The aging process affects our appearance – we get gray hair, the skin wrinkles and becomes flaccid… – and our health, since with age the risk of developing numerous diseases increases, and we also lose physical abilities such as strength, endurance, muscle mass, flexibility, balance…
But not all people age at the same speed, but this depends on many factors, from our genetic heritage, to lifestyle, the environment in which we live, and even our character and the way in which we face difficulties. Now a new study has found that certain proteins in the blood also play a key role in this process.
Genetic inheritance determines protein levels
Some individuals naturally have higher or lower levels of certain proteins due to the DNA they have inherited from their parents, and these protein levels can, in turn, affect their health. The research, carried out by scientists at the University of Edinburgh, is based on the analysis of the results of six large genetic studies on human aging that collected genetic data from hundreds of thousands of people.
People with the highest levels of these proteins were more frail, had poorer self-perceived health, and were less likely to live exceptionally long
The researchers studied 857 proteins, among which they identified two that had a significant negative impact on various measures of aging. Specifically, they found that people who inherited the DNA that makes levels of these proteins higher were more frail, had worse self-perceived health, and were less likely to live exceptionally long than those who lacked it. this genetic heritage.
The first of these proteins, called apolipoprotein (a) (LPA), is produced in the liver and is believed to be involved in coagulation. High levels of LPA can increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a pathology that is characterized by the obstruction of the arteries due to fatty substances and that can cause cardiovascular diseases.
The second protein they identified was vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), which is found primarily on the surface of endothelial cells, a single-cell layer that lines blood vessels, and controls expansion and retraction vessels and acts on blood coagulation and the immune response.
VCAM1 levels rise when the body signals that it has detected an infection, and this protein then allows immune cells to pass through the endothelial lining, as seen in individuals who have naturally low levels of these proteins.
Drugs that cure diseases and increase longevity
According to the authors of the work, which has been published in Nature Aging, drugs that are used to treat diseases and that decrease the levels of LPA and VCAM1 could have an added benefit: improving the quality of life and prolonging its duration. An example of where this may be is a clinical trial testing a drug to lower LPA as a way to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Although there are currently no clinical trials underway to assess what happens if VCAM1 levels are reduced, trials in mice have shown how antibodies that reduce the level of this protein improve cognition in old age.
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