Have they unlocked the code?
Experiencing menopause before the age of 40 can be particularly challenging for women, but recent research has pinpointed a genetic cause for this condition. Researchers at deCODE genetics have been investigating primary ovarian insufficiency, a condition that leads to menopause approximately nine years earlier than usual.
The deCODE team, in collaboration with researchers from Iceland, Denmark, the UK, and Norway, analyzed DNA samples from 174,000 women across these countries. Their study focused on the CCDC201 gene, which was identified in 2022 as producing proteins highly expressed in egg cells.
While the exact mechanism by which CCDC201 contributes to early menopause was not previously understood, the new research has identified a specific genetic mutation that disrupts the gene’s function. Women must possess two copies of this defective variant to develop primary ovarian insufficiency, a condition found in about 1 in 10,000 women of Northern European descent.
This genetic mutation can lead to menopause before age 40 in nearly half of those who carry it. This discovery is significant for women planning to have children, as identifying this genetic link may help them make more informed decisions about their fertility and timing of childbearing.
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