RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Could future gene therapy prevent aging diseases?
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 390773
DO 10.1101/390773
A1 Roman Teo Oliynyk
YR 2018
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/08/17/390773.abstract
AB In a few decades, gene therapy techniques and genetic knowledge may sufficiently advance to support prophylactic gene therapy to prevent late-onset diseases (LODs). Polygenic risk scores and risk allele distribution of diagnosed individuals change with LOD diagnosis age, which may complicate statistical risk estimates. Population simulation naturally accounted for this effect. It quantified the correlation between aging process, polygenic score and hazard ratio of LODs at all ages based on clinical incidence rate and familial heritability for eight highly prevalent diseases.Simulations confirmed that the hypothetical gene therapy would be very beneficial in delaying the onset age and lowering lifetime risk of LODs. Longevity counterbalances the gains, with type 2 diabetes, stroke, and coronary artery disease regaining the pre-treatment baseline with 10-15 years of longer life. Alzheimer’s disease proves most resistant, surpassing the baseline lifetime risk within 5 years longevity improvement. Characteristics of cancers may bring longer lasting benefits.