Reversing Aging (Harvard affiliated medical centers)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Alzheimers/aging-reversed-mice/story?id=12269125


Researchers at Harvard-affiliated medical centers genetically manipulated mice to age faster, and then used gene therapy to lengthen telomeres -- compounds found at the ends of strands of DNA -- which reversed age-related problems such as decreased brain function and infertility.

"We at best expected it to be a slowing of the process or perhaps an arresting of the process. We did not anticipate that it would be so dramatic a reversal in all of the problems that the animal was experiencing," said Dr. Ronald DiPinho, professor of medicine and genetics at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, and co-author of the paper published Sunday in the journal Nature. "We were so struck by the findings that we rushed to get the study published."

A human cell holds 23 pairs of chromosomes, each containing protective caps at each end called telomeres. Enzymes called telomerases protect the telomeres and reduce DNA damage thought to contribute to tissue aging. But as we age, our cells produce less telomerase; telomeres are cut shorter and eventually fail to protect DNA from damage.

Researchers boosted telomerase in the mice cells -- which hold 20 pairs of chromosomes -- to prevent telomeres from getting shorter. They found restoring the enzyme not only stopped aging but revived failing organs and even restored dark fur to mice who had turned grey. DePinho said the mice that were equivalent to ages 80 to 90 in human years returned to the equivalent of middle age. "This indicates there's a point of return for these tissues," said DePinho. "The fact that you can bring a tissue to the brink and then bring it back this dramatically is remarkable."

[DavidDvorkin]

1. When telomeres were first discovered, they seemed like the answer

to the problem of stopping and/or reversing aging. Maybe that initial idea will turn out to be true.

[mistertrickster]

2. This is fascinating and I K&R'd it . . . but doesn't shooting up with

telomerase increase chances of cancer about 1000 times?

I thought that was the reason it was dropped years ago . . .

[eridani]

3. There is actually no equivalent to age 80 or 90 in mice.

If you increase the lifespan of a mouse from 2 years to 4 years, what have you actually done? Added 2 years to its life (2+2=4)? Or have you multiplied its lifespan by 2 (2X2=4)? In humans, there is a big difference between 80+2=82 and 80X2=160.

[Tumbulu]

4. Every time I eat something sweet I think about my telomeres

getting cut shorter...I know that one can lengthen the life of the telomeres by under eating and avoiding sugar....I just have not been able to do that yet. Ahh for a magic that would let us eat our cake and stay young, too!.