Tecnology 2023 – Will Scientists Revert the Aging Process?

The Healthline refers to aging as inevitable physiological changes that occur during the human lifespan. However, technology may soon be able to make aging a choice. Soon we will be able to decide if we live forever young or allow the natural process of aging to run its course.

Scientists at Harvard University (USA) are celebrating a key milestone in genetic engineering that reverses aging. After conducting research on mice for 13 years, a report was published in January 2023, in the journal Cell. Lead genetics professor David Sinclair and his team have discovered new processes that manipulate the aging of rats in accelerated time frames. According to reports put out in RT,  scientists were able to reverse the effects of the aging process and restore youthful biological vitality in the animals.

Aged and blind mice benefited from gene therapy that reversed genetic changes caused by DNA breaks. They regained their sight, became younger, and more intelligent.

Eternal Life, Beautiful as Ever, End of Aging

These were once common to Grimm fairytales, but it is suddenly a part of our daily chatter. The scientific implications of this advancement have made our dream of a brighter future filled with limitless health options. Here are some of the possible implications.

Scientific Progress

• Restored vision
• Recover beauty and eliminate lines and wrinkles – or never have them!
• Brain cell regeneration
• Reduced cardiac diseases
• Bones and muscles refurbishing
• Renewal of skin tone, youthfulness, and texture

The Cause of Aging – Why do People Get Old?

The human cells, our bodies, our minds – begin to grow older and decay. we lose strength and vitality and several organs reduce their capacity and we eventually die. Why is it so? Why do we get old?

According to Healthline. there two main ways by which we grow old are genetically related or intrinsic aging, and extrinsic aging which is caused by the elections we make in life.

How our habits affect aging

Extrinsic aging is caused by our personal habits and our environment.  Our consumption, work, lifestyle, and location can highly decide how long we live.  According to Worldometers, the global life expectancy is 73 years, with females living longer than males by two years.

However, when we change location, the same human longevity changes. The best place to live longer is in Hong Kong with 85 years average life expectancy, that’s twelve years more. People tend to die younger in the Central African Republic, living only up to 54 years.

This can become worse if we employ bad habits that will accelerate our aging meter. Here are some habits that directly affect our longevity and age.

• Smoking (cigarettes, marijuana, etc.)
• Drug abuse (cocaine, heroin, crack, etc)
• Alcoholism
• Failure to rest or sleep (working more than 40 hours weekly)
• Choice of work that leaves us in danger
• Low consumption of water.  Since the human body contains up to 70% water, it is recommended to drink water daily.
• Malnutrition.  Failure to adhere to a balanced diet that provides the nutritional requirements of the body will accelerate aging.

The environment can also contribute to reducing our lifespan. Such phenomena as global warming, El Nino, excess sun exposure, and natural disasters, can slowly erode our dream of long life.

What is Gerontology?

As people grow older, they affect society in both what they contribute, and what they extract. There is a multidisciplinary science that investigates how the aging process affects individuals over their life span. The science is called gerontology.

Gerontology covers mainly three aspects of the human growth process

1. It investigates the changes that impact us mentally, physically, psychologically, and socially
2. How does our aging population impact our society, and
3. How we may apply these studies to policies and programs

What is Ageism?

In simple terms, ageism refers to stereotypes (what we think and feel), prejudices (how we feel), and discrimination (what we do) toward others or ourselves. According to the World Health Organization, ageism affects people from as early as 4 years old. Children adopt the stereotypes of society and become able to view themselves and others based on aging.

The WHO indicates that these stereotypes can also develop negative reactions in response to age groups, color, and disability. Ageism is practiced by all people, even without awareness, In politics, governments issue IDs and permits based on age groups.

Insurance companies establish age gaps for policy coverage, we share responsibilities based on age, and companies allow participation based on maturity.

The Ageism Problem

According to data provided by WHO, more than 50% of the world are ageists and discriminate against older folks.  In Europe, there is also huge discrimination against younger people. The single most damaging impact of ageism is

how it separates society between young and older folks. It eliminates the natural process of transmitting knowledge and skills. This will eventually erode the impact of continuity, or even derail technological advancement.

On personal and community levels, our stereotype of the aging process can affect our health, our longevity, well being and produce negative economic consequences. A good example is seen in the reduction of longevity by 7.5%, meaning we die early, or age sooner. In the USA alone $63 billion spent annually on healthcare, is related to ageism. (source WHO).

Signs of Aging

1. Heart Problems: Aging affects the cardiovascular system (the heart is the chief organ) by stiffening the blood vessels. This requires the heart to exert more force to pump the needed quantity of blood. This can cause high blood pressure, or even cardiac failure, or heart attack.
2. Reduced Vision and Hearing:  As we approach middle age, the human hearing begins to reduce capacity. One may experience poor recognition of high-frequency sounds or just difficulty following a conversation in the crowd.  The eyes are also affected and may become impaired to extent of using lenses, or prolonged with the need for surgery,
3. Memory Loss: The human brain is an amazing organ, it is a supercomputer. As the process of aging chips in, a loss of memory or reduced skills may show up. it is a form of natural amnesia that can be delayed with ongoing mind exercise.
4. Teeth decay
5. Wrinkles and skin deterioration
6. Grey hair
7. Bones and Muscles Demise:  As the body ages, body tissues and muscles lose tenacity and strength.  Bones reduce texture and literally shrink. This could result in reduce height.

Who is David Sinclair?

David A. Sinclair, A.O., Ph.D. works as a Professor in the Genetic  Department at Harvard Medical School, USA. He is also the co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research. He is renowned for his work on aging and supporting theories on how to remain young. He received a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the University of New South Wales.

• During his postdoctoral research at M.I.T., he co-discovered a cause of yeast aging and the role Sir2 plays in epigenetic changes caused by genome instability.
• His research focuses mainly on sirtuins, protein-modifying enzymes that respond to changes in NAD+ levels and to caloric restriction (CR), with additional interests in chromatin, energy metabolism, mitochondria, learning, memory, and neurodegeneration.
• Among his biotechnology companies are Sirtris, Ovascience, Genocea, Cohbar, MetroBiotech, ArcBio, Liberty Biosecurity, as well as several other boards.

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