Myths vs facts: COMT and longevity

The COMT Val158Met variant (rs4680) affects dopamine breakdown and is often linked to stress resilience and cognitive performance. Myths claim that Met carriers are inevitably more anxious or prone to burnout, thus aging faster. In reality, studies show modest effects on cognitive flexibility and stress processing, but direct evidence for lifespan shortening is lacking. Longevity is multifactorial: genetics, lifestyle, environment. COMT is just one small piece. Some research suggests a connection to age-related cognitive decline, but evidence is inconsistent. Marketing often overstates the impact of single SNPs. Bottom line: COMT is not a 'longevity gene'. The variant may slightly modulate stress response, but lifestyle (exercise, diet, sleep) has a far greater influence. No supplementation is recommended based solely on this SNP.