OUR long life, that is, the combination of more years of survival with a better quality of life, is the goal of modern biomedical research. The synergy of environment, lifestyle and genetic material plays an important role in longevity. Normal body homeostasis (i.e., maintaining a stable state) is disrupted during aging as a result of dysfunction of cellular processes, including genetic material. The origin of diseases may be based on defects in the cellular processes of transformation of genetic material into the final product – protein.

However, the molecular mechanisms leading to loss of transcriptional fidelity have not been elucidated and this was undertaken in a recent publication in a prestigious scientific journal. international scientific journal Nature. The key role in this process seems to be played by the enzyme RNA polymerase II. The researchers found that the average rate of elongation of transcription of genetic material, which corresponds to the rate enzyme RNA polymerase II, increases with age. In addition, two interventions were carried out that extended the life cycle. Both the reduction in daily caloric intake and complex hormonal changes reversed most of the changes in the transcription process associated with aging.

In conclusion, the study showed that increasing age is associated with an increase in the rate of the RNA polymerase II enzyme and a subsequent increase in the rate of DNA-RNA transcription elongation. In addition, a decrease in the rate of RNA polymerase II leads to a lengthening of the life cycle, i.e. increase in life expectancy. The results of the study are particularly important because they reveal the fundamental molecular mechanisms that drive aging and describe possible interventions to increase lifespan, as well as form the basis for studying possible preventive measures to increase lifespan. With these basic levels of research analysis, we can now understand how interventions such as obesity, healthy eating, or smoking cessation can lead to later onset of chronic non-communicable diseases that occur with aging, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease. . illness or dementia. At the same time, it seems that increasingly sophisticated multi-gene-controlled genetic tests will help people make the best choices to ensure their longevity.

* Ms Theodora Psaltopoulou is a pathologist and professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the EKPA School of Medicine.