More details about memory of older people

Research on the SIRT1 gene included more than 1500 people older than 85 years of age. Scientists were looking for a correlation between different gene forms and health, diseases, life duration and cognitive abilities, etc. They did not succeed in finding the impact of these genes on the duration of life expectancy and on various other diseases; however, they discovered better cognitive abilities in some gene variances. They discovered two variances, which are widespread amongst people at a certain location in succession, which is important for copying a gene (promoter). Some have the cytozin (C) nucleotide, and others the timin (T) one.

SIRT1 is an enzyme, which separates acetyl groups from proteins. There are numerous consequences from the activation of the SIRT1 gene like increase in glucose tolerance and glucose syntheses in the liver, and overall the cells are more stress resistant. In a way all of this shows that SIRT1 could reduce the danger of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. They have succeeded in showing some positive impacts on nerve cells, which could be used for treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. These diseases cause the accumulation of particular peptides in the brain cells, which originate from various precursors. SIRT1 accelerates the decomposition of these precursors into products, which are not toxic for the cell.

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