88 | id == 88
88 | category_id == 9
88 | category_order == 6
88 | category_name == Longevity
88 | category_color == #C47AC0
88 | slug == Longevity-Gene-PARP1
88 | title == Can This Gene Influence A Person’s Lifespan? (PARP1)
88 | meta_description == The PARP1 gene is involved in DNA repair and inflammation, and has been associated with lifespan. Learn all about it here!
88 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>PARP1</em> gene is responsible for creating an enzyme that helps cells repair DNA damage, which aids in the recovery from the harmful effects of oxidative stress and reduces long-term cancer risk. However, <em>PARP1</em> also stimulates the inflammatory response, meaning that its activity has to be well-balanced to ensure optimal health and longevity. Read on to learn more about this gene, the PARP1 enzyme, and some of the effects they may have on a person&rsquo;s lifespan!</strong></p>
88 | overall_score_text == Your Longevity Score (Based on PARP1 gene)
88 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/LIFESPAN_blog_post_image.jpg
88 | author_id == 4
88 | author_name == Matt Carland
88 | author_title == PhD
88 | author_order == 10
88 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Matt.jpg
88 | author_intro == <p><strong>Matt received his PhD at the Universit&eacute; de Montr&eacute;al in Neuroscience.</strong></p>    <p>Matt holds multiple degrees in psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience. He has over a decade of experience in academic research and has published a number of articles in scholarly journals. He currently works as a neuropsychologist in Montreal, where he performs research on the links between personality traits and the development of clinical disorders such as addiction, compulsive gambling, and disordered eating.</p>
88 | reviewer == None
88 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
88 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
88 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
88 | publish_date == 2020
88 | publish_date == 2
88 | publish_date == 3
88 | avg_rating == 5.0
88 | tags_id == 40
88 | tags_name == DNA Repair
88 | tags_id == 24
88 | tags_name == Inflammation
88 | tags_id == 101
88 | tags_name == Longevity
88 | tags_id == 39
88 | tags_name == Oxidative Stress
88 | tags_id == 66
88 | tags_name == PARP1 Gene
88 | permissions_favorite == False
88 | permissions_rate == False
88 | content_article == <table style="width: 90%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 72px;"> <td style="width: 100%; height: 72px;"><strong>Note:</strong> In addition to its associations with longevity, the <em>PARP1</em> gene may also be important when it comes to certain aspects of your <a href="../article/Fight-Brain-Fog-with-PARP1-17" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cognitive function</a>! We discuss <em>PARP1</em> &mdash; as well as many other important genes &mdash; in SelfDecode's comprehensive <a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/mind-protocol-nm/"><strong><em>Cognitive Function DNA Wellness Report</em></strong></a>. If you&rsquo;re interested in learning more about the genes that affect your cognitive ability, and the actionable steps that you can take to boost your cognition even further, check it out!</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><br />What does the </strong><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> Gene Do?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../gene/parp1/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for an enzyme called </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">p</span></em></span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">oly-</span></em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A</span></em></span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DP-</span></em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">r</span></em></span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">ibose </span></em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">p</span></em></span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">olymerase <span style="text-decoration: underline;">1</span></span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This enzyme plays two major roles in the body: </span><strong>DNA repair</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><strong>regulating inflammation</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As we will see, these two processes are actually closely inter-related, and need to be held in a careful state of balance to ensure optimal overall health!</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> and DNA Repair</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cells that make up your body are constantly dividing and making new copies of themselves; and in order to reproduce properly, each of these cells needs to be able to read and copy the DNA they contain as accurately and reliably as possible.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While this process usually goes off without a hitch, occasional errors are made in the DNA-copying process. These &ldquo;copying mistakes&rdquo; are what biologists are often referring to when they talk about &ldquo;mutations&rdquo; &mdash; and these mistakes can sometimes lead to negative consequences, such as changing the functioning of cells in a way that causes them to grow uncontrollably (a situation that most people know of as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">cancer</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, a large number of different environmental and lifestyle factors can also contribute to DNA damage, which further increases the risk of harmful genetic mutations. Some of the most common causes of DNA damage include:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reactive oxygen species</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (ROS), which build up to cause </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/oxidative-stress-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxidative stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that can damage DNA [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16430879"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Radiation, such as UVA and UVB from excessive </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sun exposure</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31157572"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23873394"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alcohol use, smoking, air pollution, and other environmental toxins [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24313162"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30571815"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28843141"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29177959"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Fortunately, your body has developed a number of important defence mechanisms that it uses to counteract and repair DNA damage. One of these defences is the </strong><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> gene, and the enzyme it produces.</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, the PARP1 enzyme becomes activated whenever your cells detect DNA damage. This enzyme then comes into the cell and &ldquo;attaches&rdquo; (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">binds</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) itself to the location of the damage, which then serves as a signal to a number of other cellular mechanisms to come in and &ldquo;repair&rdquo; the genetic code before any further harm can be caused [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28676700"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23608917"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23966166"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The <em>PARP1</em> gene protects the DNA in your cells from being damaged by toxins, oxidative stress. UV radiation, and other potential dangers.