Pass a genetic test to see if you'll live to 100-years or more?

The following paragraphs are just a few excerpts from the article (the full article can be found via the link above):

“Many of the genetic markers the scientists found stave off common, and often lethal, age-related diseases, such as heart disease, dementia and high blood pressure. The US researchers investigated the genetic secrets of a longer life after studies showed that living beyond 100 often runs in families.

"Lifespan is governed by a complex interplay of genes, lifestyle and environment, with factors like smoking, diet, exercise and pollution all having a role, but many scientists believe that living beyond the mid-90s is largely down to having good genes.

“The study, published in the US journal Science, will help researchers unravel why and how the body ages and potentially lead to drugs that can slow down the ageing process.”

This is not a badly written article at all. In fact, genetics, chromosomes and healthy DNA all play a key role in the aging process. However, there are two obvious questions that need to be asked after reading the article.

1. Why hasn’t the article mentioned anything about nutrient deficiencies and the lack of vital ingredients being associated with glycation, reduced methylation, and inflammation…all three factors CANNOT be ignored when discussing anti-aging (especially when genetic-testing is the core subject).
2. Surely, if this genetic test can ‘help researchers unravel why and how the body ages…’ why then the need to immediately mention drugs as a solution to the aging process. If researchers did their homework, they would find that there are much easier, cheaper, safer, and more natural ways to help slow aging instead of resorting to drugs. The fact that the term ‘drugs’ was even mentioned in the article should raise some issues of credibility of whether the publication of this editorial hinged on some advertising revenue or financial contributions from certain pharmaceutical companies.

Finally, I think that there is far too much emphasis being placed on genetics when it comes to good health. There is ample evidence to suggest that genetics only plays a minor part in health and longevity. In fact some researchers suggest as little as 10 percent... a view that I subscribe to, which is of course just my opinion.

Very often 'hereditary' diseases are not the result of genes but rather due to the family adopting similar lifestyles.