Scientists are investigating ways to slow down ageing by combining various therapies. An interesting combination is that of therapeutic plasma exchange and partial epigenetic reprogramming. In plasma exchange, the blood plasma is partly replaced to reduce harmful substances. Epigenetic reprogramming focuses on modifying genes to make cells younger again.
These two methods tackle ageing in different ways and could potentially reinforce each other without interfering with each other's effects. Currently, epigenetic reprogramming is still difficult to apply on a large scale, mainly due to technical difficulties in administering the treatment throughout the whole body. Therapeutic plasma exchange has been in use for a slightly longer time, but little is still known about the best method and dosages.
An important obstacle to these new treatments is that there is little financial incentive for large-scale trials. As a result, clinical studies and clear evidence are lacking. Yet some clinics are already including the therapies in their programmes, especially outside Europe and the United States. This causes cautious optimism, but also hesitancy among experts.
For people who want to age healthily, it is important to know that these studies are still at an early stage. Nevertheless, combining therapies offers new opportunities to slow down ageing and improve quality of life at a later age.
Source: Reason
