Scientific Breakthroughs in Anti Ageing

Advances in science have entailed upon the human race the windfall of increased life expectancy. While the average life span in developed countries have registered an increase of 20 years and pegged at 82 yrs, in India it is 66.4yrs. Long life is a remarkable achievement and society yearns for the same. But long life also puts a burgeoning pressure on the resources and opportunities in developing countries. The real challenge that embodies long life is living better. Hence the real task accompanying the bantam feat is to ensure that an individual should age gracefully, physically fit, mentally sharp and economically secure.

 Extraordinary medical and scientific advances have contributed enormously towards improving the quality of living and subsequently the life expectancy surged. The phenomenon described as technophysio-evolution described by eminent economist Robert Fogel has brought about immense biological changes in the physiology of the human body which was made possible through numerous advances in technology. A steady supply of food grains, discovery of electricity, invention of techniques like refrigeration, pasteurisation, water purification, vaccination has dramatically reduced deaths due to contagious diseases and premature deaths. These changes have brought an increase in body size by over 50 % and improved robustness and capacity of vital organs too. Even our brains have begun to process information much faster. With the availability of technologically advanced devices ageing has been reduced to minor inconvenience.

Scientists have been relentlessly toiling for several decades to crack the code of ageing. Research carried out at the University of Texas Health Science Centre San Antonio, indicated that a mouse fed with rapamycin seemed to age slowly by reducing damage to certain cells. Even the vital organs like heart and liver fed with rapamycin aged very slowly and its nervous system was quite agile and extremely receptive when compared to its peers of the same age. It was devoid of tumours even. Rafamycin diet laced mouse lived 20% longer than unfed ones. Rapamycin is administered to human subjects to prevent organ rejection after transplantation. Rapamycin was obtained from soil samples in 1964 in an expedition to Easter Island. It works on a wide variety of species like yeast, flies, mice and worms and hence convenient for extensive studies.

Rapamycin works by interrupting with the functioning of a gene mTOR, found in mouse and man. mTOR controls the intake of cells and use of energy. It signals cells to absorb more nutrients when food is abundant and taps into other energy related pathways when nutrients are no longer available. It restricts intake of calories and prolongs life. Rapamycin suffers from pit falls too. In mouse it resulted in 30% smaller body size than average. Its regular use is likely to develop cataracts and increases propensity to diabetes. Male mouse tend to experience gradual loss of testicular functioning. Even human patients who took rapamycin after transplantation had higher changes of developing diabetes and risked cataracts. But it still seems to be a promising anti-ageing drug and calibrating the right doses of medication might tip the balance in favour of longevity with minimum risks.

Another well studied scientific pathway was related to dyskeratosis congentia, a condition of telomere dysfunction, wherein rapid shortening of the telomeres or the ends of chromosomes greatly enhanced ageing. Research indicated that if  cells with the disorder are rectified then premature ageing can be averted. Thus, offering a great promise of turning back the clock. Extensive research was done to understand the role played by telomeres. Carol Gredier, who discovered the enzyme telomerase and cracked the puzzle of the telomere replenishment, was awarded a Nobel Prize too.

Scientists of Harvard Stem Cell Institute hit upon an innovative technique in which a young and an old mice are conjoined in a Siamese-twin style to share the same blood system but kept everything else separate rejuvenated the older mice. They exhibited new cell growth in their brains, muscles were stronger and the enlargement of heart which comes with age was reversed. It was found that a protein GD11 abundant in the younger mice and scarce in old mice could have turned the tables in favour of anti-ageing. Further detailed investigations are to be carried out before endorsing the effects of GD11 scientifically.

In the meanwhile Dena Dubal from the University of California suggested that increase levels of the hormone klotho causes mice to live 30% longer. She suggested that nearly 20% of human beings   carry this gene and live on for an extra 3-4 years. These new discoveries added momentum to the research on longevity. Scientists are hopeful that  they can unravel several such strategies that can interrupt ageing.

Longevity research encompasses the idea of delaying ageing or facilitating slower ageing. The central focus of the research is staving off aging. It is not about extending the life indefinitely but prolonging the healthy life for little longer. No one with a fragile health would want to live long. After all, the real joy of living lies in enjoying life to its fullest in the best of physical and mental health.

@ Copyrights reserved.