The secret of eternal youthfulness of the mind is hidden in two specific genes

The main character of this story is the APOE gene, which can occur in different variations. Its version called epsilon-4 (e4) is considered a real black mark, as it dramatically increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A study of the data showed that this dangerous marker is extremely rare in people with phenomenal memory.

The statistics are impressive: super-long-livers have 68% less of the bad gene than patients with dementia. But the most interesting thing is that they have 19% less of this mutation, even compared to ordinary healthy old people, whose intelligence corresponds to their age. That is, in order to preserve a young brain, you must first of all not have a genetic predisposition to its destruction.

However, the secret of success lies not only in the absence of bad news, but also in the presence of good news. It turned out that nature had rewarded these lucky people with another variation of the same gene, epsilon-2 (e2). This rare variant works as a shield, protecting brain cells from aging.

The numbers speak for themselves.: In people with a clear mind, the protective e2 variant is 28% more common than in their normal peers. If we compare with those who have been affected by Alzheimer’s disease, the gap becomes enormous — super-long-livers have a saving gene by 103% more.

A large—scale project involving more than 18,000 people has proved that super-long-livers are a separate biological group. Leslie Gaynor, who led the information gathering, notes: This is the first time we have seen such a clear link between genetics and the ability to maintain cognitive functions at the level of middle age.

Understanding exactly how these genetic combinations save the mind opens the door to the creation of new therapies. Doctors hope that in the future it will be possible to mimic the action of the protective gene, helping those who are not so lucky in the genetic lottery to remain sane until their old age.