Scientists at the Orlando Health Cancer Center of the University of Florida found that there may be an unexpected "pusher" behind obesity, diabetes, fatty liver and other common metabolic diseases, that is, mutations naturally occurring in the blood system with age. The relevant research results were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. As people age, stem cells in the bone marrow responsible for producing blood cells accumulate mutations in their DNA. Most mutations do not have an impact, but occasionally certain mutated hematopoietic stem cells may "displace" other normal cells. This phenomenon is called "clonal hematopoiesis", which affects about 10% of elderly people and is associated with an increased risk of blood cancers such as leukemia. In the latest research, the team used the British Biobank and the National Institutes of Health's "National Research Program" and other large patient databases for analysis, and found that clonal hematopoiesis was associated with higher risk of obesity and diabetes. In the experimental stage, the team implanted a gene mutation commonly found in clonal hematopoiesis into the blood system of healthy mice. The results showed that compared with non mutated mice, mice carrying the mutation had a larger food intake, faster weight gain, and also exhibited high blood sugar and increased susceptibility to liver problems. The team hopes to identify high-risk populations for diseases such as hypertension earlier by further understanding these mutations in the blood, and intervene through medication or personalized diet and lifestyle. (New Society)