Wrinkles have found their match. Science has found a way to eliminate the onset of wrinkles, muscle wasting and even cataracts (at least in mice):
It was done by "flushing out" retired cells that had stopped dividing. They accumulate naturally with age.
The scientists believe their findings could eventually "really have an impact" in the care of the elderly.
Experts said the results were "fascinating", but should be taken with a bit of caution.
The study, published in Nature, focused on what are known as "senescent cells". They stop dividing into new cells and have an important role in preventing tumours from progressing.
These cells are cleared out by the immune system, but their numbers build up with time. The researchers estimated that around 10% of cells are senescent in very old people.
Scientists at the Mayo Clinic, in the US, devised a way to kill all senescent cells in genetically engineered mice.
Comments (5)
Sounds like a formula for civil disorder.
Roy: But not to last.
Tyrell: The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long. And you have burned so very very brightly, Roy. Look at you. You're the prodigal son. You're quite a prize!
The very vivid, traumatic memories are usually the most fabricated over the years. Was a study done on people remembering their experience of 9/11, they wrote it down, and then were asked a few years later and told it very differently. Tis inteeeresting.
p.s. Talking about spotting a celebrity - I thought I saw Justin Bieber on chatroulette the other day! Now I am not so sure, and I may have misremembered it! He didn't seem keen chatting, musn't be his sort of person.