NEW INDICATORS OF HUMAN LONGEVITY AND BIOLOGICAL AGEING RATE

摘要

The present invention relates to genetic and biochemical markers of longevity, that were identified as common genetic variation associated with longevity in cohorts of elderly subjects. In particular the genetic markers for longevity of the invention concern a collection of nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence that is in linkage disequilibrium with a SNP that is associated with longevity in cohorts of elderly subjects. In another embodiment of the invention the genetic markers for longevity are a nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences that are differentially expressed between a population that expresses excess survival and a control population. In a further aspect the invention relates to portfolio's comprising subsets of the genetic markers for longevity. The genetic markers for longevity of the invention may be used in methods for determining genetic predisposition for longevity, methods of screening for a substance that modulates the biological aging rate or a substance that is capable of modulation of longevity and/or life expectancy, and/or methods for assessing physiological age.