According to Medical News, researchers from the University of Missouri have found that the longevity gene can help the elderly with exercise and other physical activities. By using gene therapy, mice were given the longevity gene and put on a treadmill. The mice did significantly better after the gene therapy indicating that the longevity gene does have some influence on physical activity.
This could mean great things for the elderly. Once more research is done in this area, this gene therapy given to mice may be able to be used on humans. The benefits of this are great!
Benefits of Exercise in the Elderly
As we all know, exercise and healthy eating are two biggest steps in fighting illness and disease. As you grow older, you may lose the physical ability to exercise as much as you should. With more physical activity, the elderly will be able to exercise more, which will keep bones strong, joints flexible and the keep heart strength.
Taking Advantage of the Gene Therapy
Of course, there needs to be more research before humans will be able to benefit from this. However, with the rapid movement of genetics, this time may come sooner than later. The question is, how many people will go through the gene therapy and then actually become motivated to take advantage of their new ability to do physical activity.
In the latest issue of American Journal of Human Genetics reported by Medical News online, researchers have found that the renin gene is responsible for the regulation of blood pressure. A mutation of this gene can cause people and children to have chronic high blood pressure, which can lead to anemia in childhood and kidney disease in adulthood. The study was conducted at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Charles University in Prague.
How Renin Regulates Blood Pressure
Renin is a protein and is released when your blood pressure drops. When the renin is released, the hormone angiotensin converts to angiotensin I by using an angiotensin-converting enzyme. Once it’s converted, the angiotensin I becomes angiotensin II, which is what actually makes your blood pressure go back up to normal levels. A problem occurs when your renin is overactive and continues to release, signaling your body to release the hormones to make your blood pressure continue to stay at elevated levels.
How High Blood Pressure Affects Your Body
Since your body blood pressure regulation center is in overdrive, organs begin to suffer. This is why children may suffer from anemia and adults from kidney disease or in some, gout. Kidney disease is serious and needs medical attention.
Medication to Regulate Renin
This new information about the renin gene will help scientists tailor blood pressure medication to attack the renin in your body. Regulating the release of this protein will mean that your body will stop giving signals to release the blood pressure rising hormones.
This means that if you have a difficult time dealing when you have a headache or stub your toe, you probably have a difficult time dealing with the loss of a friend or breaking up with a mate. Alternatively, individuals who don’t seem to be bothered by physical pain such as headaches or small injuries, may also be able to recover quickly with minimal hurt feelings when rejected by a friend or lover.
The researchers found that a gene that is responsible for your painkillers (mu-opioids) is not only affecting your reaction to physical pain but social pain as well.
Using This Information
You can do a lot with these findings. If you have children, you can notice how they handle injuries and speculate how they will deal with social situations later on. You can also use this information to learn more about people you don’t know well. If you meet someone and notice he/she complains at the slightest ailment, you can suspect that if you reject the person, it may be devastating to him/her.
A company called GenePartner will perform a DNA test on you to determine who your best match is for $99. Watch this video below for more information on this new way to find that special someone.
Of course, DNA isn’t the only thing that is going to matter when you meet someone. You also need to be compatible on many different levels. The DNA is mainly a way to determine if you might be attracted to someone biologically. Have you ever met someone that made you wildly crazy? You were so attracted to him or her but you didn’t really “like” the person. Well, this is where your DNA came into play. Something set you off inside but mentally; you knew you just couldn’t stay with the person.
Like the video mentioned, the main point of the DNA test is to narrow down your search of potential mates. It’s kind of like eHarmony’s compatibility test. You take their test of your personality and they will send you matches they believe you would be most compatible with, then you go off and see if you can get along with someone in that set of matches. It’s just another measure to determine who you might want to be your life partner. Maybe someday, GenePartner or another company may take this DNA test and couple it with a personality test or other compatibility measure to narrow the dating field even more. Like with any research, the more they find out, the closer they will get to a perfect match.
If you’ve ever known someone with epilepsy, you know how difficult life is for them. At any time, people with this genetic disorder can have a seizure, which means they may end up in danger, especially if they are not with someone who knows what to do. Due to the severity of epilepsy, scientists are studying the disorder in mice to find out the cause and a possible treatment so sufferers can finally find some relief.
According to The Press Association, researchers at the University of Leeds have found that replacing a defected gene helped mice have decreased occurrences of seizures and at a lessened degree if they did experience one. The findings suggest that inhibiting the gene that may cause seizures, humans may also find relief from the symptoms of epilepsy. As of now, people who suffer from epilepsy can undergo surgery if they have a severe case and most times, it doesn’t work.
This is just the beginning of the gene research on epilepsy. It may still be awhile before a treatment will become available for sufferers. However, it’s nice to know that scientists are looking for answers and maybe someday find a cure.
While genetic testing can be a useful tool to detect whether you are susceptible to a particular disease, the knowledge of your susceptibility may be enough to cause you mental anguish.
