Gene therapy might reverse ageing

People are born, grow, mature, and then start the process of ageing. A few wrinkles, crows feet circle the eyes and a sprinkle of grey hairs are the common signs of ageing. This is a normal cycle and for many (and what the media tends to tell us) is not a pleasing one. This is why scientists have been trying for many years to find a “cure” or the “secret elixer” to an  anti-ageing treatment. This time they believe they might have been successful.

A group of scientists in the United States were able to find a gene therapy that might reverse the ageing process reports The National Post. They made this study on mice and they discovered big changes after testing the gene therapy. They discovered that their “treatment” might actually have rejuvenating effects.

The researchers observed that after only six weeks of receiving treatment, the animals looked younger, had straighter spines, better cardiovascular health, healed quicker when injured and lived 30 per cent longer that the ones that did not receive this gene therapy.

This is not the first time this type of treatment has been administrated. The treatment has previously been given to mice to turn back the clock on adult cells, such as skin cells. The researchers treated these mice with induced pluripotent stem (iPS). This technique has been tested before but it did not show this much potential until now.

These cells can multiply and the transform into normal cells. This is why they believe it could reverse the ageing process.

Lead researcher, Dr. Juan-Carlos Izpisua Belmonte said the study indicated that ageing may not have to proceed in one single direction.

“This study shows that ageing is a very dynamic and plastic process, and therefore will be more amenable to therapeutic interventions than we previously thought,” he said according to The National Post.

While researchers agree the approach won’t lead to immortality, they claim treatments designed to slow the process are in the foreseeable future.