title: Is Parental Longevity Associated With the Cardiovascular Risk and the Successful Aging of Their Offspring? Results From the Multinational MEDIS Study.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of parental longevity and parental cardiovascular disease (CVD) history in CVD risk and successful aging of a random sample of older adults living in the Mediterranean basin and who participated in the MEDiterranean Islands (MEDIS) study. During 2005 to 2011, 2663 elders were voluntarily enrolled. A multidimensional successful aging index consisting of 10 components was used. Paternal and maternal longevity was defined as those older participants of whom both parents lived above the age of 90. The burden of CVD-related factors (CVD-RFs) was calculated as the total score of 4 major CVD-RFs (range 0-4). After adjustment, parental longevity was inversely associated with the burden of CVD-RFs ( P = .04). Moreover, parental longevity was positively associated with the older adults' successful aging score (β-coefficient [95% confidence interval]: .38 [0.06-0.71]). Parent's long living was revealed as an important factor for successful aging and for reduced CVD risk, suggesting that further research is needed in the genetic predisposition of longevity.
authors.affiliation: 1 Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tyrovolas
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polychronopoulos
authors.affiliation: 3 Health Center of Aeropolis, General Hospital of Sparta, Aeropolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Anargiros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariolis
authors.affiliation: 4 Faculty of Education, Nutrition, Family and Consumer Studies Office, University of Malta, Msida, Republic of Malta.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piscopo
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valacchi
authors.affiliation: 6 Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Kornilia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makri
authors.affiliation: 7 Health Center of Kalloni, General Hospital of Mitilini, Mitilini, Greece.
authors.forename: Akis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeimbekis
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tyrovola
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bountziouka
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotsis
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Metallinos
authors.affiliation: 8 Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, Universitat de les Illes Balears & CIBERobn, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep-Antoni
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tur
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matalas
authors.affiliation: 6 Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lionis
authors.affiliation: 1 Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Demosthenes B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008521:Mediterranean Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Mediterranean basin; cardiovascular disease; older adults; parental longevity; successful aging