Do parents pass on longevity beyond their DNA?

 

What is the secret to a long life? I’m sure you’ve wondered about it. We all have. Often, we believe that if there are long-lived people in our family, that means we have a good chance, healthy living included, to be long-lived, too. It’s true that DNA plays an important factor in longevity, but do parents pass on their longevity in other ways? Read on and find out... Scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) studied tiny roundworms (yes, really!), called Caenorhabditis elegans. They found that when they boosted the activity of a particular enzyme in the worms’ lysosomes (that’s the cell’s “recycling centre”), the worms lived up to 60% longer than their peers. This is all new information. And here’s the jaw‐dropper: even when the genetic tweak was removed in their offspring, the descendants still lived longer. Even several generations later. So, the gene itself wasn’t permanently changed between generations, and yet the “long‐life benefit” was passed on. So how did that happen? Well... The key players are lysosomes (once thought just about waste disposal) and histones, proteins that help organize DNA. The researchers found that changes in lysosomal metabolism led to modifications on histones in body cells. Then those histones travelled to reproductive cells (the germline), carrying “instructions” for longer life. The result? The children inherited these epigenetic markers (chemical tags on histones) without any changes to their DNA sequence. The effect may be longer lives, lasting through generations and generations. How did this happen? The pathway was triggered by fasting (which alters lysosomal activity). So the phenomenon links diet/metabolism with inherited traits. Why does this matter? Well, we’ve long thought “inheritance = only your DNA” when it comes to longevity. Now we understand a little more. This shows “inheritance” also includes how cells were behaving, metabolically and epigenetically. This new learning offers a mechanism for how parents’ diets, stress, or environment might affect children and grandchildren. Not via DNA, but via epigenetic mods. And it opens a door to new ageing research. Maybe one day we’ll tap into these processes in humans (though we’re not there yet). But the research is a good reminder that our bodies are dynamic, interconnected systems. The “body vs germline” gap is narrower than we thought. So what can you do about it right now? How can you hope to pass down longevity through your DNA? Luckily, we have a few ideas. Even though the study was carried out in worms, the principles encourage healthy, forward-thinking choices, like... Consider fasting or time-restricted eating (after checking with your doctor!). It’s one of the things that triggered this process in the worms. Maintain cellular health. Regular exercise, good sleep, and a balanced diet. Support your lysosomes and your entire body and mind. Remember, your choices today might matter for more than just you. They might influence your kids and grandkids (yes, really). Stay curious but patient. Science is unlocking these pathways slowly. Don’t assume immediate human benefits, but be proactive in healthy living. Limit stress, don’t over-expose yourself to toxins/diet extremes. Since these environmental factors may leave epigenetic “marks” that pass on. There you have it. Genes are important, but they’re not the whole story. The way your cells behave, and how your lifestyle sets them up, may ripple through generations. Think of your body as a message‐sender and a receiver and set yourself, and future generations, up for a longer life by adopting a healthy, balanced diet with regular exercise and try to minimize stress.

Yours in good health, Andrew Peloquin Editor-in-chief, The Longevity Journal