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> and Inflammation Control</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the ability of cells to repair their own DNA is clearly a good thing, there is unfortunately a catch: </span><strong>whenever </strong><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> is activated, many of the repair mechanisms that kick into gear also cause an inflammatory response</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24350055"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28576564"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29016792"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although this might sound counter-intuitive, it actually makes a lot of sense: after all, inflammation is in fact a critical part of how the body protects and repairs itself from damage and disease. In other words, inflammation is not always &ldquo;bad&rdquo; &mdash; it&rsquo;s primarily just when it becomes chronic or excessive that it can start to pose a major problem for a person&rsquo;s overall health [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26791721">R</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26459225">R</a>].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">When the PARP1 enzyme is activated, the DNA repair mechanisms it stimulates also cause an inflammatory response.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Trade-Offs of </strong><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> Activity</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>So what does all this mean for the </strong><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> gene?</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Well, in short it means that a person&rsquo;s level of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene activity has to be held in a careful balance to maintain optimal overall health.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Too <em>little</em> of it, and the body&rsquo;s cells will be less able to repair themselves. This can potentially make them more vulnerable to damage from <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/oxidative-stress-101/">oxidative stress</a>, increase the rate of <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/blood-markers-affected-by-aging/">cellular aging</a>, and even increase the long-term risk of developing cancer.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://decodify.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets/report/PARP1_figure.png" alt="PARP1_spectrum" width="2447" height="365" /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, too <em>much</em> PARP1 activity can also be bad, as this could lead to a persistent stimulation of the inflammation response &mdash; even when it&rsquo;s not needed! Therefore, it wouldn&rsquo;t be good to simply increase <em>PARP1</em> gene activity as much as possible, because the (short-term) negatives could start to outweigh the (long-term) benefits (i.e. by causing <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/chronic-inflammation-blood-tests/">chronic inflammation</a>).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Because <em>PARP1</em> is necessary to repair DNA damage, but also stimulates the inflammatory response, a person&rsquo;s levels of PARP1 need to be held in a careful balance to ensure optimal health.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>How is </strong><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> Related to Longevity?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Given the complex roles that the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene and its enzyme play in the body, it can theoretically affect overall lifespan in multiple ways.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One way is by influencing a person&rsquo;s long-term risk of cancer, which stems from its role in DNA repair. The better-able one&rsquo;s cells are to resist damage from factors such as oxidative stress, and the better they are at repairing this damage when it occurs, the less likely cells will be to develop the sorts of mutations that can turn into cancer and other serious health issues [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22221038/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21775006/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22166496/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19553641/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In other words, one of the reasons that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has been associated with differences in longevity is likely because on average, people with relatively lower </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> activity will be at a greater lifetime risk of dying from cancer. Therefore, when scientists look at large numbers of people, variants in this gene can stand out as one possible genetic factor that affects how long people tend to live [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28759004"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27644669"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23537197"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21983785"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One the other hand, another way that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can impact longevity stems from its role in inflammation. In addition to the many short-term negative effects of inflammation, over the long term it also generally increases the risk of developing other chronic health problems, such as cardiovascular issues [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30469478"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22450322/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Therefore, it is possible that people with certain </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants that stimulate inflammation too much will tend to accumulate more health issues as they get older, which in turn could make them less comparatively less likely to live quite as long [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19249341"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Genetic variants in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> affect longevity in two main ways: by reducing cells&rsquo; ability to recover from DNA damage, or by contributing to chronic inflammation. Each of these different mechanisms can contribute to the long-term development of certain health issues, such as cancer or cardiovascular problems, which can in turn influence overall lifespan.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> Genotypes</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can see your genotypes for a few noteworthy </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> SNPs in the table below. However, before we dive into the details, there are some important limitations to keep in mind as we continue.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Firstly, when it comes to the genetic aspects of longevity, studies suggest that there are many genes associated with lifespan. However, any single one of these genes generally plays only a very modest and limited role in the overall picture &mdash; and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is one such gene.