Gene makes people fat, raises Alzheimer's risk

Discussion in 'Biology & Genetics' started by sandy, Apr 20, 2010.

  1. sandy Banned Banned

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    A variant of an obesity gene carried by more than a third of the U.S. population also reduces brain volume, raising carriers' risk of Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers said.

    People with a specific variant of the fat mass and obesity gene, or FTO gene, have brain deficits that could make them more vulnerable to the mind-robbing disease.

    "The basic result is that this very prevalent gene not only adds an inch to your waistline, but makes your brain look 16 years older...

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100419/hl_nm/us_obesity_gene_brain_3

    I still think people can beat this by diet and exercise. This story may make some think they now have an excuse to be fat.
     
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  3. PieAreSquared Woo is resistant to reason Registered Senior Member

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    On average, people with the obesity variant of the FTO gene had 8 percent less tissue in their frontal lobes -- sometimes referred to as the brain's "command center."

    They also had 12 percent less tissue in their occipital lobes, which is the part of the brain that processes vision and other perceptions

    So when they ask "Honey does this dress make my ass look big".. they really don't know
     
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  5. Stoniphi obscurely fossiliferous Valued Senior Member

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  7. sandy Banned Banned

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    I'm surprised this topic got so little play considering 80% of adult Americans are overweight.
     
  8. Mr MacGillivray Banned Banned

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    Why don't they develop a vaccine against this gene?
     
  9. PieAreSquared Woo is resistant to reason Registered Senior Member

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    Or something that you can eat

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  10. sandy Banned Banned

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    Good questions. I don't know enough about vaccines to even have an opinion.
     

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