Longevity gene keeps the brain ticking over
A GENE linked to IQ might also help to prolong life.
The gene codes for an enzyme called succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH), which destroys GABA, a neurotransmitter that dampens brain activity and causes drowsiness. The gene comes in two common forms: the so-called “T” version is 20 per cent less efficient than the “C” version. In previous studies, young people with two copies of the T version performed slightly worse on IQ tests.
SSADH also detoxifies the brain by getting rid of excess acid, helping to protect cells from the free-radical damage that accelerates ageing.
So to study the effects of the gene on ageing and longevity, Giuseppe Passarino of the University of Calabria, Italy, and his colleagues took a representative sample of 514 Italians aged between 18 and 107 and identified which gene variants they carried. Of these they also evaluated 115 people aged 65 to 85 using a …
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