Scientists “Elated” by Treatment They Say Made Mice Genetically Younger

An international team of researchers claim to have slowed the signs of aging in mice by changing their cells to younger states using a genetic treatment.

According to The Guardian, it is a breakthrough in cell regeneration and therapeutic medicine that doesn't seem to cause any problems in mice.

Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte is a professor at the Salk Institute and co-corresponding author of a new book.

We still don't fully understand the implications of the therapy on health, so we won't be able to turn back the clock in humans any time soon.

Epigenetic markers are genetic signs of aging that cells show over time. The markers can be reset using Yamanaka factors, which were first developed in 2006 by Japanese Nobel Laureate Shinya Yamanaka.

These molecule have been shown to be able to reset epigenetic markers to cause cells to express their original states.

In an experiment to test if the approach was safe, Izpisua Belmonte and colleagues tested a range of rejuvenation approaches on three groups of lab mice of different ages.

We did not see any negative effects on the health, behavior or body weight of these animals.

Compared to a control group of mice that didn't receive treatment, the mice resembled their younger selves, showing an improved ability to regenerate skin cells and reduce scarring.

Blood tests taken from the treated animals did not show the signs of aging.

The effect was most pronounced in groups in which the mice were treated for seven to ten months.

More research is needed to confirm if the technique can turn back the clock on epigenetic markers and not just slow down the process of aging.

We don't know if the same technique can be used in humans to reverse aging, or if it's safe to do so in the first place.

Yamanaka factors have the risk of inducing cancer, and unlike mice, humans carry many more mutations at older age, which might already be predisposition to developing into a cancer.

The technique is showing promising signs of being able to treat age related diseases, such as Alzheimer's or brittle bones.

At the end of the day, we want to bring resilience and function back to older cells so that they are more resistant to stress, injury and disease.

Chandra told The Guardian that it was not clear whether the treatment would work in humans.

He told the paper that biological age reversal or reduction could be possible.

Scientists rejuvenation tissues in middle-aged mice.

Scientists recorded the brain activity of a person as they died.

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