Search for 'Aging Well' Genes Narrowed

Century-old siblings focus of research

(HealthDay) -- Scientists have narrowed the search for the genetic key to a long, healthy life to 500 of the 30,000 genes carried by human beings, says this MSNBC report.

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston are searching among the genetic profiles of 137 long-lived brother-sister groups. At least one of the siblings in each group has reached age 100, says the report.

Although 70,000 Americans are now 100 years old, the figure is expected to grow to 1 million in the next 50 years, says this story from The Record of Bergen County, N.J.

The U.S. Census Bureau says four of every five centenarians are women. And this projection by the Learning Network indicates that women probably will continue as the substantial majority, even in the year 2050.

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