Mar 02, 2015 10:02 AM EST
Leukaemia Mutations: Almost Inevitable

On recent health news, many researchers stated that it is almost inevitable that the blood will take its initial steps towards leukaemia as individuals grow older. Researchers have analyzed the blood of about 4,219 individuals looking for DNA errors or mutations connected to blood cancer or leukaemia. The number of mutations on healthy adults without the disease is higher than what is expected. The research has concentrated on 15 hereditary leukaemia mutations and has found them in 0.8% individuals aged below 60 and then about 19.5% individuals aged 90 years old and above.

The media cited figures recommending that over 70% individuals in their 90s will have some type of leukaemia mutations. This was actually based on the predictions of occurrence of other types of mutations outside the 15 individuals tested. The great news is that age related leukaemia mutations are unlikely to kill individuals. The bad side is that individuals might die because of something else prior to the mutations triggering the onset of life threatening leukaemia.

Some individuals are still predicting that the average life span will dramatically rise several decades further. The results of studies regarding leukaemia mutations can become issues for the future generations and these might also apply to different or other forms of cancer. A study about leukaemia mutations was carried out by a group of researchers from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute from Cambridge United Kingdom and funded by Leukaemia Lymphoma Research of Wellcome Trust and Kay Kendal fund.

Since the study was published, the media got the chance to access it and report it accurately for public knowledge. Many individuals have probably encountered health news regarding this matter making them more aware about the inevitability of developing genetic mutations linked to leukaemia as individuals grow older. The news has undeniably captured the interest and attention of many.

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