Researchers uncover processes to reverse aging in mice

A way to reverse aging has been sought for centuries. Some researchers may have recently found the answer. However, at this stage, it only works on mice.

Process found to reverse mice ages

It was discovered at the Harvard Medical School that gene therapy, accounts ABC, can be used to reverse the age of laboratory mice. Dr. Ronald A. DePinho of Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute headed the research team. The findings were published within the journal Nature. Researchers reversed the faster getting older affect to make this occur. Of course, that meant they had to genetically engineer mice that aged faster. The hair on some of the mice had turned gray. It began growing darker fur though. In Alzheimer’s, the brain shrinks just as it did in some of these rats. Their brain tissue would grow back though. Subjects that had lost some organ function were able to have it restored. Infertility was reversed. The getting older affects may be stopped or diminished supposedly with this.

It worked well

The reason the procedure worked was due to the specific thing done. Gene therapy is that thing. There are caps on chromosomes which are part of DNA. Telomeres are the name of these caps. Telomeres produce a protective compound called telomerase, which is exactly what the study focused on. DNA structure is damaged when telomeres breaks down which happens when organisms age and telomerase is produced less. The laboratory mice were given gene therapy to reverse telomere breakdown. Reversing aging was not the purpose of the study. Slowing getting older was exactly what was being worked on.

Where is the issue?

Gene therapy isn't even close to being something that humans can use. Drug regimens that stimulate telomere growth could be what humans will benefit from. Also, should this become accessible for humans, only the procedure of aging, or the breakdown of the body, could be affected. There won't be any method to have eternal life. Telomerase therapies will not be for that.

Citations

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Health/Alzheimers/aging-reversed-mice/story?id=12269125&page=1