Scientists from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the United States have identified a gene present in centuries-old Ashkenazi Jews that prevents cellular aging and can extend life by more than 100 years .
Previous studies indicated that elderly Ashkenazi Jews, the name by which people from Central and Eastern Europe are known, had a lower-than-average body mass index and higher levels of so-called "good cholesterol" (HDL). And that, therefore, they suffered fewer diseases linked to aging, such as heart disease and diabetes. The new research reveals that these individuals also hide another secret for eternal youth: higher levels of telomerase , the enzyme responsible for repairing the ends of chromosomes (telomeres), preventing them from shortening and thus prolonging the life of the cells. And that this trait is "highly heritable", as explained by Yousin Suh, co-author of the study, who adds that from this finding they will try to develop drugs that mimic the action of telomerase.
