[extropy-chat] AGING: more progress

[Robert J. Bradbury]

Well, another shoe drops.  The NY Times has an article today
interviewing Dr. Nir Barzilai.

February 24, 2004
Centenarians' Inner Secrets Are Slowly Revealed
By CLAUDIA DREIFUS
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/health/24CONV.html?pagewanted=print

It documents how High Density Lipoprotein particle size may be
an important determinant of longevity and quality of aging.

This appears to be associated with polymorphisms (variations)
in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene.

Relevant PubMed article:
JAMA. 2003 Oct 15;290(15):2030-40, Parzilai, N. et al.
Unique lipoprotein phenotype and genotype associated with exceptional longevity.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14559957&dopt=Abstract

Now interestingly, this discovery would probably be one of the best
cases for genetic engineering of ones children that I'm aware of.

Robert