Research
Mixed
Heritability of longevity increases with age, reaching its highest levels in centenarians, suggesting that genetic factors become more dominant in determining survival at extreme ages.
While lifestyle matters for everyone, genetic factors play an increasingly important role in who survives to extreme old age (100+). This suggests that for those aiming for extreme longevity, genetic predisposition is a significant, albeit non-modifiable, factor.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The heritability of longevity increases with greater age. The heritability of living to at least 100 has been estimated at 0.33 in women and 0.48 in men
Why this rating
Based on twin studies and population-based cohorts.
Source
Genetics of healthy aging and longevity
Angela Brooks‐Wilson · Human Genetics · 2013
DOI 10.1007/s00439-013-1342-z
narrative_reviewCited 380×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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