Let’s say that your close family member just died of cancer and now you wonder whether or not you may suffer the same fate. You decide to ask your doctor for genetic testing for the same type of cancer thinking that being proactive is better than finding out too late. Your results come back and its positive that you have the genetic marker cancer. All of sudden, you anxiety goes up and you think, “How much time do I have left?”
This worry can turn into depression and greatly influence how you live life. Just the knowledge of the potential of having a disease has made you feel doomed. Counseling or therapy would be helpful in this situation.
A therapist can help you mourn the loss of your loved one in a healthy way. Counseling can help you through your thoughts and fears. Many of the feelings you have are from negative thoughts, and cognitive behavioral therapy can help you change those thoughts, which will help you with your anxiety and/or depression and subsequently your behavior and attitudes towards life.
Today, I decided to do some research on the genetics of sweating. My husband and daughter both sweat instantly when they are outside in the heat, while I am just as dry as I was before heading out of the AC.
Searching for information on sweating, led me to a condition called hyperhidrosis and a website for individuals who suffer from excessive sweating, International Hyperhidrosis Society. Surprisingly, there is limited research in the area of hyperhidrosis and genetics. One study is currently being done in which the researchers are looking for participants. They are collecting DNA samples and giving participants a questionnaire to determine eligibility. If you are interested in participating in the study, check out the website.
As I continued with my research, I found that sweat has a lot to do with what you are wearing, what you are doing, and your physical condition. I’m not convinced that genetics play such a little role. My husband’s grandmother is also “hot blooded” and since my daughter also seems to hot natured, it’s too much of a coincidence for it not to be inherited. On the other hand, I have cold natured and do very well in the heat but am always cold in a cool setting (where many other people may not be so cold). It would make sense that I wouldn’t sweat since I am usually cold… My mother was the same way and it seems as though my son is also that way.
I’ve bookmarked the International Hyperhidrosis Society website so I can keep my eye on that gene research on sweating. Once the results are concluded, I will post them! For the time being, what do you think?
Have you ever wondered why you like eating some foods and not others? And why you enjoy sweets more than other foods? It could have something to do with your genes along with environmental influences.
In a study published in the journal of Physiology and Behavior, researchers found that children inherit ‘protein’ genes that make them like meats and fish more than other foods. However, this is changed over time to sweets in desserts, fruits, and vegetables because of environmental influences. Therefore, if parents feed their children sweet foods, they grow to prefer them.
So is a sweet tooth inherited or do people acquire one over time? In a past post, researchers say there is a sweet tooth gene. If you put these two studies together, it may be concluded that while the taste for sweets may be influenced, there could be a gene underlying that makes someone even more susceptible to that influence. Just like with genetics of diseases, someone may have a gene for a disease, but it doesn’t mean they will necessarily develop it. Usually it takes some environmental influences to spark that gene. Maybe someone needs to have the sweet tooth gene to enjoy sweets when presented with them.
Specific genes can now influence the choices you make in life. If you ever wondered why you would do things differently than your friend, it’s partly due to your genetic make-up!
In a recent article, Gene variations can be barometer of behavior, choices, researchers at Brown University and University of Arizona, have discovered three different genes that influence how people make choices. The study had participants do a decision making task while their dopamine function in the brain was monitored. It was found that there were variations on two genes DARPP32 and DRD2 that was mostly responsible for the answers the participants chose. This new research can help understand how people learn and how to help individuals with certain disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
Real Life Situation Decision Making
It would interesting to put participants in real life situations, monitor brain activity and see what each participant would choose to do in specific situations. Then if they find some participants made “bad” choices, they could work on finding medication to help them make better ones.
Possible Treatment for Mental Illness
This could be useful for individuals with mental illness. Some mental disorders affect the ability for the sufferer to make rational decisions. This could be a great benefit to mental health treatment, especially when it comes to sufferers of mental illness making decisions about other parts of their treatment such as medication and keeping doctors’ appointments.
Are you battling your weight? Do you lose and gain repeatedly on dieting and exercise alone? Are you too scared or unable to receive any of the surgical weight loss procedure such as the LAP-BAND or gastric bypass? Soon you won’t have to do either of those but instead, receive an injection in your brain that will help you finally take control over genetics, your eating habits and how your body processes food.
According to an article, Brain Injection Shows Promise For Treating Obesity, researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center have found a revolutionary new way for people to lose weight. A new gene therapy may help people eat less, help insulin sensitivity, and shed fat.
Dr. Matthew During developed this new gene therapy with mice. He found that when he injected a healthy gene already found in the hypothalamus, the mouse’s insulin levels dropped and within a week, the mouse lost half of his weight!
Dr. During believes that this discovery can also work in humans who are overweight because of genetics. He is taking steps to promote safety in the procedure by including a safety mechanism in the injection and doing a scan of the participant’s brain 4-6 hours after the injection to make sure everything looks okay.
Don’t run out just yet to receive this new weight loss intervention. You’ll have to wait until the Food and Drug Administration approves it, which could take more than a year.
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