UVA pulmonary researchers looked at the association between blood-plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids - the heart-healthy fats found in foods such as salmon and flaxseeds - and the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, as well as how long patients could go without needing a transplant.
The variant, located in a mitochondrial microprotein dubbed SHLP2, was found to be highly protective against Parkinson’s disease; individuals with this mutation are half as likely to develop the disease as those who do not carry it.