The SIRT 1 gene is very interesting to the scientists. An increased expression of the related genes caused a substantial increase in life expectancy in model organisms which reveals the gene's protective effect. The gene encodes an enzyme which alters the activity of other proteins. A large number of elderly people were studied in order to understand the effect on life expectancy; unfortunately to date no link has been detected. However, in certain variants of the gene, better cognitive abilities (long term and short-term memory) and increased survival of the nerve cells have been detected.
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