Scientists from Northwestern University in the United States have found that the number and activity of short genes increases with age, which may explain the processes that occur with aging. Future discovery will help develop interventions to slow or even reverse the rate of aging. The research was published in the journal nature aging.
The researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze data from a wide variety of tissues collected from humans, mice, rats and killer fish at different times in their lives. They found that gene shortening could explain many of the molecular changes associated with aging. In addition, shorter genes became active with aging, contributing to an even greater instability of the genome.
This discovery was almost universal. Researchers have found this pattern in many animals, including humans, and in many tissues (blood, muscles, bones and organs including liver, heart, intestines, brain and lungs). The authors noted that the violations in the study of the genes they discovered were quite insignificant, but overall they had a huge impact on the body.
At the same time, short genes have some advantages, for example, they help fight infections. Thus, they provide short-term benefits in the here and now, but can shorten overall life expectancy. The researchers believe that their discovery will allow the development of therapeutic approaches to treat age-related diseases, not manifestations of aging.