Sunday scientists announced that they for the first time finally variants biological aging in humans associated with. The team analyzed more than 500,000 genetic variations within the entire human genome to identify variants that are close to a gene called TERC.
The study in the journal Nature Genetics, February 7, researchers at the University of Leicester and London College of the King, in collaboration with the University of Groningen in the Netherlands was funded by the Wellcome Trust and the British Heart Foundation.
British Heart Foundation Professor of Cardiology of the University of Leicester Professor Nilesh of communism, the Department of cardiovascular science, which managed the project stated that it is chronological ageing is, how old two types of aging you are years and biological ageing, the cells are older (or less) some people such as their actual age.
He said: "there is accumulation of prove, that the risk of diseases with age, including heart disease and certain cancers are more closely to biological rather than chronological age."
"What we studied structures are Telomeres parts are called his chromosomes.". Individuals are born with Telomeres of a certain length and split in many cells Telomeres shorten the cells and the age. Length of Telomeres is therefore considered a marker of biological aging.
"In this study, we found that this people was with a certain genetic variant had shorter, i.e. looked biologically more old Telomeres.". In view of the Association of shorter Telomeres with age-related diseases, the conclusion of the question "raises, whether those who with the variant more endangered such diseases are"
Professor Tim Spector of King College of London and Director of the study of TwinsUK, this project co-director, added: "Closely identified variants is a gene TERC, which is already known, play an important role in maintaining the length of Telomeres called." What our study according to some people to age at a faster pace are genetically programmed. The effect is very significant in that the variant, synonymous with 3-4 years biological ageing "measured by the loss of the length of Telomeres." Alternatively, genetically susceptible people age of faster environments can "bad" for Fluorotelomer based on the materials, such as smoking, obesity or lack of movement, and finally several years biologically older proven exposed to or start more age-related diseases. »