A study found that a rare genetic mutation not only causes short stature but may also be associated with longevity. This discovery helps us understand the causes of aging and may promote the progress of related treatments. The study pointed out that individuals with this genetic mutation exhibit several characteristics that can prevent heart disease, one of the leading causes of high mortality. Therefore, this phenomenon may explain why they have a longer life expectancy than the average person.
Long-term research suggests that a signaling molecule called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays an important role in longevity. Studies show that after animals have their IGF-1 levels reduced through genetic modification or other means, their lifespan is extended. Additionally, centenarians typically have lower levels of IGF-1. In most species, IGF-1 promotes growth during youth, while in later adulthood, it affects how cells utilize energy.
A theoretical view suggests that animals need to balance how energy is allocated between growth and maintaining health. As age increases, the body’s structure begins to degenerate, and there’s a greater tendency to use energy to combat aging rather than for continued growth.
In humans, this trade-off can be observed by studying a rare disease known as “Laron syndrome.” Individuals with this disease exhibit short stature due to genetic variations in growth hormone receptors, accompanied by lower levels of IGF-1, as growth hormone is typically the trigger for the release of IGF-1.
Patients with Laron syndrome are estimated to number between 400 and 500 individuals worldwide. Although the number of patients is rare, evidence suggests that their average lifespan may indeed be longer than normal people. A 2011 study of 90 patients with Laron syndrome in Ecuador supported this hypothesis.
The latest study compared 24 patients with Laron syndrome from Ecuador and the United States with 27 of their relatives who did not carry the genetic mutation, finding that patients with Laron syndrome showed superior performance in several indicators of heart health, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and insulin sensitivity.
This research strengthens the argument that suppressing the IGF-1 signaling pathway in the later years of life may help slow down the aging process. This intervention may not be appropriate during critical growth periods, but it could become a way to delay aging later on.
