Scientists identify first genetic variant linked to biological aging in humans

Scientists announced today (7 Feb) they have identified for the first time definitive variants associated with biological ageing in humans. The team analyzed more than 500,000 genetic variations across the entire human genome to identify the variants which are located near a gene called TERC.

The study in Nature Genetics published today by researchers from the University of Leicester and King's College London, working with University of Groningen in the Netherlands, was funded by The Wellcome Trust and the British Heart Foundation.

British Heart Foundation Professor of Cardiology at the University of Leicester Professor Nilesh Samani, of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, who co-led the project explained that there are two forms of ageing – chronological ageing i.e. how old you are in years and biological ageing whereby the cells of some individuals are older (or younger) than suggested by their actual age.

He said: “There is accumulating evidence that the risk of age-associated diseases including heart disease and some types of cancers are more closely related to biological rather than chronological age.

“What we studied are structures called telomeres which are parts of one's chromosomes. Individuals are born with telomeres of certain length and in many cells telomeres shorten as the cells divide and age. Telomere length is therefore considered a marker of biological ageing.

“In this study what we found was that those individuals carrying a particular genetic variant had shorter telomeres i.e. looked biologically older. Given the association of shorter telomeres with age-associated diseases, the finding raises the question whether individuals carrying the variant are at greater risk of developing such diseases”

Professor Tim Spector from King's College London and director of the TwinsUK study, who co-led this project, added:

“The variants identified lies near a gene called TERC which is already known to play an important role in maintaining telomere length. What our study suggests is that some people are genetically programmed to age at a faster rate. The effect was quite considerable in those with the variant, equivalent to between 3-4 years of 'biological aging” as measured by telomere length loss. Alternatively genetically susceptible people may age even faster when exposed to proven 'bad' environments for telomeres like smoking, obesity or lack of exercise – and end up several years biologically older or succumbing to more age-related diseases. “

Notes to Editors:

The paper, will be published online in Nature Genetics on 07 February 2010. To view the paper, please visit http://www.nature.com/naturegenetics/

Please cite the University of Leicester and King's College London in all reports

Professor Samani is British Heart Foundation Professor of Cardiology at the University of Leicester and Consultant Cardiologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust based at Glenfield Hospital. Professor Spector is also NIHR NHS Senior Clinical Investigator at King's College London and Guys & St Thomas' Hospital Foundation Trust.

The Wellcome Trust is the largest charity in the UK. It funds innovative biomedical research, in the UK and internationally, spending over £600 million each year to support the brightest scientists with the best ideas. The Wellcome Trust supports public debate about biomedical research and its impact on health and wellbeing. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation's heart charity, dedicated to saving lives through pioneering research, patient care, campaigning for change and by providing vital information. But we urgently need help. We rely on donations of time and money to continue our life-saving work. Because together we can beat heart disease. For more information visit bhf.org.uk/pressoffice

Further information:

Professor Nilesh Samani, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester Tel No. 0116 256 3021 njs@le.ac.uk

Professor Tim Spector, Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7 188 6765, Email: victoria.vazquez@kcl.ac.uk or tim.spector@kcl.ac.uk

For details on TwinsUK- see www.twinsUk.ac.uk

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