Reproductive timing is important in aging and age -related disease. In a study now online at Elife¸ Buck researchers determine that girls who go through puberty (the appearance of menstruation) before the age of 11 or women who give birth before the age of 21 have the double risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart failure and obesity and quadruple the risk of developing serious metabolic disorders. The study also reveals that subsequent puberty and childbirth are genetically associated with a longer lifespan, lower fragility, slower epigenetic aging and a reduced risk of age -related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
Professor of Buck Pankaj Kapahi, PhD, the main author of the study, said that the implications for the public health of research are important. “Even if women are systematically asked about their menstrual and childbirth history when they receive medical care, this information has rarely taken into account the care they receive outside the OB / Gyn,” he said. “These risk factors, whether positive or negative, clearly have a significant influence on a variety of age -related diseases and must be taken into account in the broader context of overall health. »»
Research was based on one of the most complete analyzes to date, using a regression analysis on nearly 200,000 women in the United Kingdom Biobank to confirm genetic associations. “We have identified 126 genetic markers that put on the effects of early puberty and childbirth on aging,” said postdoctoral comrade Yifan Xiang, MD, who led research. “Many of these markers are involved in well-known ways of longevity, such as IGF-1, growth hormone, AMPK and MTOR signaling, the main regulators of metabolism and aging. »»
Genetic associations for antagonistic pleaotropy in humans
The evolution is based on natural selection acting on the features early in life to encourage the reproduction and survival of the species. The antagonistic theory of pleaotropy of aging suggests that beneficial features in young people can have negative effects later in life.
Our study provides some of the strongest human evidence of this theory. We show that genetic factors promoting early reproduction are delivered with significant cost later in life, especially accelerated aging and disease. It is logical that the very factors that help improve the survival of offspring can lead to harmful consequences for the mother. “”
Pankaj Kapahi, PHD, principal author of the study
The role of BRI in aging and the risk of illness
Kapahi claims that the study highlights the role of the body mass index (BMI) as a critical mediator of this process, noting that early reproductive events contribute to a higher BMI, which in turn increases the risk of metabolic disease. “We can consider that improving the capacity to absorb nutrients would benefit off offense, but if the nutrients are abundant, this can improve the risk of obesity and diabetes. »»
Implications for public health and fundamental sciences
Kapahi says that understanding the long -term impact of the reproduction moment makes it possible to develop personalized health strategies which could help to alleviate the risks associated with early puberty and childbirth, adding that modifications of lifestyle, metabolic screenings and tailor -made food recommendations could improve long -term health in women. He says that taking into account the reproductive calendar is currently relevant on the basis of research which shows that the age at which the girls of the United States are starting to menstruation have dropped by about three months by decade since the 1970s. No specific cause for phenomena has been identified, but research suggests that obesity can play a role.
Although the updated research guidelines call for the use of both sexes in preclinical research in mice, Kapahi affirms that this current study always calls into question traditional experimental conception, noting that most models of diseases use virgin mice, which do not precisely represent the aging models of the real world.
“If evolution has shaped us to prioritize early reproduction at the cost of aging, how can we take advantage of this knowledge to extend health in modern society? The Kapahi offspring says.
