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Scientists find long-lasting secrecy Why many Greek villagers have healthier hearts
People in certain parts of the world live longer, healthier or sometimes just happier. Of course, doctors are interested in the reasons behind these positive effects. Researchers have now discovered why people from isolated mountain villages live longer and generally healthier lives in Greece.
Researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute found in their study that residents from certain isolated mountain villages in Greece carry a genetic variant in their body that reduces levels of unhealthy fats and cholesterol. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Nature Communications".
People from certain Greek mountain villages are usually very old in good health. The residents also rarely suffer from cardiovascular disease. Physicians were now trying to find out what causes the health benefits. (Image: Sondem / fotolia.com) Residents often live healthy until old age
Despite a diet rich in animal fat and cheese, people in some mountain villages in northern Crete are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease. So the experts wondered what is so special about these villages called Zoniana and Anogia. Few people leave or visit these isolated villages. Residents are generally known to live well into old age, the authors explain.
All types of cardiovascular diseases are particularly rare in the two mountain villages
Heart problems, heart attacks and strokes, and in general all types of cardiovascular diseases are particularly rare in these villages. Also, the diet of the residents does not seem to change much, although they consume a lot of lamb and local cheese from Crete. Normally, such a diet would be the source of many health complications, explain the scientists.
Protects the genetics of the villagers from heart disease?
Consuming foods rich in saturated fat increases the level of cholesterol in the blood. High levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, in turn, increase the risk of heart disease and strokes. So the researchers wondered if the genetics of the villagers protect them from heart disease.
Researchers are discovering a new rare gene variant
The current study identifies a new genetic variant that seems to protect the heart. This variant results in low levels of unhealthy natural fats and unhealthy cholesterol. These low levels are very important for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, explain the doctors. Such a genetic variant seems to occur only in the population of the two mountain villages. Among thousands of Europeans who have undergone so-called genome sequencing, only one other person in Italy has the same gene variant, the authors explain.
Genome of the villagers was closely examined
The scientists sequenced the entire genome of 250 villagers to get to the bottom of the puzzle. They took blood samples and extracted the DNA. Then they analyzed the string of three billion letters that make up the human genome.
Further research could explain the role of genes in complex diseases
The results of current research could help to better understand the role of genetic variants in the development of complex diseases in the future. This can provide clues as to why some people develop heart disease and some do not.
Other isolated societies will be studied in the future
The scientists can not explain why the detected variant is present in the villagers. The presence could be related to the way of life of the villagers. The isolated environment or genes passed down through generations could also be the reason. The scientists plan to investigate other isolated societies, such as the Amish in the United States and the Inuit in northern Greenland, to investigate any unknown health benefits of such isolated people. (As)