Anti-aging medicine refers exclusively to slowing, preventing, or reversing the process of aging. In recent news, scientists have revealed a drug to reverse the characteristics of aging has been successfully trailed in animals.

The team at Erasmus University Medical Centre are located in the Netherlands. Although this is a ground breaking discovery it is yet to be tested on humans, though scientists are forecasting human trials for what they hope will be a successful treatment for anti-aging.  Additionally, Dr Dusko Lilc, a stem cell scientist at Kings College London commented on the results, stating that the trails were “impossible to dismiss” while some questions remain unanswered.

The drug, which is a modified FOXO4 peptide, has enabled old mice to be rejuvenated, to restore their stamina, fur coat and even some organ functions.  The method works by flushing out retired or “senescent” cells within the body that have stopped dividing by disrupting their chemical balance.

We amass senescent cells as we age; it’s a natural part of aging. However, as senescent cells gather, they release chemicals that have been linked with increased inflammation and accelerated aging.

Dr Peter de Keizer, Group Leader “Senescence in Cancer and Aging”​ at Erasmus University Medical Centre states “I got very rebellious; people insisted I was crazy for trying and for the first three times they were right.”

Study details

The mice tested were divided into 3 categories:

• Naturally aged (the equivalent of age 90 in mouse years)
• Programmed to genetically age rapidly
• Aged by chemotherapy

Each group was given the new drug 3x a week for the space of a year. As yet, there have been no reports of known side effects (although it must be noted that Dr de Keizer has stated that because “mice don’t talk”, we can’t know for sure. It is believed that there would be little/no side effects on normal tissues.

There are high hopes that this drug will be used for anti-aging purposes in the future, but until more high-quality research is carried out, it is better to be reserved about the experiment findings.

Further Reading 

1. Marjolein P. Baar. et al. Targeted Apoptosis of Senescent Cells Restores Tissue Homeostasis in Response to Chemotoxicity and Aging. March 2017. Vol 169, Issue 1, p132-147.e16.

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