Scientists studying entire long-lived families have identified 12 rare genetic variants that may help people stay disease-free far longer than average. The most compelling finding centers on the CGAS gene, which regulates inflammation. People in certain long-lived families appear to carry only one active copy of this gene, reducing chronic inflammatory signaling while still protecting against infection. This matters because the same families showed that middle-aged members developed cardiometabolic diseases an average of 13 years later than peers from shorter-lived families. By studying family groups rather than individuals, researchers could filter out lifestyle and environmental noise, zeroing in on inherited biological mechanisms that genuinely extend healthspan — the years lived free from chronic disease and cognitive decline.
