title: Genetic influences on life span and survival among elderly African-Americans, Caribbean Hispanics, and Caucasians.
abstract: An investigation of the genetic influences on life span and survival was conducted among elderly African-Americans, Caribbean Hispanics, and Caucasians Medicare recipients (ages 65-104 years). Family history information on 13,161 parents and siblings was obtained. Heritability of life span varied by the age and by ethnic group being lowest for African-Americans. We recalculated the heritability coefficients for life span including only probands and their siblings, but the differences across ethnic groups persisted. In contrast the heritability of survival was more similar across ethnic groups but was similar to that for life span. Heritability coefficients for survival in probands and their siblings revealed little difference between ethnic groups and suggested that as much as 35% of the variation in survival may be genetically influenced. These results indicate that life span and survival are genetically influenced. Comparisons across generations and ethnic groups indicate that changes in environmental hygiene, social welfare, and health care systems are significant contributors to life span and survival, but genetic influences are also important. Identifying the genes associated with life span and survival will provide insight into how the genes interact with environment to influence aging in humans.
authors.affiliation: The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. jhl2@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flaquer
authors.forename: Rosann
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lantigua
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schupf
authors.forename: Ming-Xin
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mayeux
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D044467:American Indian or Alaska Native; D044383:Black People; D005006:Ethnicity; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D010641:Phenotype; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American