The Amish Have A Rare Mutation That Fights Against Aging

A rare genetic mutation has been found in a remote Amish community that allegedly fights against the process of aging.

Scientists at Northwestern University conducted their research on an Amish extended family living in Berne, Indiana who have been isolated from the outside world for over a century.

“Ageing remains one of the most challenging biological processes to unravel. No targeted interventions currently exist to delay the ageing process and to promote healthy longevity," Douglas Vaughan said, a professor of medicine who led the study.

“Our findings demonstrate the utility of studying loss-of-function mutations in populations with geographic and genetic isolation and shed light on a novel therapeutic target for ageing,” he added.

The research discovered the mutated gene, called Serpine1, also creates better metabolic health, lessens the chance of diabetes, prevents baldness, and allows the carrier to live a decade longer than others in the community, typically to the age of 85.

Out of the 177 residents of the Old Order Amish, 43 were identified as having one normal and one mutated version of the gene.

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Photo: Shared.com


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