More wrinkles and a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease: scientists have named a factor influencing the “senile characteristics” of the body

The study, conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands, found that the link between the aging process and genetic characteristics is determined not so much by the presence of specific “aging genes”, but by their length.

The paper points to a phenomenon called GLTD (gene length-dependent transcription reduction). This phenomenon is characterized by the fact that the longer the gene, the lower its expression level in various cell types and in various diseases, Trends in Genetics reports.

Scientists suggest that GLTD may play an important role in the aging process, possibly due to restrictions in the body’s transcriptional machinery. The discovery of this phenomenon could help better understand key aging processes such as DNA damage and identify new targets for disease modification.

Of particular interest is the discovery of a link between GLTD and Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists note that in this disease, GLTD is particularly pronounced in long synaptic genes that are located in chromosomal fragile regions (CFS), making them especially vulnerable to DNA damage.

This new understanding of the GLTD phenomenon may play an important role in the development of strategies to combat aging and related diseases. New avenues are opening up for the development of treatment and prevention based on the molecular mechanisms of aging and their effects on genes.