Latest News and Developments about Humankind's Drive Towards Biological Immortality

Recent publication by Newcastle University proclaims that the hidden secret of aging has been unveiled. The bio-chemical pathway responsible for aging has been discovered.

The researchers are doubtful that the study will very soon enable eternal life. However, the findings will certainly be much more fruitful in treating various age-related diseases like heart attack and diabetes.

According to the director of Newcastle University’s Institute of Ageing and Health, Prof. Tom Kirkwood, considers that these findings will help to tackle age-related diseases. It will also help to alleviate certain likely adverse effects of cancer.

The lead researcher Prof. Thomas von Zglinicki of Cellular Gerontology at Newcastle University says that for years people have been intricate on the complexity of aging. It is only now that more advanced finding has been found to give explanation why cells stop dividing and thereafter age.

Prof. von Zglinicki also added that as we now understand the mechanism of aging better it is easier to find treatment and develop drugs to address old-age diseases. The key aspect of the research is that it is now possible to tackle aging without augmenting adverse risk of cancer.

To examine the reasons behind “senescent cells”, which is a state where cells stop dividing and are aging. The tissues start to fade and wrinkled skins to heart problems are signs that indicate the cells are in a senescent state. The research conducted made use of advanced computing modeling, jointly with genetically modified mice as well as cell culture to delve into the biological system and gather critical information on aging.

According to the published report in Journal Molecular System Biology it was unveiled that aging cells communicate with the brain. For instance, if “DNA damage” is detected (might be caused by wear and tear) the aging cells will send a signal to the brain.

The effect of these distress signals is that cell’s “mitochondria” start making free radical molecules. This will slowly turn the cells into a shutdown state. This state is reached either by destroying the cell or putting a stop to cell division. This reaction will avoid further DNA damage which might cause cancer, and therefore result instead in aging.

This new study is eventually decreasing the pretended role of “telomeres”, known for safeguarding tips of the ends of human chromosomes, which has a negative ramification of getting slowly shorter as human age.

According to Prof. Kirkwood, research on telomere degradation has been over promising too much in addressing age-related disease. The complexity of aging is far more complex than simply shortening of telomeres.

This study will however, certainly provide more scope to develop longevity medicines. It is a type of medicine which will promote healthy living to an older age.

Further Reading of Aging Theories: A Road Map To Anti Aging Theories

Source:
Research from University of Newcastle: IBTimes

Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Bioscience, Immortality, Longevity