A new study suggests that potential drugs can be developed to slow the aging process in humans. How it works?
Recently, scientists from China have developed a new method to rejuvenate old mice. To do this, they used a surgical connection of their circulatory system with the circulatory system of younger mice. And this allowed to achieve certain results. Such a method could allow us to learn more about the aging process and, according to the Independent, extend a person’s life.
The new method, which was developed by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was developed on the basis of a previously known method – heterochronous parabiosis. It is based on the fact that the blood of a young organism has the ability to recover. But for scientists it is still a mystery how young blood turns the body into a “state of youth”.
It is known that, aging, the body cannot independently restore tissues. Therefore, researchers are constantly looking for ways to make cells rejuvenate. But at the moment, experiments are carried out only on mice.
The researchers analyzed the state of cells in the organs of mice. They needed this to determine the mechanism of aging and understand how they can be rejuvenated. According to them, old blood accelerates the aging process of organs and systems. But young blood can make an old rodent younger. This is due to the fact that young blood affects undifferentiated stem cells in tissues.
It is worth noting that in adults, stem cells are constantly updated. This allows them to maintain cell function, as well as repair age-related damage. And stem and progenitor cells, which give rise to immune and other cells, are most sensitive to young blood.
Such data will help scientists to further advance their research. According to Ma Shuai from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, these data will help find drugs that can prolong life and slow down the aging process.
But young blood cannot be an effective medicine, it is only part of the means for cell rejuvenation.
Only registered users can leave comments