Discovery of mutation which appears to protect against biological ageing raises hopes for new treatments to prevent age-related disordersThe discovery of a rare genetic mutation that prolongs human life has raised hopes for new treatments to combat ageing and prevent age-related disorders from heart disease to dementia. “This is a rare genetic mutation that appears to protect against biological ageing in humans,” said Douglas Vaughan, a professor of medicine who led the research at Northwestern University in Chicago. The Amish group in Indiana are the only known community to carry the mutation that naturally suppresses levels of PAI-1 in the blood. Carriers of the mutation had longer telomeres than others, suggesting they had aged more slowly, the scientists report. “We are very optimistic about its potential role not just in slowing ageing but in reducing age-related morbidities,” Vaughan said.

Source: The Guardian November 15, 2017 18:56 UTC