelo Rubinstein of
Argentina's National Scientific & Technical Research Council; and Qi
Dong of Beijing Normal University also contributed to the study, which
was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Institute
on Aging, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism
intramural program.
Journal Reference:
- D. L. Grady, P. K. Thanos, M. M. Corrada, J. C. Barnett, V. Ciobanu, D. Shustarovich, A. Napoli, A. G. Moyzis, D. Grandy, M. Rubinstein, G.-J. Wang, C. H. Kawas, C. Chen, Q. Dong, E. Wang, N. D. Volkow, R. K. Moyzis. DRD4 Genotype Predicts Longevity in Mouse and Human. Journal of Neuroscience, 2013; 33 (1): 286 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3515-12.2013
Courtesy: ScienceDaily
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