Human bodies deteriorate after reaching maturity, resulting in various age-related disorders and death. Although multiple products are available to combat the illness, there is still much room for practical solutions.
Two blood proteins have been revealed to impact how long and healthy our lives are. According to the most critical genetic study on ageing, developing medications that target these proteins could be one method to slow down the ageing process. This recent study could boost the Anti-Ageing Products Services and Devices Market as it looks at which proteins may have a role in the aging process.
Environment, lifestyle, Genetics, and chance are complicated and interconnected elements that affect the pace at which people age and die. The research elucidates the role of proteins in this process. Because of the DNA they inherit from their parents, some people have naturally higher or lower levels of specific proteins. Protein levels can have a drastic impact on a human's health.
The researchers integrated the findings of six massive genetic studies of human aging, each including genetic data on hundreds of thousands of people. Researchers realized that two proteins out of 857 had significant detrimental effects on several aging markers.
People who inherited DNA that causes elevated levels of these proteins were less likely to live a long life, had worse self-rated health, and were frailer than those who did not.
The first protein, apolipoprotein(a) (LPA), is produced in the liver and is thought to aid in blood coagulation. Atherosclerosis, a disorder in which arteries get clogged with fatty substances, can be exacerbated by high levels of LPA, resulting in heart disease and stroke.
The second protein, VCAM1 (Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1), is located mainly on the surfaces of endothelial cells, which form a single-cell layer that lines blood arteries. The protein regulates the immunological response and blood coagulation and expansion and contraction of blood vessels.
When the body transmits alerts that an infection has been discovered, VCAM1 levels rise, allowing immune cells to cross the endothelium layer. Similar behavior is shown in patients with naturally low levels of these proteins.
According to the researchers, medications that reduce LPA and VCAM1 levels in the body could enhance quality and length of life. In addition, it could also help treat diseases. One relevant example is a clinical trial exploring a medication to lower LPA to reduce heart disease risk.
There are no clinical trials related to VCAM1. However, studies in mice have demonstrated that antibodies that lower the level of this protein improve cognition in the elderly.