Researchers have identified the Progeria gene, which may lead to answers about natural aging and cardiovascular disease. The discovery gives hope to children with Progeria, who die at an average age of 13 due to complications from accelerated aging.
A France-based research team has discovered the gene responsible for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria, a disease that causes young victims to age five to ten times faster than normal. The discovery is a critical step toward developing therapies for the disorder and programs to screen individuals for the defective gene.
Researchers found progeria cells have low catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity, making it hard to remove toxic peroxides. Reintroducing these enzymes could halt or reverse the problem using adenovirus gene transfers.