FERTILITY and LONGEVITY: Their genes in common

The study analyzes data from a large online database of 159 genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and identifies:

• 37 key genes linked to reproductive traits

• such as age of first childbirth, timing of menopause, and producing hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone;
• a particular gene, ASF (follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit) is associated with 11 different reproductive outcomes: This gene helps regulate the onset of menstruation and menopause, and thus plays a key role in reproductive health and aging ;
• links are identified between these reproductive genes and rare genetic disorders;
• some genes are found to be associated with both fertility and health, body mass index (BMI) and obesity, certain hormone-sensitive cancers, and even psychiatric and behavioral traits;
• thus, genes likeESR1 (estrogen receptor 1) are linked to reproductive traits as well as cancer risk. These genes help explain why early puberty or late menopause can increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers like breast cancer, but also why these same characteristics are associated with a longer lifespan;
• the gene FTO (fat mass and obesity associated), strongly associated with BMI, with the risk ofobesity and type 2 diabetesalso turns out to be linked to multiple reproductive characteristics ;
• other genes like DNAH2 play a role in both the levels of testosterone and sperm functionand therefore a crucial role in male reproductive health.

The authors note that as more people delay parenthood to older ages, it is critical to understand the genetic factors that underlie reproductive health, fertility, reproductive aging and lifespan.

Understanding how our genes shape reproductive health, fertility and longevity may also enable, on a more clinical level,Better personalized health care approaches for both patients and their families across generations.