Researchers have revealed that to live up to the age of hundred years, there is nothing to do with the lifestyle you often lead. The only thing that can make you to live up to the age of hundred years is the type of gene you possess and provided you have the correct DNA.
The gene is known as Methuselah genes and is named after the oldest person in the bible which is a patriarch and who lived for nine hundred and sixty-nine years. He had a gene ADIPOQ that is associated with metabolism and is found about in ten percent of young people by thirty percent in centenarians.
Lucky people who carry Methuselah genes need not to worry over unhealthy eating, smoking and not getting enough exercise because these things may not be widespread as those who do not carry the rare DNA prototype. Many studies have shown that it is not one gene rather a combination of genes that assures a long life.
The combination of such genes are tremendously rare with only one person in ten thousand who reaches the age of hundred. While looking into the genetic make up of nonagenarians, centenarians and their families researchers uncovered the minute mutation which they think give extra protection against the diseases in old age as well as against effects of unhealthy lifestyle.
The carriers of such genes are thought to be protected against bad diet, effects of smoking and the beginning of age-related illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. People who lived a great age, metabolized fat and glucose differently, their skin aged more slowly and they had lower incidence of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease explained lead researcher Eline Slagboom of Leiden University, studied in Dutch nonagenarians.
She further explained that the factors were all under strong genetic control. They saw the vey same features in the children of very old people. Now it is hoped that finding would enable researchers to invent an anti-ageing drug that could significantly slow down the ageing process.