Growing old being thought of as an unavoidable natural part of life is being challenged by many researchers working to unlocking the key to keeping humans as young and healthy as possible. To some it may sound outlandish and science fiction, but there has been some incredible breakthroughs in anti-aging technology and rejuvenation research. As better understandings of the human body and functions are gained the industry moves closer to making old age and age related diseases thing of the past.
Stem cell technology: Reprogramming aging cells was successful in 2016 by researchers from Salk Institute who succeeded in reprogramming cells of aging mice using induced pluripotent stem cells finding these mice lived 30% longer. The pluripotent stems cells were generated from adult cells and allowed for the reprogramming of skin cells to an embryonic state, providing some of the most interesting data for the use of stem cells in anti-aging efforts.
Targeting mutant mtDNA: To repair aging cells UCLA and CalTech researchers discovered a method of manipulating mitochondria of cells to effectively repair DNA during 2016 in a study investigating whether or not autophagy could be used to target mutant mtDNA to prevent aging processes. The team was successful in increasing fruit fly mitophagy activity and noted reduction of mutant mtDNA in muscle cells; time will tell if similar methods can be used in humans.
Activating splicing factors; Crafting reversalogues to encourage cell division is a breakthrough in reverse aging technology presented by researchers from the Universities of Exeter and Brighton in 2017 who found splicing factors in cells become inactive with age. Introducing reversalogues such as resveratrol was found to reactivate older cells, meaning cells continued to divide as younger cells, rejuvenating the cells and preventing cell aging and death; implications could mean longer life, reduced signs of aging, and better health in later life.
Reversing aging processes of aging dogs: Harvard startup Rejuvenate Bio has been secretive on working on this technology focusing on cocker spaniels and doberman pinschers. The company feels their work is a marketable service which will hasten FDA approval and pave the way for future human trials. It has been suggested that they are modifying genes to target and eliminate risks such as heart and kidney disease.
Senolytic drugs: Combining pre-existing medications to achieve reverse aging using dasatinib and quercetin in mice study has been found to extend lifespan by 36% and significantly delay age related health issues in studies conducted by the National Institute of Aging.
Synthetic peptides: Intervening aging processes using synthetic peptides could reduce risks of illness and effects of aging. Na/K-ATPase oxidant amplification loop is suggested by researchers from Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine to potentially be an important target for anti-aging interventions. Using mice studies to test their theories their treatments slowed aging process, then tested on human dermal fibroblasts to record similar results. Findings suggest if NAKL could be effectively targeted and intervened with pNaKtide treatments the aging process could be significantly slowed.
Smoothing cells using viruses to smooth cell wrinkles: University of Virginia School of Medicine found that with age cells wrinkle as well, and many effects of aging could be the result of cell nuclei wrinkling as it prevents DNA from functioning normally. Researchers believe viruses could be utilized to smooth out nuclear membranes by modifying them to carry and deliver lamin to smooth the cells and keep them functioning as younger cells reversing the effects of aging and helping to protect against numerous health risks.
Pumping young blood back into veins: Young blood may help to reverse aging processes. Research suggests that the blood from young people may be beneficial in fighting aging. When blood from younger mice was introduced into older mice it stimulated neuron and stem cell production, effectively leading to older mice brains to function like the younger counterparts reversing effects of aging on cognition. Currently clinical trials are underway wherein plasma from 16-24 year olds is being introduced into systems of elderly humans with promising early results.
Anti-Aging Pills: Researchers from Harvard Medical School believe they could be able to create anti-aging pills as a result of mice studies using NAD+ to reverse the signs of aging. A few drops of NAD+ put into water increased levels of NAD+ in mice cells within hours, within weeks tissues had reversed to more youthful levels. Human trials showed similar promising results in 2017, if the FDA approves NAD+ there may be an anti-aging pill in shelves soon.
Reversing aging with cannabis and improving brain function with THC: Cannabis may be the key to reversing signs of aging and improving cognitive ability according to research from Bonn University and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The team observed successful reversal of the biological state of the brain in older mice treated with THC in small non-intoxicating doses for 4 weeks, mice had similar cognitive performance to younger mice and outperformed the controls; meaning non-intoxicating THC treatments may allow older humans to regain youthful levels of cognition.
Anti-aging bacteria: Some researchers believe that using bacteria to create anti-aging pills is the key to reversing aging such as rapamycin. Rapamycin has been shown to postpone death in mice, flies, and worms, more recent studies are focusing on dogs with aim to use it in human testing. Many companies are scrambling to be the first to have an approved rapamycin pill hit the market, but that is still a ways off before it will it the shelves.
Gene deletion: In 2015 researchers from the Buck Institute revealed after 10 years or studies they had succeeded in identifying and deleting genes that could prolong life. 238 cells were identified which when removed resulted in a 60% increase in lifespan; many of which are present in mammals, in theory meaning this same process may possibly be applied to humans. However it took 10 years to identify these aging genes in yeast through trial and error, replicating these results in humans could prove to take a very long time, even still their results are encouraging.
