Young Mice Blood Reverses Ageing Mr Shumile J. Chishty As the life expectancy is increasing so are the deaths, and mainly is the cause of age. Researchers in the United States of America are closing in on a therapy, heart and other organs. Reporters have releases major of 3 reports that demonstrate in experiments on mice the dramatic effects of chemicals found naturally in young blood. In two of the reports, scientists identified a single chemical in blood that appears to reverse some of the damage caused by ageing. Although all three studies were done in mice, researchers believe a similar therapy should work in humans. A clinical trial is expected to begin in the next three to five years. Ageing is one of the greatest risk factors for a slew of major conditions, from cancer and heart disease to diabetes and dementia. As the population increase, the proportion of people suffering from such con-
Haider J Chishty
dition soars. A therapy that slows or reverses age-related damage in the body has the potential to prevent a public health crisis by delaying the onset of several diseases at once. The three studies took a similar approach to investigate the anti-ageing effects of young blood. Old and young mice were paired up and joined similarly to conjoined twins. To have done this, researchers made an incision along the side of each mouse and let the wounds heal in a way that joined the animals together. The procedure meant that the mice shared each other’s blood supplies. The experiment technique of combining mice’s circulatory systems goes back 150 years ago. Around 2000, wagers and other researchers in lrving Weissman’s and Thomas Randos labs at Stanford revived the method, known as parabiosis, to study the fate of blood stem cells and muscle cells. To their surprise, they found that when old and young mice were joined, the muscle stem cells in old mice were revitalized. Since then, Standford researchers and others, including agers, have published about a half a dozen papers
showing that old-young parabiosis can also improve the health of an aging mice’s liver spinal cord and brain. More recently, wagers lab, together with cardiologist Richard lees lab at Brigham and women’s hospital in Boston, isolated a specific protein from mouse blood that they think can explain some of the effects. Since blood transfusion has long been medical practice, its restorative effects are hardly surprising. Oxygenated blood has long been used by sportsmen, as have other performances. Surgeons can hardly be surprised that weak patients feel better with a few pints of fresh blood in them. Indeed it is curious that, with millions walking around with younger people’s blood in them, no one has thought to test whether they live longer and more fulfilled lives. However the possibilities are clearly sensational. Advances in embryology and stem- cell research have already hinted at the huge possibilities in genetically improving the human body. Appalling conditions
Chatsworth House Chatsworth House is a stately home located in Derbyshire, England. It is the seat of Duke of Devonshire and has been home to the Cavendish family since 1549. Standing on the east bank of the River Derwent, Chatsworth looks across to the low hills that divide the Derwent and Wye valleys. The house, set in expansive parkland and backed by wooded, rocky hills rising to heather moorlands, contains a unique collection of priceless paintings, furniture, Old Master drawings, neoclassical sculptures, books and other artefacts. Chatsworth has been selected as the United Kingdom's favourite country house several times.
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are being rendered extinct and only the most reactionary fundamentalist could object. That such steps should on day embrace the ageing process is understandable. Even so medical practice must always take care of public consent.
The estate of Chatsworth was bought by Sir William Cavendish in 1549, from the Agard family. Soon after purchasing the land Sir William began building Chatsworth House. The building was completed by Bess of Hardwick, Sir William’s wife, after his death in 1557. The three storey Elizabethan house was completely remodelled by 1707 by the 4th Earl of Cavendish, who was made a Duke by William III, for his support in the ‘Glorious Revolution’. The 6th Duke of Cavendish added a library and North Wing between 1790 and 1858. The house and gardens are much the same now as they were in the time of the 6th Duke.
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