Mutations present in our DNA from birth can cause us to die at a younger age. By Amanda HeidtScientists have discovered a handful of ultrarare mutations present in our cells from birth that likely shave years off a person’s life.
Each of these DNA variants, most likely inherited from our parents, can reduce life span by as much as 6 months, the researchers estimate.
And different combinations can dictate how long people live before developing age-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and dementia.A person’s genes don’t set a specific natural life span—diet and many other factors play large roles, too—but studies have shown that DNA variants can influence the aging process.