When humans first landed on the moon in 1969, our life expectancy was about 70 years. Today, we are still exploring the universe, but our life expectancy has been extended by about eight years. Can we, like the universe itself, be almost infinitely old?
The three leading scientists who study aging say that if we can slow down our clocks or reset our clocks, age limits are possible, no longer just science fiction.
Dr. Nir Barzilai of the Albert Einstein School of Medicine said: Aging can be delayed, and aging can be stopped. Aging can be reversed in a number of ways.
Morgan Levine of the Yale Center for Aging Research said: "Maybe in the future a 70-year-old will look more like a 40-year-old or 50-year-old."
David Sinclair, a biologist at Harvard University, says, "We're learning how to set back time, not just a few years, maybe even a decade." He said: Aging should be treated. Doctors should take note of it.
David Sinclair
Two years ago, Sinclair wrote a book called "Can You Not Grow Old", in which he claimed that aging was optional. Sinclair is 52 years old and he wants to live to at least 100 and even surpass the record of 122 set by Jenny Carment.
On one occasion, reporter Cowan and Sinclair had dinner, his first meal of the day. He believes that fasting helps build the body's defenses against aging. He also believes that our cells carry instructions on how to rejuvenate again. He told reporters, "There is no biological limit to our lifespan, and some people say we have maximized our natural lifespan." I don't believe that at all. ”
Sinclair is actively involved in anti-aging research, and last year he published a study in the journal Nature detailing how he "reversed" the age of the eyes to make blind mice see again. He thought he could do the same thing with brain cells.
Cowan said, "Oh my God! What does this mean? "Well, that means we've probably figured out why we're getting older," Sinclair replied. Suppose you have Alzheimer's disease. I believe there will be a way to reverse the age of the brain and then Alzheimer's disease will go away."
Nir Barzilai
Dr Barzilai said, "When we're able to target the biology of aging and stop all these diseases, we can't just spend money on treating them. "There is evidence that metformin, a drug that already exists on the market to treat diabetes, could actually be a potential anti-aging drug." It can prevent cardiovascular disease, prevent Alzheimer's, prevent cancer. ”
But he doesn't recommend taking metformin. Because he is about to start a clinical trial to see if metformin can safely exert anti-aging effects. He said that "aging can be delayed, health spans can be improved, and longevity is a by-product."
Another potential anti-aging drug is a bacterium found in the soil of Easter Island. It is called rapamycin and has been shown to be a powerful immunosuppressant. At low doses, it has also been shown to extend the lifespan of mice.
But how do we humans judge whether anything we do, or whatever we take, is really prolonging our lives?
Morgan Levine
Yale university scientist Morgan Levine has developed a test that can reveal how quickly we age, and perhaps how much time is left. Scientists call them epigenetic clocks.
"You get a kit, spit it in a tube, send it back, and in a few months you'll know your biological age," she said. Cowan asked, "Would some people be suspicious of this, I'm not sure I'd like to know?" "The exciting thing about epigenetics and biological age, Levine says, is that it's modifiable, so actually knowing your biological age gives you more power to modify it." It also means that our body's clock can vary depending on what we eat, how well we sleep and exercise, and so on.
According to Barzilai, death is inevitable. To slow down aging, we can do something about it. That's why billions of dollars are being poured into biotech startups. Like the moon landing, if scientists succeed, it could change human course forever.
Time School has reported the scientific research results of these three scientists who study aging many times before, and even invited Dr. Barzilai to record a class, if you want to know more about the knowledge of aging-related fields, you can pay attention to the Time School, we will always follow up on the latest scientific research results in this field.