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Secondly, there are many different factors that may influence how well someone ages, and how long they can live. In fact, according to some researchers, genes may only have a relatively small effect on overall longevity. For example, some have estimated that less than 10% of the variation in human lifespan may be determined by genetics &mdash; and which genes, and exactly how they contribute to longevity, are not yet well-understood [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/traits/longevity"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.genetics.org/content/210/3/1109"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The ultimate takeaway here is that lifestyle, dietary, and other non-genetic factors are probably much more important when it comes to longevity than any individual gene &mdash; so at the end of the day, your best bet for living a longer life is to focus on the factors that you can control!</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">With those caveats in mind, let&rsquo;s see what your </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants may have to say about one specific genetic factor associated with longevity:</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*5015051078373269*</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*9453172095844826*</strong></p> <h5 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> rs1805415:</strong></h5> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to the SNP </span><a href="../../snp/rs1805415/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>rs1805415</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, some evidence suggests that it is probably better to have the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">heterozygous major</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &lsquo;CC&rsquo; genotype, which approximately 65-72% of the general population carries.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, one targeted gene study with over &gt;5,000 participants reported that the minor &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele was associated with relatively reduced overall lifespan in several large samples of European-American, African-American, and Ashkenazi Jewish populations [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19249341"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Furthermore, the authors concluded that this effect was likely due to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-ways-lower-inflammation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">elevated inflammation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, as each additional copy of the minor &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele was correlated with a 15-20% increase in a person&rsquo;s baseline levels of </span><a href="https://selfhack.com/blog/interleukin-6/"><strong><em>interleukin 6</em></strong><strong> (IL-6)</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, an inflammation-related cytokine [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19249341"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">A person&rsquo;s genotype for the SNP rs1805415 may play a role in longevity by determining how susceptible their body is to chronic inflammation.</span></p> <h5 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> rs3219090:</strong></h5> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to the SNP </span><a href="../../snp/rs3219090/"><strong>rs3219090</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, evidence suggests that it is likely better to carry the minor &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele. Just under half (48%) of the general population carries this allele, although it is significantly more prevalent in European populations in particular (where ~68% of people of European descent carry it).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, multiple gene-targeted studies &mdash; each with several thousands of participants from diverse populations &mdash; have associated this allele with reduced incidence of several types of cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28759004"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23537197"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21983785"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. This slightly lower cancer rate means that the average lifespan for large groups of people with this allele tend to be longer overall.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although the exact mechanisms involved in this SNP&rsquo;s effects are complex and not yet fully understood, several researchers have concluded that this allele causes a change in the <em>PARP1</em> gene that effectively increases its activity, which may protect against cancer by enhancing the ability of cells to repair their DNA [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28759004">R</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23537197">R</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27644669">R</a>].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Certain genotypes for the SNP rs3219090 have been associated with increased <em>PARP1</em> gene activity, which may impact longevity by enhancing the ability of cells to repair their DNA.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Limitations &amp; Caveats:</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, while these studies have each associated certain </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants with longevity, it is important to note that these effects are still considerably smaller than many common lifestyle factors.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, in one particular study (on rs1805415), the effect of a person&rsquo;s </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> genotype on their longevity was many times smaller than the effects of other common health-related factors, such as their fitness / body weight (BMI), or whether they were a smoker [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19249341"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is significant because it underscores how many of the most important factors that determine your longevity are actually under your control! So, while genetics can still be important, at the end of the day the most important thing is to ensure that you&rsquo;re living a generally healthy lifestyle.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">While many studies have associated certain <em>PARP1</em> variants with longevity, these effects still generally pale in comparison to other common-sense health-related factors, such as fitness, obesity, and refraining from smoking. Therefore, it&rsquo;s always best to focus on these basic factors before worrying too much about your genetics!</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>What Can You Do About Your </strong><strong><em>PARP1</em></strong><strong> Genotype?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can have undesirable effects when it is too high </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">or</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> too low, we don&rsquo;t recommend trying to affect your levels of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene directly.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead, a better approach is to address the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">root causes</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of this gene&rsquo;s longevity-related effects, such as oxidative stress and inflammation.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*1932772405238088*</strong></p> <h5 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Pyrroloquinoline Quinone</em></strong><strong> (PQQ)</strong></h5> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One great compound that fights against both of these factors at the same time is </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/pqq-review/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">pyrroloquinoline quinone</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (PQQ).