UCI-Brookhaven study finds genetic tie to personality traits influencing healthy aging<\/p>\n
Irvine, Calif., Jan. 3, 2013 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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. Its been well documented that the more youre involved with social and physical activities, the more likely youll live longer. It could be as simple as that. <\/p>\n
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 Alzheimers. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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