Scientists at UCLA have found that a genetic biological clock linked to women’s breast tissue that causes it to age faster than the rest of the body.
According to the report on Science Daily, this biological clock in our genes could offer insight into cancer and stem cell research. Sadly, the clock found that women’s breast tissue ages faster than the rest of the body. In short, our boobs have a shorter lifespan for aging faster.
“Healthy breast tissue is about two to three years older than the rest of a woman’s body,” said Steve Horvath, a professor of human genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and of biostatistics at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
“If a woman has breast cancer, the healthy tissue next to the tumor is an average of 12 years older than the rest of her body.”
The results of the study could give us insight into why breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The clock ranks tumor tissue an average of 36 years older than healthy tissue; which explains why age serves as a major risk factor for many cancers in both genders.
Horvath also found that the cells of children with progeria, a genetic disorder that causes premature aging, appeared normal and showed their true age.
Fortunately, Horvath adds that his discovery also shows that scientists can rewind the body’s biological clock and restore it to zero; and that comes with the help of stem cells!
“My research shows that all stem cells are newborns,” he said. “More importantly, the process of transforming a person’s cells into pluripotent stem cells resets the cells’ clock to zero.”
So, what does this mean for us when it comes to our breast-care routine? How do we keep our breasts from aging at the speed that it does? Perhaps we could start getting a daily dose of foods that can help prevent breast cancer.
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