Our study is the first to present a comprehensive analysis of genetic variation in aging-related candidate genes in the healthy oldest-old. Genetic association studies of aging and longevity to date have relied mainly on known variants or on common variants from dbSNP and HapMap as detailed genetic variation maps of aging-related genes in individuals of advanced age are not yet available. Testing these variants in case-control studies or families with a history of long-lived individuals can greatly assist the search for genetic factors that contribute to successful and healthy aging and longevity.
