Scientists have found that variations in MC1R gene, which deals with pigmentation, have significant association with a person's perceived age. The scientists' findings were published in the journal Cell.
The MC1R association was said to result in looking up to two years older. It was also said to be "independent of wrinkling, skin color and sun exposure, as per Cell.
In the research, the make-up free faces of 2,693 people were evaluated independently to see what age people thought they looked and this was compared to their true age. After this, scientists looked for differences or mutations that were more common to those who looked younger than their actual age.
Scientists discover that a specific gene variant can make some people look about two years older than others https://t.co/wbsaOGRLWl
— The Conversation (@ConversationUK) May 2, 2016
Melanin Gene First One To Be Linked To Perceived Age
BBC reported that the MC1R gene is essential for making melanin, which has an effect on skin pigmentation while protecting people against the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Many of the gene's variants are said to cause red hair.
"This is the first gene we have found for perceived age, and this single gene has an effect of two years," said Manfred Kayser, as per The Guardian. Kayser is a professor of forensic molecular biology at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Kayser said that finding more genes involved in perceived age can lead to better understanding of how old one looks and one's actual health. "It is a different approach to understanding healthy ageing," Kayser added.
Questions Arise On Melanin Gene Study
According to The Guardian, Edinburgh University geneticist, Ian Jackson said that it was difficult to know whether the role of skin color was properly ruled out in the study. Jackson also questioned the method, as people were asked to rate the age of others. He questioned if it was how old people looked or the psychology of the observer that was being measured.
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