A NEW drug has increased the life expectancy of rats by almost 25% – and scientists hope it could have the same effect on humans.
The treated mice were known as “supermodel grandmothers” in the laboratory because of their youthful, healthy appearance.
The animals lived healthier lives for longer and developed fewer cancers than their unmedicated peers.
The drug is already being tested in humans, but it is not yet known whether it will have the same impressive anti-aging effects.
Scientists have been trying to extend human life for centuries.
In recent times, the type 2 diabetes medication metformin is one of many medications researched for its anti-aging qualities.
Scientists from the Medical Research Council Medical Science Laboratory and Imperial College London discovered that turning off a protein called interleukin 11 (IL-11) increased the healthy life expectancy of mice.
In humans, levels of this protein increase as people age and contributes to higher levels of inflammation in the body.
Researchers believe this is what triggers several biological switches that control the pace of aging.
Mice that received treatment to eliminate IL-11 from their bodies lived an average of 155 weeks, compared to 120 weeks in untreated mice.
Ancient laboratory mice typically die from cancer, however, mice without IL-11 had much lower levels of the disease.
They showed better muscle function, were leaner, had healthier coats and scored better on many measures of frailty.
‘VERY EXITING’
Professor Stuart Cook, co-corresponding author from the Medical Research Council Laboratory for Medical Sciences (MRC LMS), Imperial College London and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, said: “These findings are very exciting.
“The treated mice had fewer cancers and were free of the usual signs of aging and frailty, but we also observed a reduction in muscle loss and an improvement in muscle strength.
“In other words, the aged mice that received anti-IL-11 were healthier.”
He added: “Previously proposed life-prolonging drugs and treatments have either had poor side effect profiles, or do not work in both sexes, or could prolong life but not healthy life, however, this does not appear to be the case for IL-11.
“Although these findings are only in mice, it raises the tantalizing possibility that the drugs could have a similar effect in elderly humans.
“Anti-IL-11 treatments are currently in human clinical trials for other conditions, potentially providing interesting opportunities to study their effects on aging humans in the future.”
Scientists tested the effects of the protein by creating mice that had the IL-11-producing gene deleted.
This extended the animals’ lives by more than 20% on average.
They also treated mice as young as 75 weeks old – equivalent to the age of about 55 years in humans – with an injection of an anti-IL-11 antibody, a drug that stops the effects of IL-11 in the body.
According to the findings published in Nature, mice that received the drug from 75 weeks of age until death had their average life expectancy increased by 22.4% in males and 25% in females.
WOULD IT WORK FOR PEOPLE?
The question on everyone’s lips is: could this drug have the same effect on people? And even if it did, would it be safe?
We won’t know if the same happens in people until clinical trials are carried out, Professor Stuart said.
Several trials are underway to test anti-IL-11 therapies in people with certain inflammatory conditions, such as pulmonary fibrosis, but none are investigating their potential anti-aging effects.
However, available data suggested that the medicine was safe to take.
Assistant Professor Anissa Widjaja, co-corresponding author from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, said: “Although our work was done in mice, we expect these findings to be highly relevant to human health, as we have seen similar effects in studies of human cells and tissues.
“This research is an important step towards a better understanding of aging and we have demonstrated, in mice, a therapy that could potentially prolong healthy aging, reducing frailty and the physiological manifestations of aging.”
Ilaria Bellantuono, professor of musculoskeletal aging at the University of Sheffield, said: “Overall the data looks solid, this is another potential therapy that targets an aging mechanism, which could benefit frailty.”
However, he said there were still problems, including a lack of evidence in patients and the cost of producing these drugs, and that “it is unthinkable to treat every 50-year-old for the rest of their life.”
The effects of IL-11 inhibition in humans have not yet been observed.
From Skipping Dinner to Having More Sex, Nine Simple Lifestyle Changes to Live a Longer Life
Skipping dinner, improving balance, and eating nuts are just some of the top things we can do to ensure a long life.
In his latest book, How Not To Age, Dr. Michael Greger highlights science-backed solutions that can help prevent the diseases most associated with aging.
The 51-year-old American doctor says: “Instead of our current, fragmented approach of focusing on individual degenerative diseases, how about slowing down the aging process?
“The good news is that there are many things we can do to increase longevity – we have a lot of power in our own choices.”
Here are some of Dr. Greger’s simple lifestyle changes you can adopt today.
FAST WORK: Fasting gives our system a much-needed break from performing its digestive functions.
This means our cells can do anti-aging work, like fighting free radicals and inflammation.
Many people choose to skip breakfast or postpone meals until the second half of the day, but the key is to skip dinner.
GO GREEN: The lifestyle factor most associated with aging is the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat.
Plants have biological processes that allow them to thrive, and we can harness these powers by eating them.
Green leafy vegetables should be on your plate every day because they help your immune system and fight the effects of air pollution.
INTENSIVE FEELINGS: The bacteria in our gut play a broader role throughout the body.
A happy gut microbiome supports immunity, mental health, and hormonal balance—all of which can affect disease risk.
A thriving gut can even reduce asthma attacks.
The gut loves fiber, so prepare vegetables and whole grains such as brown rice, oats, rye and spelt.
MOVE, MOVE: Regular exercise reduces inflammation, decreases DNA damage, and ensures we are functioning cognitively.
It also increases FGF21, a fasting hormone that is a key component of longevity.
Additionally, walking after a meal can lower blood sugar as effectively as some blood sugar-lowering medications.
Even exercising for 20 minutes can add an hour to your life – a pretty good return!
IMMUNE INCREASE: The immune system naturally declines with age.
In the developed world, infectious diseases are the fourth leading cause of death among the elderly.
Vaccines often don’t work as well for older people because the immune response isn’t as strong.
Sufficient antibody protection is found in 50 to 75 percent of young people, but this number drops to 10 to 30 percent in older adults.
Regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating more fruits and vegetables can support the immune system, as can meditative activities that reduce stress.
BANGADO: Constipation is not only uncomfortable, but it can also be a precursor to other illnesses.
If you struggle to go to the bathroom, you are at risk of developing a hiatus hernia.
Straining can also cause heart rhythm disturbances and a reduction in flow to the heart and brain, which can result in defecation-related fainting or even death – a syndrome known as bedpan death.
BRAIN GAMES: The average time between dementia diagnosis and death is five years.
But dementia is not an inevitable consequence of aging.
The best advice is: what’s good for your brain is good for your heart – keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol low helps both organs.
Vegetables, legumes, fruits and whole grains should ideally replace meat and dairy as dietary staples.
SEXUAL HEALING: Physical health problems get in the way of bedroom antics in old age.
But sex has protective benefits for physical and mental health.
Endorphins are feel-good chemicals released during sex that have been shown to improve cellular function.
Healthy habits can also reduce the risk of problems like erectile dysfunction.
- How Not to Age: The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Age by Dr Michael Greger (Bluebird, £22) is out now.
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