Atherosclerosis leading to stroke or heart attack is a leading cause of human mortality, accounting for ~26% of deaths worldwide and contributing to an additional 15% of deaths through other complications. Lowered LDL-cholesterol in the bloodstream is known to postpone the development of atherosclerosis, which affects longevity. This study explores the genetic associations between lipid-lowering therapeutic gene targets and human longevity, finding that genetically proxied LDLR variants are associated with extended lifespan by reducing the risk of major coronary heart disease. The study suggests that LDLR is a promising genetic target for human longevity, and lipid-related gene targets such as PCSK9, CETP, and APOC3 may also regulate human lifespan, providing potential for developing newer nonstatin therapies.
It remains controversial whether the long-term use of statins or newer nonstatin drugs has a positive effect on human longevity. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the genetic associations between different lipid-lowering therapeutic gene targets and human longevity. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-023-01983-0
