In the journal Genomic Psychiatry, an article by a research team from the University of São Paulo, led by Mayana Zatz, was published concerning the reasons why Brazil is a vital yet underestimated resource for studying extreme human longevity. The paper summarizes the outcomes of a national study of long-lived individuals and data on the biology of people over 110 years old.
The authors point out that most genomic databases poorly represent admixed populations, causing protective genetic variants to possibly remain unnoticed. Brazil features unique genetic diversity, shaped by the mixing of indigenous peoples, Europeans, Africans, and Asians.
Studies indicated that millions of previously uncharacterized genetic variations were discovered in the Brazilian populace. The team is investigating more than 160 nonagenarians from various regions of the nation, including confirmed supercentenarians. Some of these individuals maintained cognitive abilities and independence despite limited access to healthcare throughout their lives.
The scientists believe that such information permits a deeper comprehension of the body’s resilience mechanisms and broadens the methodologies for longevity research, reports the journal.
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