Can we cure ageing?

The dream of a ‘cure’ for ageing has persisted throughout human history, and we may be on the verge of scientific breakthroughs that can make it closer to reality. The Winter 2017 edition of Cosmos magazine included a feature article by Elizabeth Finkel on the current state of anti-ageing research. You can read the fascinating full article here, or read on for our summary:

“Time to pop an anti-ageing pill”

With people wanting more and more out of life, the pressure is on for scientific researchers to provide a ‘cure’ to ageing. It seems that what people are really after is not to extend their life span, but as Finkel puts it, extend their health span. To be able to get the most out of their later years before age-related chronic diseases decrease their quality of life.

Current research is being directed at finding substances that alter the genes that control the cellular ageing process, in the hope of slowing down age-related changes to our body and mind.

There are several substances that have been shown to increase life span and health span in some non-human species. The most promising of these are: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), Sirtuins, mammalian target of rapamycin or (mTOR), resveratrol, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR). 

While there are some encouraging findings in the research to date, the effects of these substances are not consistent across trials or across species. In some cases, the reverse effect is caused, and life expectancy is shortened.  There have not yet been any large-scale human trials. The two biggest contenders for slowing ageing in humans appear to be calorie restriction and exercise. This certainly seems to support the research showing that obesity causes premature ageing. 

In short, scientists are investigating many different anti-ageing ideas, and are attracting an increasing amount of interest and funding for their research. But we do not yet have a cure. There are complex ethical issues involved in conducting clinical trials with human subjects, so progress may be slow in finding out what long term effects these substances may cause in homo sapiens.  Perhaps an anti-ageing pill will be available in the coming decades, but for now we just have to focus on Wrinkling Well.