2024-09-11 15:02:24
Research published in the journal ‘Creation‘ have identified four genes with a significant impact on when women experience menopause, shedding light on the relationship between this process and cancer risk. The research was carried out by an international team of scientists, led by the University of Exeter (United Kingdom).
The genes identified (ETAA1, ZNF518A, PNPLA8 and PALB2) play an important role in menopause. Women with only one functional copy of these genes may experience menopause two to five years earlier than usual.
The study, based on data from UK Biobank and funded by the Medical Research Council and Wellcome, analyzed the genetic variation of more than 106,000 postmenopausal women.
The findings also reveal that several genetic variants linked to menopause are also risk factors for cancer, including the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which have been linked to earlier menopause and increased cancer risk.
Professor Anna Murray, one of the lead researchers, explained that these The advances could help develop treatments to extend women’s reproductive lives in the future. “Understanding these genetic changes gives us a new perspective on blood aging and its relationship with other diseases, such as cancer,” he pointed out.
The study also discovered a fifth gene, SAMHD1, whose variations can delay menopause by more than a year and increase the risk of certain types of cancer.
These findings mark an important step in understanding the factors that influence menopause and its implications for women’s overall health.
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