Gene variants linked to “biological age” could lead to treatments for age related illnesses…
By Militza Richard
Researchers from Kings College London and University of Leicester may have discovered why some people appear older than they really are while others seem perennially young.
In a study published in Nature Genetics, the scientists explained the difference between chronological age — how old a person actually is in years — and biological age which takes into account whether the cells of some people are older or younger than their chronological age. According to the researchers, many age-related diseases, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s and certain types of cancer, are more closely linked to biological age than chronological age.
After analyzing more than 500,000 genetic variations across the human genome, the scientists found specific genetic variants which may explain why some people appear to age faster than others. Specifically, people a with number of variants located near a gene called TERC were likely to be biologically three to four years older than their actual age.
"What our study suggests is that some people are genetically programed to age at a faster rate. The effect was quite considerable in those with the variant," said Tim Spector from King's College London, who co-led the study.
These genetic variants were connected to people with shorter telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes whose length is associated with cell aging. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter and evidence suggests that people with shorter telomeres, whether they were born with shorter versions or they deteriorate more quickly, may be more susceptible to age related diseases.
“In this study what we found was that those individuals carrying a particular genetic variant had shorter telomeres i.e. looked biologically older. Given the association of shorter telomeres with age-associated diseases, the finding raises the question whether individuals carrying the variant are at greater risk of developing such diseases,” said Professor Nilesh Samani from the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester
“Genetically susceptible people may age even faster when exposed to proven 'bad' environments for telomeres such as smoking, obesity or lack of exercise - and end up several years biologically older or succumbing to more age-related diseases," added Spector.
For the full paper visit: www.nature.com/naturegenetics
(Edited by Sarah Wolfe)