Gene Variant Linked to Personality Traits, Longevity

Gene Variant Linked to Personality Traits, Longevity

A study by brain researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) recently found that a dopamine-receptor gene variant that is related to personality traits can also impact healthy aging. Their findings were published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

In the paper, the researchers described how the gene variant, known as DRD4 7R allele, is associated with both active personality traits and longer life expectancy. The experiment was completed by Robert Moyzis, a professor of biological chemistry at UCI, and Dr. Nora Volkow, a psychiatrist who manages the National Institute on Drug Abuse as well as conducts research at the Brookhaven National Laboratory.