In yo' face!

The Short Answer about the Methuselah Gene

So is there truth to the claim that shorter people have longer life spans? The short answer is maybe. In only a few special instances can a direct relationship be claimed. In most situations, there is no catch-all predictor for how long a person will live.

Support of the short-stature, long-life claim can be found in people who possess what is being referred to as the Methuselah gene. Researchers have discovered that some people have a rare genetic mutation that decreases their cells' use of a particular growth hormone: insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). As a result, these people tend to be smaller and also live a longer-than-average life span. Many animals' sizes are also controlled by differences in their IGF1-release, with a corresponding increase or decrease in life span. For example, smaller breeds of dogs have less IGF1 than larger breeds and tend to live longer.

But the final analysis? Height (or the causes of height variation) may be a factor, especially in some instances, like for those people who carry the Methuselah gene.

Why call it Methuselah?
One of the Bible's pre-flood patriarchs and Noah's grandfather is Methuselah. He holds the distinction of being the oldest man whose age is mentioned in the Bible. According to biblical text, Methuselah lived to the ripe old age of 969! Descended from Adam and Eve through their son Seth and his son Henoch, Methuselah eventually met his maker during the great deluge.