Posted on 07/10/2007 6:10:40 PM PDT by blam
People with moles age more slowly than others
Last Updated: 1:43am BST 11/07/2007
People who seem to stay younger for longer are also likely to have more moles, research released yesterday suggests.
A study of twins found a striking correlation between high numbers of moles and a biological marker for slow ageing.
As a result, people with a lot of moles might be expected to live longer than those who have very few, despite facing a greater risk of skin cancer.
Dr Veronique Bataille, from the Twin Research Unit at King's College London, who led the study said: "The results are very exciting as they show, for the first time, that moley people who have a slightly increased risk of melanoma [skin cancer] may, on the other hand, have the benefit of a reduced rate of ageing.
"This could imply susceptibility to fewer age-related diseases such as heart disease or osteoporosis, for example. Further studies are needed."
Moles appear in childhood and tend to vanish from middle age onwards. People with white skin average about 30 moles, although some may have as many as 400.
The reason for these differences is unknown, as is the function of moles. Previous research has shown that up to 60 per cent of susceptibility to moles is inherited.
Because moles disappear with age Dr Bataille's team looked at their relationship with telomere length, a good biological indicator of an individual's rate of ageing.
Telomeres are protective bundles of DNA found at the end of chromosomes in all cells. As cells divide, the telomeres shorten until a point where the chromosomes become unstable. The cell may then stop dividing or die.
The scientists compared more than 1,800 twins and found that participants with high numbers of moles - more than 100 - had longer telomeres than those with fewer than 25 moles.
The difference between the two groups was equivalent to six to seven years of normal ageing estimated by looking at the average rate of telomere length loss per year.
People with a lot of moles appeared to have longer telomeres and to keep their moles for longer. Those with shorter telomeres had fewer moles and tended to lose them more quickly with age.
Prof Tim Spector, head of the Twin Research Unit and co-author of the study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, said: "We now plan to look in more detail at the genes which influence the numbers of moles and to see whether they may also slow down the ageing process."
Not a guy. :) I just love that movie.
“The article even calls them “moley people”.”
Do not mess with the moley people, for they are holy.
I should not have to tell you that, grasshopper.
People With Moles Age More Slowly Than Others
I’m off to the pet shop. Can anyone tell me what the little buggers eat?
Yup.
You can have it good.
You can have it cheap.
You can have it now.
Pick any two.
‘License to hunt gophers.’ A true, American classic.
FECUND EVANGELICAL FAMILY PING!
So i got about 20 of them tack on onerther 15 years or so
lol
Oh, I don't know about that....
Well, if they are raised and/or hairy, they are less likely to be melanomas, so they are certainly more likely to reach old age.
Worms and grubs. "Typically a mole diet includes earthworms, beetles, grubs, and other insect larvae. Moles seldom feed extensively on plant material; however, several species of mice may inhabit mole burrows and damage bulbs and other plant roots." http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD1139.html
“I wanna know why the ugliest women seem to have the most children. I suspect beer has something to do with it”.
There are a lot of politically incorrect explanations, but I think it takes something stronger than beer.
A lot of PC-indoctrinated men can only find solace in ugly women. No need to explain more.
I am overjoyed to have married a beautiful conservative woman 26 years ago. It’s not easy. We disagree with each other almost as much as we disagree with the libs.
Damn, you beat me to it!
the exception only proves the rule.
Honey, is that you?
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