- Anti-aging prospects: $1 diabetes pill to Easter Island chemical
- Key strategies: Stem cells, diet, drug trials for longevity
- Research highlights: Senolytics, rapamycin, caloric restriction for longevity
Researchers are exploring potential remedies for anti-aging, ranging from a $1 pill used to treat diabetes to an enigmatic chemical discovered on Easter Island.
Numerous initiatives have attempted to extend an individual’s lifespan, whereas others have proposed the possibility of cell rejuvenation that would render the epidermis appear thirty years younger.
A prodigious anti-aging therapy may consist of a compound present in vegetables and a drug utilized in chemotherapy; it extended the lives of rodents, decreased their susceptibility to diseases, and increased their stamina.
Others have suggested stem cell injections for tissue regeneration, a pill for the treatment of diabetes, and the reprogramming of specific body parts—among other ideas—which, in the future, may assist humans in retaining their youthful radiance.
Determining the most crucial domain of aging research is a challenging task due to the abundance of promising prospects.
“The drawing board is replete with an abundance of innovative concepts that make for exciting clinical trials.”
However, the most important point is that more funding is required for this science. Approximately $1 is spent annually per person in the United States on public financing of aging biology research, even though age-related diseases such as cancer and dementia account for 85% of all deaths in the country.
Medications that eliminate decrepit cells
Steele described’senolytic pharmaceuticals, which eliminate aged, senescent cells, as one of the most promising areas of anti-aging research.
Mice that were administered a senolytic cocktail consisting of quercetin (a ‘flavonoid’ found in fruits and vegetables) and dasatinib (a drug typically used for chemotherapy) became ‘younger’ in the laboratory.
“Lab research has demonstrated that administering substances to mice effectively reduces their biological age,” Steele explained.
They not only had improved epidermis and fur but also ran further and faster on a treadmill and developed a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, they appeared stunning after undergoing a course of senolytics.
At present, over two dozen companies are endeavoring to implement this concept in humans, whereas it has only been successful in rodents. Therefore, keep an eye on this location!
“Reset switch” about human cells
Altos Labs, the largest biotechnology startup ever, is supported by $3 billion in investor cash and employs 500 scientists and 500 personnel who are reportedly compensated one million dollars annually.
It is funded by Jeff Bezos (Elon Musk quipped on Twitter, “If it doesn’t work, he’ll sue death!”) and has San Francisco and San Diego facilities in its sights.
The Californian firm is primarily concerned with cellular rejuvenation, or the discovery of a “reset switch” for human cells.
Wolf Reik, vice president of Altos Labs, conducted research in which genetic switches called Yamanaka factors were applied to the epidermis cells of middle-aged individuals.
Upon maturation in a laboratory container, the cells were observed to be between twenty-five and thirty years younger.
This year, Steve Horvath of Altos Labs stated, “In certain respects, we are beginning to see indications that interventions that lengthen our healthy years may be feasible.”
Numerous individuals adhere to social media influencers who offer lifestyle guidance, encompassing topics such as intermittent fasting and specific exercise regimens.
“Even if you gain five years, that does not equal fifty years.” Additionally, many individuals are unable to exercise or maintain a wholesome lifestyle for whatever reason, and they wish to be assisted by medication.
Investigations at Altos Labs are ongoing.
Stem cell administration
Numerous universities research the effects of stem cells on senescence, including Harvard, Tehran University, and Sun Yat-Sen University in China.
Stem cells are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into numerous other cell types within the organism.
Stem cells may become less effective at repairing tissues as we age, which can result in inflammation and an increased risk of cancer.
Already, affluent consumers are being offered infusions of “young” stem cells by companies like Cellcolabs.
Bryan Johnson, an entrepreneur who is investing millions in an attempt to regain his youth, received an injection of youthful, healthy stem cells from Cellcolabs.
He declared, “After receiving an infusion of 100 million mesenchymal stem cells, I am now composed of youthful Swedish bone marrow.”
The anti-aging medication for $1
A series of clinical trials involving individuals aged 65 to 79 are designed to evaluate the anti-aging properties of the diabetes medication metformin, which has been in use for decades.
More than 3,000 seniors will participate in the TAME trial to determine whether metformin treatment delays the onset of age-related chronic diseases like dementia and heart disease.
Metformin increased both lifespan and “healthspan” (the time during which the animals remain healthy), according to mouse studies.
Subsequent clinical trials have demonstrated that metformin users have a decreased risk of developing specific types of cancer, such as gastrointestinal and blood malignancies.
Scientists are especially ecstatic about the fact that metformin is already FDA-approved for the treatment of diabetes, is widely used and safe, and costs less than one dollar per day.
The Targeting Ageing with Metformin (TAME) Trial will monitor the effects of the medication on thousands of patients for six years.
Senior scientific counsel at the American Federation for Ageing Research Steven Austad stated, “I do not know whether metformin extends human lifespan, but the available evidence strongly suggests that it does.”
The substance from Easter Island
A chemical that was discovered on Easter Island half a century ago is among the most promising anti-aging treatments currently under discovery.
The Lancet reports that rapamycin, which is produced by soil microbes on a remote Pacific island, inhibits aging-related signaling and increases the lifespan of yeast, worms, flies, and mice by 20%, 19%, 24%, and 60%, respectively.
The drug, initially authorized for use in organ transplant patients as an immunosuppressant, is presently undergoing canine clinical trials in addition to human research.
To determine the anti-aging effects of TRIAD (Test of Rapamycin in Ageing Dogs), the Dog Ageing Project is presently administering the drug to household canines.
Restrictions on the diet and human cells
A restricted-calorie diet may extend life expectancy, according to the findings of multiple clinical trials; Penn State University is conducting ongoing research to determine by how much.
Calorie restriction ranging from 20% to 60% has been demonstrated in prior research to extend the life span of numerous animal species.
Scholarly attention has been directed towards telomeres, which are DNA segments located at the termini of chromosomes.
Throughout an individual’s lifetime, telomeres are lost during chromosome replication to form new cells.
“Take a step towards financial freedom – claim your free Webull shares now!”
Once a sufficient number of copies have been made, the protective cover of telomeres entirely evaporates.
According to lead author Waylon Hastings, caloric restriction may extend human lifespans for a variety of reasons, and the subject is still under investigation.
“One fundamental mechanism by which cellular life is prolonged is metabolism,” Hastings elaborated.
The process of energy consumption within a cell generates waste products known as oxidative stress, which have the potential to harm DNA and induce cellular degradation.
Nevertheless, cellular decomposition is slowed and waste products are produced when an individual’s cells consume less energy as a result of caloric restriction.
The researchers intend to reevaluate their study group ten years later to determine whether calorie restriction has any effect on human telomeres.
Ex-Labour minister Frank Field, tasked by Blair, passes away
