Genetic Mutation In Amish Families Living In Indiana Appears To Protect Against T2D And Increase Longevity.

reports, “Amish people living in a rural part of Indiana have a rare genetic mutation that protects them from type 2 diabetes [T2D] and appears to significantly extend their life spans, according to” the findings of a study published online in the journal Science Advances. The mutation in question “affects a mysterious protein called plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, or PAI-1, that is known primarily for its role in promoting blood clotting.” Approximately five percent of members of the “Amish farming community in Berne” appear to carry “the mutation, which causes them to produce unusually low levels of PAI-1.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/15/well/live/amish-mutation-protects-against-diabetes-and-may-extend-life.html