The Longevity Genes in Founder Populations Project

Searching for Longevity Genes in the Historically Unique Ashkenazi Jewish Population

We believe extreme longevity is due to specific genes which function to delay aging and prevent disease. The purpose of the research is to identify the genes/mutations associated with healthier aging; to understand the biological functions of these genes/mutations; and to develop therapies to replicate these preservative genetic activities in individuals who do not have the genetic profile for longevity.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Extreme Longevity

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 2000

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Tina Gao; Phone Number: 718-839-7176; Email: tina.gao@einsteinmed.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States
      • Recruiting
      • Private Homes
      • Contact: Wanda I Guzman, BA; Phone Number: 718-430-3838; Email: WANDA.GUZMAN@EINSTEINMED.EDU
    • Riverdale, New York, United States, 10471
      • Recruiting
      • Hebrew Home Riverdale
      • Contact: Charlotte Dell, LMSW; Phone Number: 718-581-1139

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 61 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Ashkenazi Jews:

Ages 95 and older, their offspring and control group with no family history of longevity.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ashkenazi Jewish, age 95+,
• Offspring of person age 95+,
• Offspring of parents who died age 70 or younger.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-Ashkenazis

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Probands; Ashkenazi Jews ages 95 and older
Offspring; Ashkenazi Jewish offspring of Ashkenazi Jewish parent(s) who lived to at least the age of 95
Controls; Ashkenazi Jewish people with no family history of longevity

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Collaborators: Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM); Boston University; Columbia University; National Institute on Aging (NIA); Weill Medical College of Cornell University; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; Stanford University; University of Minnesota; Tufts Medical Center; University of Rochester; American Federation for Aging Research; Rutgers Health
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nir Barzilai, MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• DeVito LM, Barzilai N, Cuervo AM, Niedernhofer LJ, Milman S, Levine M, Promislow D, Ferrucci L, Kuchel GA, Mannick J, Justice J, Gonzales MM, Kirkland JL, Cohen P, Campisi J. Extending human healthspan and longevity: a symposium report. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2022 Jan;1507(1):70-83. doi: 10.1111/nyas.14681. Epub 2021 Sep 8.
• Moqri M, Herzog C, Poganik JR; Biomarkers of Aging Consortium; Justice J, Belsky DW, Higgins-Chen A, Moskalev A, Fuellen G, Cohen AA, Bautmans I, Widschwendter M, Ding J, Fleming A, Mannick J, Han JJ, Zhavoronkov A, Barzilai N, Kaeberlein M, Cummings S, Kennedy BK, Ferrucci L, Horvath S, Verdin E, Maier AB, Snyder MP, Sebastiano V, Gladyshev VN. Biomarkers of aging for the identification and evaluation of longevity interventions. Cell. 2023 Aug 31;186(18):3758-3775. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.003.
• Moqri M, Herzog C, Poganik JR, Ying K, Justice JN, Belsky DW, Higgins-Chen AT, Chen BH, Cohen AA, Fuellen G, Hagg S, Marioni RE, Widschwendter M, Fortney K, Fedichev PO, Zhavoronkov A, Barzilai N, Lasky-Su J, Kiel DP, Kennedy BK, Cummings S, Slagboom PE, Verdin E, Maier AB, Sebastiano V, Snyder MP, Gladyshev VN, Horvath S, Ferrucci L. Validation of biomarkers of aging. Nat Med. 2024 Feb;30(2):360-372. doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02784-9. Epub 2024 Feb 14.
• Bae H, Song Z, Ali A, Sasaki T, Tesi N, Lords H, Leshchyk A, Abe Y, Hirose N, Arai Y, Barzilai N, Weiss EF, Hulsman M, van der Lee S, van Schoor NM, Huisman M, Pijnenburg Y, van der Flier W, Reinders M, Holstege H, Milman S, Perls TT, Andersen SL, Sebastiani P. Increased genetic protection against Alzheimer's disease in centenarians. Geroscience. 2025 Jul 4. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01774-8. Online ahead of print.
• Ali A, Zhang ZD, Gao T, Aleksic S, Gavathiotis E, Barzilai N, Milman S. Identification of functional rare coding variants in IGF-1 gene in humans with exceptional longevity. Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 25;15(1):10199. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-94094-y.
• Ying K, Castro JP, Shindyapina AV, Tyshkovskiy A, Moqri M, Goeminne LJE, Milman S, Zhang ZD, Barzilai N, Gladyshev VN. Depletion of loss-of-function germline mutations in centenarians reveals longevity genes. Nat Commun. 2024 Oct 19;15(1):9030. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52967-2.
• Barzilai N, Gabriely I, Atzmon G, Suh Y, Rothenberg D, Bergman A. Genetic studies reveal the role of the endocrine and metabolic systems in aging. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Oct;95(10):4493-500. doi: 10.1210/jc.2010-0859.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 1998
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2032
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2032

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 27, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 30, 2008
• First Posted (Estimated): July 1, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: 95 years of age and older
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1998-125; 2U19AG056278-07A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); 3U19AG056278-06S1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); P01AG021654 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); 1R56AG088624-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); R01AG088659 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); G42988 (Other Grant/Funding Number: American Federation for Aging Research)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No