[Science] Aging Cause Found in Mice

[vincent]

Aging Cause Found in Mice, Could Help Humans

The buildup of mutated DNA triggers aging in mice, according to a new study that could help advance research into human aging.

As a lifetime of small mutations in the genetic code build up, cells begin to die. These deaths lead to such things as graying hair and weight changes, hearing and vision impairment, loss of muscle and weakened bones.

"We think that the key to what is happening in aging is that as (genetic) mutations or DNA damage accumulates, critical cells die," said Tomas Prolla of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "These experiments favor a major role for programmed cell death in aging."

This study, expected help scientists understand how humans grow old and die, is detailed in the July 15 issue of the journal Science.

The DNA mutations accumulate specifically in each cell's mitochondria ? the energy plant for a cell. When these mitochondria shut off, so do the cells, leading to the signs of aging.

Prolla and his group used mice that were genetically altered to lack the protein necessary to repair mitochondrial DNA. These mice accumulated mutations at a higher rate than seen in unaltered mice.

"It's like a broken spellchecker," Prolla said. "By introducing a malfunction in the (genetic) proofreading domain, these mutations accumulate much more rapidly."

These findings lend support to the theory that cell death is the cause of aging. The other theory, called oxidative stress, says that the aging process is the result of a lifetime of oxygen reacting with free radicals -- cell-damaging molecules that are produced naturally throughout the body.

Prolla's team found no evidence indicating oxidative stress is the cause of aging. In fact, they discovered less oxidative stress than normal in tissues like the liver, suggesting that the damage to mitochondria was so severe that the mice's metabolism was lagging and producing fewer free radicals.

This research suggests that someday anti-aging drugs could be developed that would prevent mutations from occurring in mitochondrial DNA ? either for the whole body, or just for specialized areas, like the ears or hair follicles.

Of course, mice would again be important for the beginning stages of this type of research.

"The idea would be to reduce the level of cell death and improve function," Prolla said. "If that pans out, then we can begin to think about pharmaceutical interventions to retard aging by preserving mitochondrial function."

source

[spiegel]

The buildup of mutated DNA triggers aging in mice, according to a new study that could help advance research into human aging.

As a lifetime of small mutations in the genetic code build up, cells begin to die. These deaths lead to such things as graying hair and weight changes, hearing and vision impairment, loss of muscle and weakened bones.

"We think that the key to what is happening in aging is that as (genetic) mutations or DNA damage accumulates, critical cells die," said Tomas Prolla of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "These experiments favor a major role for programmed cell death in aging."

This study, expected help scientists understand how humans grow old and die, is detailed in the July 15 issue of the journal Science.

The DNA mutations accumulate specifically in each cell's mitochondria ? the energy plant for a cell. When these mitochondria shut off, so do the cells, leading to the signs of aging.

Source

even though it is found in rats, the genetic makeup of a human is much more complicated, imo i dont think its gonna happen for now.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

[Threads Merged]

I kept speigel's thread title though...

[spiegel]

yes i didnt see it, sorry :blush:

[Viserov]

Darn, and I learned from DS9 that cells die because of "cellular boredom." :p

[ev0|]

I want them to find the solution to this pronto so we can all not die (well at least the rich people in america anyway) and then we can charget the african countries a whole bunch of money if they want to be able to "not die" as well.

[bmbeeman]

But that's just the thing, people need to be able to die, population growth has already begun to go out of control.

[~WinGz~]

ripgut you always find someone to teach me something new, lol

nice find..

it will happen, just take a few years.. maybe 10-20-50 who knows but it will happen sooner or later.

[Argote]

nice news.. thou i remember hearing somehting very similar a few years back

[_kane81]

There was different research theory showing that Folate will reduce ageing, Folate helps cell repair themselves.

Sorce: Catalyst on ABC Australia.

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1381311.htm

[ev0|]

Source

even though it is found in rats, the genetic makeup of a human is much more complicated, imo i dont think its gonna happen for now.

586219359[/snapback]

Untrue, rats have 98 percent the same DNA as humans. It's not as big a difference as you'd like to think.

[revvo]

I don't think any of us would want to live "forever" as much as we hate the outcome in the end.

I say 200 years sounds good but no more...

[mr_demilord]

We shouldn't search for this, let the nature handle it, people get born people die like everything living creature, don't mess with the nature! like cloning animals :angry:

[Sensayshun]

I don't think any of us would want to live "forever" as much as we hate the outcome in the end.

I say 200 years sounds good but no more...

586249960[/snapback]

I've thought long and hard about this and decided that I wouldn't mind living forever. Sounds pretty useful if you ask me.

[NeoKing77]

if immortality is ever to be achieved, it will be desired by a large number of people, and i don't think i need to point out the disadvantageous consequence that will follow...

if you've ever travelled to a metropolitan asian city, you'll have a much better comprehension at what i'm getting at.

[Samoa]

I knew there would be break throughs in my life time. :D