title: Homocysteine and familial longevity: the Leiden Longevity Study.
abstract: Homocysteine concentrations are a read-out of methionine metabolism and have been related to changes in lifespan in animal models. In humans, high homocysteine concentrations are an important predictor of age related disease. We aimed to explore the association of homocysteine with familial longevity by testing whether homocysteine is lower in individuals that are genetically enriched for longevity. We measured concentrations of total homocysteine in 1907 subjects from the Leiden Longevity Study consisting of 1309 offspring of nonagenarian siblings, who are enriched with familial factors promoting longevity, and 598 partners thereof as population controls. We found that homocysteine was related to age, creatinine, folate, vitamin B levels and medical history of hypertension and stroke in both groups (all p<0.001). However, levels of homocysteine did not differ between offspring enriched for longevity and their partners, and no differences in the age-related rise in homocysteine levels were found between groups (p for interaction 0.63). The results suggest that homocysteine metabolism is not likely to predict familial longevity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. c.a.wijsman@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Carolien A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wijsman
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Heemst
authors.forename: Maarten P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rozing
authors.forename: P Eline
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Slagboom
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: Anton J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: de Craen
authors.forename: Andrea B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Rudi G J
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Westendorp
authors.forename: Henk J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mooijaart
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine