Sunday, November 26, 2017

Rare Genetic Mutation found in Amish community could combat ageing

Amish boys watch a game of baseball. In the population studied, those with the mutation were found to have better metabolic health, far less diabetes, and tended to live a decade longer than others without the mutation.

Although there are many factors that contribute to longevity, scientists believe that carriers of a certain mutation allow parts of this Amish community to live a full 10 years longer than non-carriers. The scientists at Northwestern University in Chicago studied 177 people in one Amish community, identifying 43 that contain one normal version and one mutated version of the serpine1 gene. This gene provides instructions to make a protein called PAI-1 which "has a hand in a process called senescence, where cells go into a state of suspended animation and steadily buildup in the body's tissues". Some studies in animals showed that a decreased level of this protein can help protect against age-related disease. Trials are already underway to slightly reduce levels of PAI-1 in the blood. 
I think the fact that humans are living longer than ever and even mores science is on it's way to keep us here longer might be a problem in the future. For now however, it's interesting to see the lengths people will go to live a longer life. 

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/nov/15/rare-genetic-mutation-found-in-amish-community-could-combat-ageing
http://www.rarecoagulationdisorders.org/diseases/plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-type-1-deficiency/disease-overview-2

1 comment:

  1. I knew the Amish were doing something right! I just thought it was their homemade jams.

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