Discovery of Longevity Gene may bring a cure for Dementia
Alzheimer’s and other well known old age dementia diseases are extremely common in our society, there are many guesses as to what may cause these conditions, but nothing is certain. Fortunately before actually knowing why people get Alzheimer’s, a cure may have been discovered.
The recent discovery of the so called ‘longevity gene’ has given researchers hope into finding a cure for old age dementia and related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. Tests being done on this gene have given them enough information to hopefully develop an anti aging drug in the future. The likelihood that this discovery will lead to developing an Alzheimer’s prevention drug is high.
The longevity gene has been recognized as a variation of an earlier discovered gene called CETP. These variation genes, as well as the longevity gene are both part of a group of proteins that control our bodies aging functions; this is why they are so valuable. Researchers first realized that the CETP gene could be used to control the size of cholesterol in our systems, there by reducing the amounts of bad cholesterol build up in our arteries. This has gone a long way to reducing the chances of developing heart disease. While following the progress of elderly patients, they realized that this gene was able to prevent the onset of dementia in patients.
A study was conducted over a period of 5 years looking into the benefits of this gene in slowing down the aging process and preventing old age dementia. Over five hundred healthy volunteers aged 70+ were recruited for this test. During the study subjects were given a number of controlled activities to measure their motor skill levels and psychological states.
Over the course of the study 40 volunteers were diagnosed with dementia, they were tested for the presence of the CETP genes and were found to have just one of the two genes. The subjects that passed through old age without developing Alzheimer’s, or any other form of dementia were found to have two copies of the CETP gene. More simply put, people that had the two specific naturally occurring CETP genes were less likely to have dementia in old age and had markedly good memories for their age.
The mechanism of these two genes on our bodies systems has been identified and a medicine that mimics their behavior is now being developed.
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