Genes and genetic variants that determine the metabolic response to dietary protein
Aging and age-associated diseases are a mounting burden on both individuals and society. Because many people suffer from more than one age-associated disease, tackling these diseases individually is an inefficient way of promoting both lifespan and healthspan. Obesity is strongly associated with poor healthspan in both men and women, and acts as a risk factor for many common age-associated diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Surprisingly, and in contrast to prevailing advice in popular culture, multiple long-term observational studies have shown that people who eat diets with lower levels of protein have a reduced incidence of diabetes and other age-related diseases. Unfortunately, most research does not reflect a population like our own, 50% female and genetically diverse. Dr. Green's research focusses on finding insight into how protein restriction promotes healthspan in a diverse mouse population, which may eventually aid in developing a personalized “food as medicine” approach to many diseases of aging.
