Laron

Born with a condition called Laron syndrome, many of the interrelated villagers stand shorter than four feet.

Thestar.com - Home Page Joseph Hall 2011

The villagers are very small, generally less than three and a half feet tall, and have a rare condition known as Laron syndrome or Laron-type dwarfism.

NYT > Home Page By NICHOLAS WADE 2011

Born with a condition called Laron syndrome, many of the interrelated villagers stand shorter than four feet.

Thestar.com - Home Page Joseph Hall 2011

The villagers are very small, generally less than three and a half feet tall, and have a rare condition known as Laron syndrome or Laron-type dwarfism.

NYT > Global Home By NICHOLAS WADE 2011

Back in 1987, Dr. Guevara-Aguirre began studying the Laron individuals to better understand the reasons for their stunted growth.

Dwarfism Offers Longevity Clues Gautam Naik 2011

The research focused on a group of about 100 Ecuadoreans with Laron syndrome, a rare genetic mutation that prevents their bodies from properly using growth hormone.

Dwarfism Offers Longevity Clues Gautam Naik 2011

During his visit, the Ecuadorean physician said "he didn't remember seeing a case of cancer or diabetes in the Laron population," Dr. Longo recalled.

Dwarfism Offers Longevity Clues Gautam Naik 2011

One unusual coda to the Ecuadorean story is that even though the Laron patients don't develop diabetes or cancer, they don't live any longer than their relatives.

Dwarfism Offers Longevity Clues Gautam Naik 2011

Yet, while the Laron patients had a higher level of obesity than their relatives, not one in the group suffered from diabetes.

Dwarfism Offers Longevity Clues Gautam Naik 2011

And a recent study by Dr. Longo showed that fasting leads to rapid changes in growth factors similar to those caused by the Laron mutation.

Dwarfism Offers Longevity Clues Gautam Naik 2011