Getting older means our bodies start to work a bit less well. Sometimes, this can lead to health problems like brain diseases, a big deal worldwide. To help with this, we need new and safe ways to make people feel young and healthy again.
In our bodies, we have tiny things called genes. They’re like instruction manuals that tell our cells what to do. Think of them as the bossy bosses in a big kitchen.
Some smart scientists have been experimenting to change these instructions to see what happens. It’s like adding a new spice to a recipe to improve the food’s taste. They do this to understand how our genes work and how they affect our health.
These scientists think that if they can change some gene instructions, they might be able to make us feel younger and healthier. They want to turn back the clock on our bodies and make them work like they did when we were younger.
To do this, they look at data from our cells to find out which genes they should change. They also use special tests to see if these changes are working. They believe that certain cells in our brain, like the ones that help us think and remember things, are the best ones to focus on. These cells can have a big impact on how well we stay healthy as we get older.
So, these scientists are like detectives trying to figure out how to make us feel young again. They’re working on special experiments to help our brains stay sharp and healthy as we grow older, and they hope it will make a big difference in our lives!
The Problem of Aging
Getting older can lead to health problems like cancer, heart issues, memory loss, and diseases like COVID-19. These problems become more common and severe as we age. It’s not just about people dying from these diseases; it’s also about how much they suffer and their quality of life worsens. This is especially true for older people dealing with memory loss and other brain problems, which can make them lose their independence like being unable to do things independently.
Aging also costs our society a lot of money. In the U.S., more than half of the money spent on healthcare is used for people over 55 years old, most of it because of age-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and brain problems. The total cost of these diseases is huge. Plus, aging also affects our economy by reducing how much work people can do and slowing down how much money our country makes.
And it will get worse because more and more people are getting old. The United Nations says that by the end of this century, almost a quarter of the world’s population will be old, making these problems even more prominent. So, we need to find ways to deal with aging, not only to save money but also to make older people’s lives better.
Aging and Gene Expression
As we grow older, our bodies start working less well, and this affects our health and how long we live. This process of getting old is called “aging.” Aging happens at different levels, from our whole body down to tiny cells. One important thing that changes as we age is how our genes work. Genes are like instruction manuals for our cells, telling them what to do. Think of them like the managers of a big company.
Aging affects how these genes work, and this can cause problems. Our cells become less organized, and this can make us sick. One of the key things that change is how our cells read and use our genes. This is called “gene expression,” and it’s like the cells following the instructions in those manuals.
Scientists have studied how genes and aging are connected in different species and types of cells. They’ve found that as we age, our genes start acting differently. They get a bit messy, like a cluttered room. This can make our cells work less well and cause problems in our bodies.
So, one big idea is that if we can fix how our genes are used in our cells, we might be able to make our cells act younger and healthier, just like fixing a messy room. And this could help us live longer and feel better as we get older.
Reversing Aging
“reversing aging” means trying to make our bodies and cells act young again, even when we’re old. It’s not about slowing down aging; it’s about turning back the clock and making our bodies work like they did when we were young.
Scientists have found ways to do this in experiments with animals and cells. For example, changing specific genes in worms made them live much longer. This got scientists thinking we could do something similar in people to make them healthier and live longer.
One way to reverse aging is changing how genes are used in our cells. Scientists have found that tweaking specific genes can make old cells behave like young cells again. This is like repairing a car to make it run smoothly again. They’ve even done this with human cells in the lab, which is very exciting!
Transcriptomic Reprogramming
One way to make old cells act young again is through something called “transcriptomic reprogramming.” This is a way to change the instructions that genes give to our cells. It’s like giving our cells a new set of rules to follow.
Scientists use data from different-aged cells to determine what’s going wrong in old cells. They then develop tests to see if these cells can be made to act young again by changing certain genes. It’s like solving a puzzle to make things better.
Reversing Aging in Brain Cells
Brain cells are essential, especially as we get older, because they control things like memory and thinking. If these cells don’t work well, it can lead to memory problems and other brain diseases. So, it’s crucial to find ways to make brain cells young again.
One way to do this is by converting other cells into brain cells. These new brain cells can be made to act young and might help reverse brain aging. This is like turning a regular car into a sports car with a few modifications.
Another option is to focus on specific types of brain cells, like those that use a chemical called glutamate to communicate. By making these cells young again, we might be able to improve brain health and prevent memory problems.
In conclusion, aging causes many health problems and costs much money. But by understanding how genes and cells change as we age, scientists are trying to reverse aging and make old cells act young again. This could help us live longer and healthier lives, especially by targeting brain cells crucial for memory and thinking.
Note: Please notice that I try to differentiate between the words aging and getting older in my postings.
Acknowledgements: This posting was based on Prof. George Church’s paper on “Transcriptomic reprogramming for neuronal age reversal” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10066999/ also credit to Alexandru M. Plesa, Michael Shadpour, and Ed Boyden