New Premature Aging Research
New research done in Singapore and Germany shows genetic abnormalities to be responsibile for some premature aging and possibly leading to treatments to encourage youthful skin.
In the new print issue of Nature Genetics, scientists in Singapore and Germany report that mutations in the PYCR1 gene cause the rare genetic condition that results in premature skin aging and that is known as “wrinkly skin syndrome.” Their findings not only suggest that increasing levels of the PYCR1 protein could reverse conditions that cause fast aging and wrinkly skin but also provide insight into how some unexpected genes help maintain youthful skin.
Bruno Reversade, PhD, of Singapore’s Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), led the international research team that involved collaborations with more than 15 hospitals and research centres in 13 countries.
Using bioinformatics tools, Reversade and his team analyzed DNA samples collected worldwide from patients who, at a young age, displayed signs of premature aging. They identified the PYCR1 gene on chromosome 17 of these patients to be defective and found specific mutations in the gene that led to conditions often seen in elderly people, such as loose skin, loss of bone density, hip dislocation and cataract.
Read More at Skin Inc. Magazine >>
