Genes, mood, stress and life expectancy
The main way to combat aging is named
Biologists from Indiana University have found out that depression and stress affect not only the appearance of a person, but also have a much deeper effect on the human body, changing the activity of genes. The discovery made it possible to identify substances that can help in the fight against aging. The results of the work are published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry (Rangaraju et al., Mood, stress and longevity: convergence on ANK3). The press release of Researchers identify genes linked to the effects of mood and stress on longevity is available on the EurekAlert website!
Scientists studied the DNA of free-living nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and conducted studies of various groups of people, as a result of which they were able to identify a number of genes that determine the effects of stress and bad or good mood on life expectancy. One of the key genes turned out to be ank3, which encodes the protein anikirin 3, involved in the formation of nervous tissue.
The researchers determined that the activity of the identified genes changes with age, and in people who were exposed to significant stress or affective disorders, changes in the work of genes were associated with premature aging and shortened life expectancy.
At the first stage of the work, scientists exposed C.elegans worms to the antidepressant mianserin. Researchers (from the Sripps Institute, last year – VM) noted that at the same time, the life expectancy of the nematode increased. Biologists have determined that 231 genes in worms changed their activity in response to an antidepressant, and that humans have 347 similar genes. The latter were tested for association with depressive symptoms, as a result of which 134 genes were isolated, including ank3.
The researchers tested the effect of mianserin on nematodes with mutant, i.e. inactive, ank3 and on worms with the usual version of the gene. It turned out that the antidepressant keeps ank3 functioning at a low level, but the gene should still remain at least a little active.
Biologists also studied ank3 activity based on blood samples from 700 patients with mental disorders, as well as suicides. All analyses showed a high level of gene expression. Interestingly, the shift towards greater ank3 activity is also demonstrated by patients with progeria, a severe hereditary disease associated with accelerated aging.
Scientists have proposed a number of substances that may help curb the aging gene, contributing to a long life: docosahexaenoic acid, piracetam, quercitin, vitamin D and resveratrol, as well as existing medications such as estrogen-like compounds, antidiabetics and rapamycin. However, further research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.
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25.05.2016