kublikhan
Joined: 11 Jul 2003
Posts: 2849
Location: Schaumburg, IL |
Researchers rejuvenate old brains & hearts in mice
quote:
Originally posted by article
Researchers at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) have shown that a protein, which they previously demonstrated can make failing hearts in aging mice appear more like those of young and healthy mice, similarly improves brain and skeletal muscle function in aging mice. Two papers released online early today by the journal Science report that injections of a protein known as GDF11, which is found in humans as well as mice, improved the exercise capability of mice and improved function of the olfactory region of the brains in the older mice. They expect to have GDF11 enter initial human clinical trials within three to five years.
Researchers observed that the blood of young mice circulating in old mice seemed to have some rejuvenating effects on muscle repair after injury. When exposed to the blood of young mice, the enlarged, weakened hearts of older mice returned to a more youthful size, and their function improved. They reported that GDF11 was the factor in the blood apparently responsible for the rejuvenating effect. That finding raised hopes that GDF11 may prove, in some form, to be a possible treatment for diastolic heart failure, a condition in the elderly that is irreversible, and fatal. "From the previous work, it could have seemed that GD11 was heart-specific," said Wagers, "but this shows that it is active in multiple organs and cell types. In this study we also saw repair of DNA damage associated with aging."
Rubin works on developing treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in children. Rubin said that 3-D reconstruction and MRI of mice brains showed "more new blood vessels and more blood flow, both of which are normally associated with younger, healthier brain tissue." We do think that, at least in principle, there will be a way to reverse some of the cognitive decline that takes place during aging, perhaps even with a single protein. It could be that a molecule like GDF 11, or GDF 11 itself, could" reverse much of the damage of aging. "It isn't out of the question that GDF11," or a drug developed from it, "might be capable of slowing some of the cognitive defects associated with Alzheimer's Disease.
Hope for aging brains, skeletal muscle
_________________
Give me a lever long enough and I shall move the world. - Archimedes
|
Warcraft Occult Forum Index
-> Links, reviews, previews, etc
