Belarus Unveils Genetic Passport to Unlock the Secrets of Longevity

In Belarus, a unique study was conducted to create a genetic passport for centenarians, as reported by **BELTA**. Scientists from the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Minsk Regional Clinical Hospital for War Veterans of the Great Patriotic War, participated in the research. They studied the genomes and gut microbiomes of over 600 elderly individuals, 200 of whom were over 90 years old. The study found that Belarusian centenarians have unique microbiological features, with some having a dominant bacterium called 'Akkermansia' that consumes mucin protein and reduces the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases, which are drivers of aging. It was also discovered that probiotics, prebiotics, and various dietary modifications can indeed extend life and reduce the risk of certain diseases. The genetic passport for centenarians, developed using the research data, includes several aspects: prevention of multifactor diseases, including genetic testing for predisposition to certain illnesses; pharmacogenetics (how an individual's body responds to medications and their combinations); and nutrigenetics, or personalized nutrition based on DNA. According to the scientists, a combination of genes and a healthy lifestyle can prevent diseases and increase lifespan by 10-20 years.