Mutations in the SFTPA2 gene have been analyzed in people with the inherited adaptation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, a lung disease that affects 200,000 people, only in the U.S.

This disease mainly affects people age 50 and older than that and causes intense scarring of the lungs that cause about 40,000 deaths per year, according to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

One out of 50 patients of IPF has an inherited form of the condition and in such cases the treatment is none other than lung transplant. The results were revealed in the January issue of The American Journal of Human Genetics.

The SFTPA2 gene performs the function of producing surfactant protein A2 in the pulmonary fluid of the lungs, and it provide the protection of organ against invading pathogens.

In the study, researchers from University of Texas analyzed the people with the inherited type of the disease many of these people with the mutant gene had lung cancer as well as IPF. The researchers concluded that the gene mutations are tied to both or the conditions.

The researchers are presently working on molecular studies to discover the fact, why these gene mutations increase the risk for lung cancer or IPF?

The study is expected to be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting on cancer prevention research, in Washington D.C. on Monday.

The study also found that unhappiness was another factor that might boost risk for cancer in old age.

Senior research scientist, Igor Akushevich says in a news release: “ Almost 80% of all cancers are diagnosed in the elderly, and around 80% of known risk factors can be prevented with little bit efforts.”

Clinicians (if understand the risk factors of cancer) can recommend their older patients how to reduce their chances of developing future cancers.

The Duke group used information from a broad sample of the entire U.S. elderly population and found lifestyle, behavioral and demographic variables as notable contributors in the risk of breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers in seniors.

“As we were expecting, we could observe link between smoking and lung cancer. Exercises and other moderate physical activities can decrease your not only cancer risk but also keep you away from many other diseases,” said Igor Akushevich.