Reviewing Approaches to Treating Transthyretin Amyloidosis

Transthyretin amyloidosis may be a primary component of the present limit on human longevity. Transthyretin is one of the few proteins in the human body that can misfold in ways that encourage other molecules of the same protein to misfold in the same way, joining together form solid aggregates that disrupt cell and tissue function. This is particularly an issue in the cardiovascular system, and while it is presently thought that transthyretin amyloidosis only contributes to a minority of fatal cardiovascular disease in younger old age, autopsies of supercentenarians suggested that it is the major cause of death in the oldest old. Transthyretin amyloidosis has both normal and accelerated forms, the later resulting from inherited mutations. Most of the work done in developing therapies has focused on treating the rare mutant form of the condition, given the favorable incentives placed on therapies for rare diseases by regulators. Fortunately many of these treatments are also applicable to the age-related normal form of transthyretin amyloidosis. We might hope to see this condition better diagnosed and periodically reversed in its earlier stages, as this part of the industry progresses. Removal of this and other forms of amyloid should be a part of any comprehensive toolkit of rejuvenation therapies in order to prevent its contribution to degenerative aging. A Review of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis is a progressive d...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs