npj Aging
Carrying specific HLA alleles decreases the chance of reaching healthy old age
Abstract Human leukocyte antigen ( HLA ) genes regulate immune function and influence disease susceptibility, but their role in healthy aging is unclear. We investigated whether disease-associated HLA alleles affect the likelihood of becoming a cognitively healthy centenarian (CHC). Using imputed HLA genotypes from 3632 individuals—including 353 CHCs and 3279 middle-aged healthy Dutch individuals—we examined 59 HLA alleles previously linked to 12 diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), ten autoimmune disorder …