BACKGROUND: When the United States of America was founded in 1776, the life expectancy for most Americans was only about 35-years-old. Today, the life expectancy for a woman is about 86 years and most men are expected to live until about age 84, but old age can bring many complications. Four in five older adults will battle with at least one chronic condition such as osteoporosis, arthritis, or heart disorders and 50-percent of elderly adults will battle at least two of these complications. Even though many Americans are expected to live for almost a century, some researchers believe the key to aging could be in the blood.
(Sources: https://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html,https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-old-age)
TREATMENT: There really isn't any treatment to fight old age; it is simply a part of life. Although diet and exercise can greatly improve your chances of living a longer, healthier life; by age 75 about one in three men and one in two women don't get any physical activity. Seven in 10 elderly deaths can be attributed to heart disease, cancer, or stroke and diet and exercise can help decrease your chances of developing and potentially dying from one of these chronic diseases. With old age, the body does not recover as quickly after an injury or illness. Researchers are testing blood cells in animals that could help change this. Studies show that when blood from a younger animal is inserted into an older animal, they actually experience a rejuvenation of some of their tissue functions.
(Sources: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-old-age,https://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html)
NEW TECHNOLOGY/MORE FROM AMY WAGERS: Amy Wagers, Ph.D., researcher at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute believes that the blood contains substances that play a very important role in keeping certain tissues and organs healthy. She thinks that younger blood cells could have rejuvenating effects in the elderly. Wagers says, "We found that exposure to substances that are in the blood of young animals actually has some very positive effects on various different types of cells in older animals." Through her research Wagers has found that when exposed to younger blood cells, older animals have a better shape and size of the heart muscle, they showed an increase in the production of new neurons in the brain, and they had better recovery after damage to their skeletal muscles. Wagers is hoping this could potentially have relevance for therapies to treat age related muscle disorders, cardiovascular disorders, neurodegeneration and possibly even Alzheimer's disease in humans.
(Source: Amy Wagers, Ph.D.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
B.D. Colen
Director of Communications, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
617-495-7821