Scientific research often takes most unexpected path. In the newest development, a team of researchers is trying to explain how a group of people in remote area of Ecuador rarely experiences cancer. These people are quite small, and there may be a correlation between this genetic disorder and relatively low occurrence of cancer. Furthermore, the number of those suffering from diabetes is also well below the average. Understanding this correlation may open further opportunities in the quest for cure.
Key Takeaways:
- People in a village in Ecuador have a condition which prevents them from growing tall but also prevents them from getting cancer.
- Even those who are morbidly obese tend to have good blood pressure and no diabetes, which is rare.
- Doctors are visiting the village to understand how to treat the condition, and also hope to find treatments for cancer and diabetes.
“NBC News traveled with Guevara-Aguirre, an endocrinologist, and his research partner, Dr. Valter Longo, a longevity specialist at the University of Southern California, to southern Ecuador to visit their tiny patients.”
