- In a new animal study, an anti-aging treatment extends lifespan by 25%.
- This treatment significantly reduced cancer-related mortality and mitigated various diseases associated with fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and poor metabolism.
- Experts will explain the findings and how they impact our understanding of lifespan.
“Anti-aging” has been a hot topic recently. It is used on skin care bottles, Moisturizer, serum,Furthermore hand creamBut new research suggests that a market could emerge for anti-aging therapies and drugs that can actually extend your lifespan.
Research published in Nature The researchers sought to understand and manipulate the molecular processes of aging. More specifically, they looked at a pro-inflammatory protein called interleukin-11 (IL-11). Levels of IL-11 increase in the human body with age, which contributes to the aging process. inflammationwhich has been shown to increase the risk of many problems, including: cancer, Type 2 diabetes, Heart diseaseand dementiaThis leads researchers to believe that this protein may play an important role in the rate of aging.
In this animal study, mice were treated with an anti-IL-11 drug, which blocks the effects of the IL-11 protein, from the age of 75 weeks (equivalent to about 55 years in humans) until they died. The results were striking: Mice treated with the anti-IL-11 drug had an average lifespan extended by 22.5% in males and 25% in females, living an average of 155 weeks compared to 120 weeks for untreated mice.
Furthermore, the treatment significantly reduced cancer-related mortality in the animals and reduced a variety of conditions commonly seen in elderly patients, including fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and poor metabolism. Treated mice also showed improved muscle function and improved scores on many indices of frailty. Importantly, side effects were minimal.
So why was the anti-IL-11 drug so effective at extending the lifespan of mice? It suggests that inflammation plays a key role in the aging process. Inflammation is like a slow-burning fire in our bodies that heats up as we age, the researchers say. Joseph Mercola, DOa board-certified family osteopath. “This process, which we call ‘inflammaging,’ is at the heart of many of the health issues associated with aging,” he explains.
As we age, our bodies accumulate cellular damage from a variety of sources, including environmental toxins, metabolic by-products, and general wear and tear, Mercola continues. “This damage triggers a protective immune system response, which includes the production of inflammatory proteins like IL-11.” Mercola explains that this inflammatory response is initially beneficial, as it’s meant to repair damage and protect against threats. But as we age, this process can become dysregulated. “Our cells may produce more IL-11 in response to the cumulative damage of aging, or they may become less efficient at regulating its production,” she adds.
The study suggests that IL-11 production may also increase as a response to other age-related changes in the body, Dr. Mercola points out: “For example, a slower metabolism and a tendency to accumulate fat tissue could lead to increased production of IL-11.”
So by reducing inflammatory signals (by suppressing the IL-11 protein), you essentially turn down the volume on many of the processes that accelerate aging, says Dr. Mercola. “This study showed that by inhibiting IL-11, the researchers were able to rebalance important cellular pathways, including improving metabolism, reducing cellular senescence (when cells stop dividing and start causing problems) and reducing inflammation,” says Dr. Mercola. “Browning” of white adipose tissue,” he explains.
What’s particularly interesting is the broad scope of the effects of this anti-IL-11 drug. The researchers saw improvements in multiple organs and systems in the body, Dr. Mercola notes. This suggests that by targeting chronic inflammation, it’s possible to address multiple aspects of aging simultaneously, he says. What’s more, the study found that very few side effects were observed.
Conclusion
Inhibiting pro-inflammatory proteins, and in particular IL-11 as shown in this study, may have anti-aging effects through multiple interconnected mechanisms, says Dr. Mercola. “Chronic low-level inflammation is a major cause of aging, and reducing this inflammation could slow many aspects of the aging process.” However, he points out that it’s important to note that while increased IL-11 appears to contribute to aging, it’s not an underlying cause, but rather is likely part of a broader pattern of age-related changes in the body’s inflammatory response.
Although the findings are promising, it is important to understand that the anti-aging therapy used (an antibody treatment against IL-11) is not currently available for humans, Dr. Mercola cautions: “These approaches require large-scale clinical trials to confirm their safety and efficacy in humans before they can become the treatment of choice,” he explains.
But there are things you can do to feel younger: “Rather than waiting for a drug treatment, I recommend proactively addressing inflammation and ‘inflammaging’ through diet and lifestyle changes,” advises Dr. Mercola. To slow the aging process (if you’re interested), Anti-inflammatory dietRegular exposure to sunlight Optimizing Vitamin D Productionand engaging in consistent exercise.
Madeleine, PreventionShe has a background in health writing from her experience as an editorial assistant at WebMD and her personal research in college. She has a degree in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience from the University of Michigan and is involved in strategizing for success in a variety of fields. Preventionsocial media platforms.
