According to a study, those with uncommon lifespan mutations may also be immune against cardiovascular disease

According to a new research, those who have growth hormone receptor deficiency (GHRD), often referred to as Laron syndrome, may have improved cardiovascular health.

Stunted development caused by growth hormone-related dysregulation (GHRD) has been associated in mice with a 40 percent increase in lifespan and a lower incidence of several age-related illnesses. Though the risk of cardiovascular disease in GHRD patients has not yet been determined, there is reason to believe that this mutation in rodent lifespan may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in humans.

The research, which was published in Med, is the result of a nearly two-decade worldwide partnership between endocrinologist Jaime Guevara-Aguirre of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador, and gerontology professor Valter Longo of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

Longo, Guevara-Aguirre, and others have studied the aging process and general health of individuals with the GHRD-causing gene mutation over the last 20 years. This uncommon mutation was discovered in a group of Ecuadorians whose ancestors had escaped Spain during the Inquisition more than three centuries ago. It is only seen in 400–500 individuals globally. They develop a kind of dwarfism as a consequence of the mutation, which renders their growth hormone receptors useless.

Previous studies by the researchers have shown that while GHRD/Laron syndrome inhibits development, it also seems to lower the risk of a number of age-related illnesses. The Ecuadorians with GHRD have a greater obesity incidence, but they also have a very low risk of Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Additionally, they seem to do better on memory and cognitive tests and have healthier brains overall.

The research team looked at cardiovascular damage, risk factors, and function in GHRD participants and their families for the present study. A total of 51 people participated in the two stages of assessments that were carried out by researchers in Los Angeles and Ecuador; 24 of the participants had GHRD diagnoses, while the other 27 were controls.

In comparison to the control group, GHRD individuals showed reduced blood pressure, blood sugar, and insulin resistance.

In comparison to control participants, they also had smaller hearts and identical pulse wave velocities, which indicate how rigid the arteries are. However, their carotid arteries were thinner.

Subjects in the GHRD had a tendency toward fewer carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques (7 percent vs. 36 percent) in comparison to controls, even though their levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” were high.

According to Longo, the senior author of the current research, “these results suggest that individuals with GHRD have normal or improved levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors compared to their relatives.” “Even with the small sample size, these human data, along with research in mice and other organisms, offer important insights into the health effects of growth hormone receptor deficiency and suggest that similar drugs or dietary interventions could lower disease incidence and potentially increase longevity.”