The key to aging could be in a community in the US
A genetic mutation present in an Amish community in Indiana, USA, which can cause fatal blood clots, has now been linked to longevity and protection against diabetes, according to a study published by American researchers in the scientific journal Science Advances last Wednesday.
The Amish community is a Christian religious group that resides in the USA. and Canada, and whose goal is to strive to practice and live the teachings of the New Testament on a daily basis. They are characterized by their austere lifestyle and being against the advances of modern civilization.
Previous research that proved otherwise
Previous research has shown that the gene in question, SERPINE1, produces a protein that can accelerate aging. Also known as plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), its levels are higher in patients with diabetes, obesity or cardiovascular disease. It is also known that PAI-1 plays an important role in the coagulation of blood, and that people who carry two defective copies of SERPINE1 suffer from blood coagulation disorders.
But having a mutated copy of the gene could actually be beneficial, according to the new study. A total of 177 members of the Amish Old Order community of Berne, Indiana, participated in the investigation, which found that 43 of them carried a defective copy of SERPINE1 and had a life expectancy of 85 years, that is, 10 years more than people who had two copies intact.
The scientists also found that people with a mutated copy tended to have longer telomeres, which are distinctive structures found at the ends of our chromosomes. They also detected lower insulin levels, which is considered indicative of slower aging, in addition to a lower incidence of diabetes.
"This is a rare genetic mutation that seems to protect against biological aging in humans," said co-author Douglas Vaughan of Northwestern University in Chicago, according to The Guardian.
Possible cure against aging
After the discovery, trials have begun on drugs that could slightly reduce blood levels of PAI-1. If they are successful, could be given the key to delay the onset of age-related diseases, as well as to treat patients with premature diseases caused by aging.