Scientists Discover That Loss of \”Youth\” Protein Could Accelerate Aging
They have unlocked one of the keys to stopping aging.
According to a National Eye Institute (NEI), a study on mice found that the loss of the PEDF (protein pigment epithelium derived factor), which protects the retinal support cells may lead to age-related changes.
The retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue behind the eye, can be affected by age-related retinal diseases. This new information may help to develop drugs that can stop AMD, and other age-related conditions of the eye. International Journal of Molecular Sciences published the research. NEI is a part of the National Institutes of Health.
The PEDF protein is called the ‘youth’ protein, because it’s abundant in retinas of young people, but declines with age,\” Patricia Becerra Ph.D. said, the chief of NEI’s Section of Protein Function and the senior author of the research. This study demonstrated for the first-time that removing PEDF causes a number of gene changes in the retina that mimic aging.
Source:
Scientists Find That the Loss of a “Youth” Protein Could Drive Aging
