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Summary
This study investigates the relationship Summary
This study investigates the relationship between exceptional parental longevity and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in their offspring, with a focus on whether lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and dietary factors influence this association. Conducted on a cohort of Ashkenazi Jewish adults aged 65-94, the research compares two groups: offspring of parents with exceptional longevity (OPEL), defined as having at least one parent living beyond 95 years, and offspring of parents with usual survival (OPUS), whose parents did not survive past 95 years. The study finds that OPEL exhibit significantly lower prevalence of hypertension, stroke, and overall cardiovascular disease compared to OPUS, independent of lifestyle, socioeconomic, and nutritional differences, thus highlighting a probable genetic influence on disease-free survival and longevity.
Background and Rationale
Individuals with exceptional longevity often experience a delay or absence of age-related diseases, making them models for studying healthy aging.
Longevity has a heritable component, with genetic markers linked to extended lifespan and resistance to diseases like CVD.
Previous studies have shown that offspring of exceptionally long-lived parents have lower incidence of CVD and other age-related illnesses.
Lifestyle factors such as physical activity, diet, smoking status, and socioeconomic status are known to influence cardiovascular health in the general population.
Prior to this study, no research compared lifestyle factors between offspring of exceptionally long-lived parents and those of usual longevity to isolate genetic effects from environmental factors.
Study Design and Methods
Population: 845 Ashkenazi Jewish adults aged 65-94 years; 395 OPEL and 450 OPUS.
Definition:
OPEL: At least one parent lived past 95 years.
OPUS: Both parents died before 95 years.
Recruitment: Systematic searches via voter registration, synagogues, community groups, and advertisements.
Exclusion Criteria: Baseline dementia, severe sensory impairments, or sibling already enrolled.
Data Collection:
Medical history including hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary interventions, and stroke.
Lifestyle factors: smoking history, alcohol use, physical activity level.
Socioeconomic factors: education and social strata score.
Dietary intake assessed in a subgroup (n=234) using the Block Brief Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ 2000).
Physical measures: height, weight, waist circumference; BMI calculated.
Analysis:
Comparison of prevalence of diseases and lifestyle variables between OPEL and OPUS.
Statistical adjustments for age, sex, BMI, tobacco use, social strata, and physical activity.
Stratified analyses by cardiovascular risk status (high vs. low).
Interaction testing between group status and lifestyle/socioeconomic factors.
Key Findings
Demographics and Lifestyle Factors
Characteristic OPEL (n=395) OPUS (n=450) p-value
Female (%) 59 50 <0.01
Age (years, mean ± SD) 75 ± 6 76 ± 7 <0.01
Education (years) 17 ± 3 17 ± 3 0.55
Social strata score (median, IQR) 56 (28-66) 56 (28-66) 0.76
Ever smokers (%) 55 54 0.80
Current smokers (%) 3 3 0.94
Alcohol use past year (%) 90 88 0.32
Strenuous physical activity (times/week, median) 3 (0-4) 3 (0-4) 0.71
Walking endurance >30 minutes (%) 77 70 0.05
No significant differences in lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, physical activity) or socioeconomic status between OPEL and OPUS.
OPEL reported greater walking endurance despite similar physical activity frequency.
Physical Characteristics and Disease Prevalence
Condition / Measure OPEL OPUS p-value OR (95% CI)a
BMI (mean ± SD) 27.5 ± 4.9 27.8 ± 4.7 0.34 Not specified
Obesity (%) (BMI≥30) 26 27 0.84 Not specified
Abdominal obesity (%) 48 48 0.95 Not specified
Systolic BP (mmHg) 129 ± 17 129 ± 17 0.78 Not specified
Diastolic BP (mmHg) 74 ± 9 74 ± 10 0.92 Not specified
Antihypertensive medication use (%) 39 49 <0.01 Not specified
Hypertension (%) 42 51 <0.01 0.71 (0.53–0.95)
Diabetes mellitus (%) 7 11 0.10 0.70 (0.43–1.15) NS
Myocardial infarction (%) 5 7 0.12 0.77 (0.42–1.42) NS
Stroke (%) 2 5 <0.01 0.35 (0.14–0.88)
Cardiovascular disease (composite) (%) 12 20 <0.01 0.65 (0.43–0.98)
OPEL had significantly lower odds of hypertension, stroke, and overall CVD compared to OPUS after adjusting for age and sex.
No significant differences observed for diabetes, MI, CHF, or coronary interventions after adjustment.
OPUS more frequently used antihypertensive medications despite similar blood pressure readings.
Stratified Cardiovascular Risk Analysis
Among high-risk individuals (defined by diabetes or ≥2 risk factors: obesity, hypertension, smoking), OPEL had a significantly lower prevalence of CVD compared to OPUS (OR 0.45; p=0.01).
Among low-risk individuals, no significant difference in CVD prevalence was observed between groups.
Significant interaction found between group status and tobacco use:
Tobacco use was not significantly associated with increased CVD odds in OPEL.
Tobacco use was nearly significantly associated with increased CVD odds in OPUS (p=0.07).
Dietary Intake (Subgroup, n=234)
Dietary Component OPEL OPUS p-value Adjusted p-valuea
Total daily calories (kcal) 1119 (906–1520) 1218 (940–1553)
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