Researchers have developed chemical ways to reverse aging, one step closer to finding the Fountain of Youth. Harvard Medical School genetics professor David Sinclair and his team created chemical cocktails which can restore aged cells without losing their identity or their identities as individuals.
Biological age is determined by your internal biological clock and influences the pace of cell aging and any age-related illnesses that arise in your body.
Stem Cells
Stem cells serve as the raw materials from which our bodies produce all specialized cells – like blood and brain cells – while scientists hope stem cell therapy will be an effective means of treating many conditions that arise as we age.
Hematopoietic stem cells, found in bone marrow, are among the most prevalent type of stem cell found throughout the body and responsible for producing new blood cells as well as replacing damaged ones throughout. Other stem cell types found throughout include embryonic and adult stem cells found throughout tissue types in our bodies – though adult ones tend to specialize more, only producing cells similar to themselves while embryonic ones have more primitive functions, producing all sorts of tissue-specific cells such as hepatocytes (heart cells) or neurons.
Certain researchers claim to have identified cocktails of chemicals capable of reversing human aging by rejuvenating old cells within muscles, tissues, and organs – they refer to this process as “cellular rejuvenation,” or “stem cell therapy”. Unfortunately, their claims often lack medical proof.
Many clinics that provide stem cell treatments have taken to adopting similar tactics as illicit pharmaceutical companies when advertising their services. Such companies will post videos to YouTube, with some even featuring patient testimonials; they may claim their treatment can cure everything from joint pain to Alzheimer’s.
These claims are founded upon the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Japanese researchers achieved this breakthrough in 2006 when they learned how to reprogram normal cells back into an embryonic state – this breakthrough allowed scientists to use iPSCs as a means of producing any cell type in humans; potentially finding stem cells responsible for age-related conditions or diseases and transplanting them back into patients in order to treat those conditions more effectively – it would be a groundbreaking technological advancement that may eventually lead to life-extending therapies.
Hormones
Hormones are chemicals produced by glands known as endocrine glands and used to communicate signals between organs of the body. Their name derives from Greek for “I excite.” Physiologist Ernest Starling provided this definition in 1905: a hormone is “A substance produced by glands with internal secretion that transmits specific information through bloodstream to other cells”. However, newer definitions like those provided by Encyclopedia Britannica also consider cytokines and growth factors to be hormones under certain circumstances.
Hormones communicate their message by binding to specific receptors on another cell or tissue, similar to how keys fit locks. Once bound, a hormone sets off biochemical reactions that affect cell activity or function – for instance insulin signaling causes cells to take in glucose for energy production while glucocorticoids induce stress responses by restricting production of proteins essential for survival.
Some hormones are released only in response to specific stimuli, like pituitary gland hormones secreted after receiving stimulation from the hypothalamus; others, like growth hormone or thyroxine produced by the thyroid gland, may be released throughout the body in response to various triggers; in addition, many hormones come from inactive precursors that are converted by enzymes into their active forms by enzymes in their bodies.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School have developed a way to reverse the aging process in mice using a cocktail of drugs including growth hormone, Metformin and an activator for the enzyme AMPK. This combination has rejuvenated cells found in muscles, tissues and organs and will extend lives by several decades if applied on humans as well. Their discovery was published in Aging magazine’s July issue. Scientists hope they can develop similar treatments that extend human lives too.
Diet
Though you cannot stop the effects of aging entirely, changing your diet can certainly slow the rate and prevent age-related diseases. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables (like blueberries, spinach and kale), low glycemic vegetables such as asparagus and zucchini as well as nuts and seeds as well as fish such as salmon or walnuts is key in staying hydrated and can slow aging processes down significantly. Furthermore, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is also crucial to remaining healthy.
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is an essential supplement to combating the effects of aging. Acting as an antioxidant, it protects cells against oxidative damage while helping the body produce collagen for smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.
Salk Institute researchers recently conducted an experiment which demonstrated they could partially reverse aging in mice by administering genetic therapy that restores their cells to more youthful states.
Your biological age is determined by methylation, a chemical process which can be hastened by certain diseases and lifestyle habits like stress. A new study indicates that humans can reverse methylation to de-age by decreasing mortality risk (Zasada, 2019). By doing so, their bodies reset their biological age to be lower than chronological age, leading to an increase in healthy years lived (Zasada 2019).
Exercise
Exercise can help slow aging by increasing cardiovascular fitness and blood circulation; its release of cytokines and growth factors releases anti-ageing agents that repair damaged cells faster, thus delaying aging processes. Regular workouts also boost cardiovascular health and improve blood circulation – both positive effects that could potentially lengthen lifespans.
An alternative treatment to slow or reverse the effects of aging might involve drugs designed to remove dead cells accumulated over time in tissues and organs – known as “senescent cells” by scientists – which contribute to tissue and organ degeneration. WIRED reported that over two dozen companies are working on eliminating these “senescent cells”, with funding coming from billionaires such as Jeff Bezos.
While scientific advances are promising, longevity experts remain cautious. More research needs to be completed before pills can truly reverse aging; if the right ingredients are identified however, these compounds could reduce frailty and ease strain on healthcare systems while at the same time helping people live longer and happier lives – Luigi Fontana wrote the Manual of Healthy Longevity & Wellbeing on this subject.
