Laron dwarves, cancer, diabetes and longevity

People with a peculiar form of dwarfism living in remote Ecuadorian mountain villages can provide some interesting insights into longevity and protection against aging-related diseases like cancer and diabetes.

Those people are called Laron dwarves. They have a short height because of a mutation in a growth hormone receptor protein. This mutation prevents the liver making IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1).

IGF-1 is some sort of growth hormone that makes the body grow. If the body has a deficiency of it growth is stunted, like in people with Laron syndrome. 

However, Laron dwarves hardly contract cancer or type 2 diabetes. They seem to be almost completely immune to these diseases, which points to a role of IGF-1 in cancer and diabetes.

Other research has indeed shown involvement of IGF-1 in cancer and diabetes. The more IGF-1 circulating in the body the higher the risk of cancer or diabetes. Other studies show a link between IGF-1 and longevity. Lab animals like worms without IGF-1-receptors even have a double life span.

Conversely, the more growth hormone, the more IGF-1 you make and the faster you seem to age.

Ironically, growth hormone is touted as a powerful remedy against aging on the internet and in many health books, despite studies showing a clear link between growth hormone, IGF-1, cancer, diabetes and accelerated aging.  

Nonetheless, Laron dwarves provide scientists with yet some more tantalizing insights into the why of the aging process.

This is a movie about Laron dwarves and aging:

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Author: Kris Verburgh, MD