Overview
- Published in Science, the reanalysis led by the Weizmann Institute estimates a roughly 50–55% genetic contribution to lifespan once extrinsic mortality is removed.
- Researchers separated intrinsic, biological causes of death from extrinsic causes and re-estimated heritability using large Scandinavian twin cohorts with validation in U.S. centenarian siblings.
- Independent experts called the modeling plausible and consistent with animal data, while stressing that the figures do not predict individual outcomes.
- Scientists emphasized that environment, lifestyle, and public health remain major drivers of longevity despite the larger population-level genetic share.
- The team urges large-scale efforts to map variants linked to longevity to uncover aging pathways and gene–environment interactions.