Researchers have developed a new gene treatment that extends the lifespan of mice by twenty percent. This is achieved by injecting the protein FGF21 into the muscles via gene therapy. FGF21 is a hormone that plays an important role in the body's energy balance. With this treatment, older mice remain leaner, fitter and mentally sharper than their untreated counterparts.
As humans and animals age, they often experience problems with their metabolism. This leads to weight gain, insulin resistance and less efficient energy production in cells. By producing FGF21 in the muscles, this gene therapy appears to reverse these effects of ageing. Despite eating the same amount, the mice achieved a better metabolism and fewer harmful fat accumulations developed in the body.
In addition to a longer lifespan, the health of organs such as the liver, heart and kidneys was also found to improve significantly. The muscles remained supple and free of culprits such as inflammation and scar tissue. Brain function was also better, which was reflected in improvements in memory and motor skills. This gives hope that the therapy will not only make living longer possible, but also growing old healthily and actively for longer.
Although these results have been achieved in mice, they are promising for future treatments in humans. It mimics the positive effects of healthy living and exercise, but via a medical intervention. This could be an important development in promoting a better quality of life at a later age.
This study contributes to the search for methods to improve health at a later age and thus make ageing as pleasant as possible.
Source: Arkadi Mazin
