Scientists have found a gene that may play a major role in how we age. This exciting discovery could lead to new ways to treat age-related health problems and help people stay healthy as they get older.
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. It focuses on a gene called EDA2R, which stands for Ectodysplasin A2 Receptor. Researchers found that this gene is closely linked to inflammation. Inflammation is one of the main causes of health problems like heart disease, diabetes, memory loss, and weak muscles.
The research team was led by Dr. Ildus Akhmetov from Liverpool John Moores University, along with scientists from Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. They found that EDA2R may not just be a sign of aging—it could also help cause it.
As we age, our bodies tend to have more inflammation, even at low levels. This kind of slow, ongoing inflammation can slowly harm our organs and tissues. By looking at a large set of genetic data, the researchers found that EDA2R was linked to signs of aging in many parts of the body.
They also found this link in animals. Higher levels of the EDA2R gene were related to faster aging, more inflammation, and problems with blood vessels.
In lab tests using cells, the scientists saw that when EDA2R levels were too high, it caused harmful inflammation and muscle damage. This muscle damage looked a lot like the muscle loss that happens in older adults. But when the researchers blocked the gene’s activity, these problems improved.
The team also studied blood samples from over 5,000 people. They found that people with higher levels of EDA2R also had more C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a marker of inflammation in the body. This shows that EDA2R may be linked to inflammation throughout the body and might lead to more health problems as we age.
Dr. Akhmetov said this finding could help lead to new treatments to slow down aging. He believes that lowering EDA2R activity might help prevent or delay problems like heart disease, memory decline, and muscle weakness.
He also noted that some healthy habits and treatments may already reduce this gene’s activity. For example, calorie restriction, regular exercise, the herbal supplement ginkgo, and the diabetes medicine metformin have all been linked to lower EDA2R levels.
This opens up a promising new path to reduce inflammation and support healthy aging. Learning more about how EDA2R works could lead to better ways to manage aging and improve quality of life.
Scientists will continue to study this gene to find safe ways to target it in the future.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about how ultra-processed foods and red meat influence your longevity, and why seafood may boost healthy aging.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the power of pickle juice ,and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
These findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.
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