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, PQQ is a remarkably strong antioxidant &mdash; in fact, it has been reported to be up to 100 times more effective at breaking down harmful </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">free radicals</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> compared to other common antioxidants, such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-vitamin-c-32-science-based-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin C</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1318959"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1702437"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8524146"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, supplementing with PQQ has been reported to help dramatically decrease levels of inflammatory markers such as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">interleukin-6</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (IL-6), </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">nitric oxide</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (NOS), and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C-reactive protein</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24231099"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19026989"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PQQ also reportedly </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-ways-to-improve-mitochondrial-function/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">improves mitochondrial function</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Abnormal mitochondrial activity is a major potential contributing factor when it comes to the overall amount of oxidative stress that the body experiences [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24231099"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19861415"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PQQ can be obtained from several common dietary sources, including </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/green-tea/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">green tea</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, leafy green vegetables like spinach, and soybeans or other soy-based products, such as tofu and nattō. However, we generally recommend taking a PQQ supplement instead, as dietary sources usually won&rsquo;t usually deliver as much PQQ as direct supplementation can [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7733865"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17685628"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h5 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)</strong></h5> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another great way to tackle oxidative stress and inflammation at their root is to use </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/my-review-of-lllt/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">low-level laser therapy</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (LLLT).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LLLT involves shining a specially-designed set of lights (usually LEDs) on different parts of the body. Certain wavelengths of light then pass through your skin and bones to stimulate various biological processes that help reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and many other major health benefits.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LLLT has been reported to be especially effective at treating inflammation. For example, one of the ways that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may cause inflammation is by activating </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/nuclear-factor-kappa-b/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">nuclear factor kappa-beta</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (NF-k&beta;)</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a protein that stimulates the production of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">pro-inflammatory cytokines</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29016792"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28576564"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. However, one of the main beneficial effects of LLLT is to </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">inhibit</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> NF-k&beta;, making it especially ideal when it comes to counteracting the potential negative effects of disadvantageous </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> genotypes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25207838"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18328453"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21142721"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29116611"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LLLT also decreases many other inflammatory markers, such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/supplements-lifestyle-factors-influence-tnf-interleukin-6-il-6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF-alpha</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/cox2-natural-cox2-inhibitors/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">COX-2</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">nitric oxide synthase</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (NOS), and several types of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">interleukins</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/interleukin-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/interleukin-6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-6</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23003120"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16706694"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23807510"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LLLT also has other major health benefits, such as reducing </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/oxidative-stress-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxidative stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16706694"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23281261"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">] and stimulating the production of important growth factors, such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-natural-ways-to-increase-bdnf/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BDNF</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/all-about-nerve-growth-factor-and-50-ways-to-increase-it/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NGF</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23003120"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29116611"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether you carry &ldquo;good&rdquo; or &ldquo;bad&rdquo; </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PARP1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants, the best approach to maximizing your longevity is to address some of the underlying factors at their roots &mdash; this means taking steps to minimize oxidative stress and other common sources of cellular damage, as well as reducing systemic inflammation.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
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88 | content_learn_more_9453172095844826_text == Based on the SNPs we analyzed, your PARP1 variants may have a slight negative effect on longevity! However, PARP1 is only one of many genes that may account for individual differences in longevity -- and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is often significantly more important when it comes to lifespan than any particular gene. Keep scrolling to find out more!
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rsIDs = rs3219090,rs1805415
rsStatus = rs3219090,PARP1,chr1,226376990,T,C,,,5,26,HET
rsStatus = rs1805415,PARP1,chr1,226383139,T,A,C,G,35,0,Normal
