Scientists developing ways to reverse the age of a heart.
Researchers at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute have discovered that the blood of young mice contains an obscure protein substance that reverses the thickening of the heart muscle in old mice.
The thickening of the heart walls, which happens with age, is one of the leading factors in human cardiac failure.
The substance, called GDF-11, produced dramatic and quick reverse aging results when given to the mature mice. Their thickened, fibrotic hearts transformed into the smooth muscled specimens typical of youth.
Professor Amy Wagers had seen impressive results in the reverse aging of the spinal cord and skeletal muscles, but never imagined that similar results with the heart were possible.
She had also been unable to identify that the changes were caused by the GDF-11 factor. Now that it’s been specified, the team’s next step is to further explore its effects on adults. Previous knowledge of the substance has been limited to its usefulness in in-utero development.
Several months ago scientists at the University of California, Berkeley discovered another anti-aging element in the blood of mice. The protein is called SIRT3 and and the study concluded it provided a significant effect in regenerating new blood cells, combating the degenerative effects of age.
