May 24, 2012 — (BRONX, NY) — “It’s in their genes” is a common
refrain from scientists when asked about factors that allow
centenarians to reach age 100 and beyond. Up until now, research
has focused on genetic variations that offer a physiological
advantage such as high levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. But
researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Ferkauf
Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University have found
that personality traits like being outgoing, optimistic,
easygoing, and enjoying laughter as well as staying engaged in
activities may also be part of the longevity genes mix. Previous
studies have indicated that personality arises from underlying
genetic mechanisms that may directly affect health. The present
study of 243 of the centenarians (average age 97.6 years, 75
percent women) was aimed at detecting genetically-based
personality characteristics by developing a brief measure (the
Personality Outlook Profile Scale, or POPS) of personality in
centenarians. “Our findings sugg