What to watch with COMT and Langlebigkeit?

COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) is a key enzyme for breaking down dopamine and estrogens. The common variant rs4680 (Val158Met) affects enzyme activity: Val carriers have higher activity, Met carriers lower. Regarding longevity, direct human evidence is weak. Mechanistically, low COMT activity (Met) may be linked to higher oxidative stress and possibly increased risk of cognitive decline in aging, while Val is associated with better stress regulation. However, effect sizes are small and heavily modulated by lifestyle (diet, exercise, stress). Some GWAS show weak associations with lifespan, but no replicated causal effects. Caution: using a COMT test alone for longevity advice is not evidence-based. It is more meaningful to consider COMT in the context of stress resilience, cognitive health, and hormone metabolism – but always as part of a multifactorial picture. Evidence is mostly mechanistic and observational, not from longevity RCTs.