From a $1 pill to treat diabetes to a mysterious chemical unearthed on Easter Island, researchers are finding ways to banish old age.
While many projects focus on extending people’s health, others offer the hope of rejuvenating cells and making skin look 30 years younger.
Promising anti-aging treatments include drugs used in chemotherapy and compounds found in vegetables that could extend the lives of mice, reduce their risk of disease and improve their stamina.
Some have suggested that things like stem cell injections to repair tissue or pills to treat diabetes and reset certain parts of the body could one day help humans retain their youthful glow. .
“There are so many promising areas of aging research that it’s hard to highlight which are the most important,” said Andrew Steele, author of Ageless: The new science of getting age without getting old. told DailyMail.com.
“From the drawing board to clinical trials, there are a lot of exciting ideas everywhere.”
“But the important message is that this science needs more funding. In the United States, despite age-related diseases such as cancer, public funding for aging biology research is Approximately $1 per person per year is spent. Dementia accounts for 85% of deaths in the United States. ”
drugs that kill aging cells
One of the most promising areas of anti-aging research is “senolytic” drugs, which kill aging senescent cells, Steele explained.
In the lab, mice were “rejuvenated” when given a senolytic cocktail of two compounds: dasatinib (a drug commonly used in chemotherapy) and quercetin (a type of “flavonoid” found in fruits and vegetables).
“It has been shown in the lab that when given to mice, it essentially rejuvenates them biologically,” Steele explained.
“They lived longer, had less cancer and heart disease, could run farther and faster on the treadmill, and frankly, they looked great. A course of senolytic therapy After that, the fur was better and the skin was plumper.”
“Right now, over 20 companies are trying to turn this from an idea that works on mice to an idea that works on humans. So watch this space!
The “reset switch” of human cells
Altos Labs is backed by $3 billion in cash from investors and is the largest biotech startup in history, paying 500 employees and top scientists millions of dollars a year.
Backed by an investment from Jeff Bezos (who joked on Twitter, “If this doesn’t work, I’m going to sue for the death penalty!”), the company aims to establish facilities in San Francisco and San Diego. .
The California company focuses on cellular rejuvenation, or finding the “reset switch” for human cells.
In a study by Wolf Reik, vice president of Altos Labs, researchers used a genetic switch known as Yamanaka factor in the skin cells of middle-aged people.
After the cells were grown in a laboratory dish, they were found to be 25 to 30 years younger.
“We now know, in some ways, that interventions may be possible to extend our healthy lifespans,” Steve Horvath of the Altos Institute said earlier this year.
“Many people follow influencers on social media who offer lifestyle advice, from intermittent fasting to specific exercise habits.
“Five years and other numbers may increase, but it won’t reach 50 years. And many people, for one reason or another, simply cannot exercise or live a healthy lifestyle. , I want medicine to help me.”
Altos Labs’ research is ongoing.
stem cell injection
Several universities around the world, including Sun Yat-sen University in China, the University of Tehran, and Harvard University, are studying the effects of stem cells on aging.
Stem cells are cells that can grow into different types of cells in the body.
As we age, the ability of stem cells to repair tissues decreases, which can cause inflammation and increase the risk of cancer.
Companies such as Cellcolabs already sell “young” stem cell injections to wealthy users.
Entrepreneur Brian Johnson, who has spent millions of dollars on his quest to “become younger,” was injected with younger, healthier stem cells by Cellcolabs.
“I have now received an infusion of 100 million mesenchymal stem cells, created from the bone marrow of a young Swede,” he said.
anti-aging drugs for $1
A series of trials in people aged 65 to 79 aims to measure the anti-aging effects of the drug metformin, which has been used to treat diabetes for decades.
The TAME trial will involve more than 3,000 older adults and will test whether taking metformin can delay the onset of age-related chronic diseases such as heart disease and dementia.
Studies in mice showed that metformin increased lifespan and “healthspan” (the length of time an animal remains healthy).
Subsequent trials have shown that people using metformin have a reduced risk of certain cancers, such as blood cancers and gastrointestinal cancers.
Researchers are particularly excited because metformin is widely used and safe, has already been approved by the FDA for use in diabetes, and costs less than $1 per day.
The Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) trial will follow thousands of patients over six years to monitor its effectiveness.
“While we don’t know whether metformin extends people’s lives, the evidence that exists suggests that it is very likely that it does. “
easter island drugs
Among the most promising treatments being researched for use in anti-aging is a chemical discovered on Easter Island 50 years ago.
Rapamycin, produced by soil bacteria on a remote Pacific island, has been shown to inhibit aging-related signaling and extend lifespan by 20% in yeast, 19% in worms, 24% in flies, and 60% in mice. It is said that it is. Lancet.
The drug was originally approved as an immunosuppressant for organ transplant patients, but is now being tested in dogs in parallel with human studies.
The Dog Aging Project is currently conducting TRIAD (Test of Rapamycin in Older Dogs) on family pets to measure anti-aging effects.
Dietary restrictions and human cells
Several trials have shown that eating a calorie-restricted diet may extend your lifespan, and ongoing research at Penn State University may reveal exactly how much longer it extends your lifespan. .
Previous studies have shown that restricting calories by 20% to 60% promotes longevity in many animals.
Research has focused on telomeres, the regions of DNA at the ends of chromosomes.
Throughout a person’s life, each time a cell replicates, some telomeres are lost as chromosomes are copied into the new cell.
When cells replicate enough times, the protective caps of telomeres disappear completely.
Lead author Waylon Hastings said there are many reasons why calorie restriction could extend human lifespans, but the topic is still being researched.
“One of the key mechanisms that extends lifespan involves metabolism within cells,” Hastings explained.
As energy is consumed within cells, the waste products produced in the process can cause oxidative stress, which can damage DNA and destroy cells.
“However, when a person’s cells use less energy due to calorie restriction, the amount of waste products is reduced and the cells do not break down as quickly.”
The researchers aim to re-evaluate the study group in 10 years to measure the effects of caloric restriction on human telomeres.
