One of the most important studies on aging led to the identification of two proteins fundamental.
According to scientists, these two elements are capable of affecting lifespan, leading people to age much faster.
The news is among the most interesting and significant of the last period, especially for those who work in the "anti-aging" sector.
Researchers are working to develop drugs and systems to improve the situation. The main objective is to reduce the speed of aging and help people recover from the symptoms of old age.
As the years pass, various factors begin to influence our state of health. From genetics to the environment we live in, everything can cause changes to our body and how it reacts. In this research - which we will now see in detail - the importance of proteins in the aging process has been demonstrated.
How proteins influence aging
The study started from an intuition of researchers at the University of Edinburgh, who decided to combine the results of six large genetic studies on human aging.
This enormous research, an operation that required hours and hours of study, led to the identification of 857 proteins.
Among them, two in particular proved to be "useful" for aging, as they accelerated the process. In particular, it has been shown that people with high levels of these proteins were often more fragile and less likely to live a long and peaceful life.
To better clarify the situation, the proteins we are talking about are:
- The protein apolipoprotein (a) (LPA)
produced directly by the liver, quite important for blood clotting. Apparently, high levels of LPA increase the risk of atherosclerosis, resulting in heart disease and stroke. - The protein VCAM1
it is found primarily on the surface of endothelial cells, a single-cell layer that lines blood vessels. The protein controls the expansion and retraction of vessels and functions in blood clotting and the immune response.
Conclusions
According to researchers, the use of drugs which reduce the levels of LPA and VCAM1 could improve the quality and duration of life.
The results have already been demonstrated through a clinical trial, testing a drug to lower one of two proteins, LPA, as a way to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Currently, scientists are working on a clinical study involving the VCAM1 protein. In all likelihood, the development of antibodies that lower the level of this protein would be able to improve the damage associated with old age.
The results were published in the journal Nature Aging.
We conclude by leaving you the testimony of Dr. Paul Timmers, lead researcher at the MRC Human Genetics Unit at the University of Edinburgh. In a recent interview, the doctor stated:
“Identifying these two key proteins could help extend years of healthy life. Drugs that lower these protein levels in our blood could allow the average person to live as healthy and long as individuals who won the genetic lottery and were born with genetically low LPA and VCAM1 levels.”
