Premature Ageing Disease and Late Onset Diesease
Werner syndrome is one of the best studies progeriod syndromes. It is considered an excellent model for human ageing (Cheng et al, 2007). Patients with Werner syndrome exhibit accelerated ageing and the common phenotypes associated with ageing. In this disease the WRN gene is mutated mainly through chromosomal translocations and this results in the production of a dysfunctional WRN protein (which has multiple roles in DNA metabolism).
Studies have shown that the WRN protein is involved in telomere maintenance; DNA replication and DNA repair (Cheng et al, 2007). It can be suggested that these three processes have some role in human ageing but no definitive answer can be given as of yet. DKC is also another progeriod syndrome which has been mentioned and described earlier.
Late onset disease
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and vascular ailments are all examples of late onset disease which are commonly seen in the elderly. By examining these ailments it is thought that we can learn more about how to prevent them. Research conducted by Jiang et al (2006) showed that genetic alterations in α-synuclein, which is found in lewy bodies (present in Parkinson’s disease), decreased proteosomal activity. This in turn increased the amount of reactive oxygen species and led to greater cell death especially in dopaminergic cell clusters. So this suggests that accumulation of cell death over the lifespan could contribute to PD, but this is not conclusive.
Comparative twin studies into Alzheimer’s disease have shown that there is a very significant genetic link (Räihä et al, 1997). This has led to suggestions that ageing can have a major hereditary component but researchers claim that the heritable component is low (roughly 25%) (Royle, 2007). Diabetes can give us an insight into the ageing pathway, because data suggests that insulin like metabolic control is involved in regulating lifespan. Geesaman (2006) stated that because of this any treatments used for diabetes may also have a positive effect on ageing.
