Nature Cell Biology: Aldehydes are to blame for premature human aging

The list of the most detrimental effects of aldehydes on the human body includes premature aging. This discovery, writes Nature Cell Biology, was made by Japanese scientists Yasueshi Oka, Yuka Nakazawa, Mayuko Shimada and Tomoo Ogi from Nagoya University.

Aldehydes are a byproduct of metabolism (metabolism in the human body), and they are harmful because they interact with DNA and proteins, blocking important enzymes.

"DNA damage has been linked to aging phenotypes," the publication quotes one of the scientists as saying. - However, this is the first time we have seen a direct link between aldehyde-induced DNA damage and premature aging."

Scientists emphasize that when a person drinks wine or beer, the liver processes alcohol into aldehydes to remove it from the body.

Prof. Augie hopes that "by figuring out the mechanism by which damaged DNA heals quickly, we will identify part of the causes of genetic premature aging." The research is ongoing.