The average life expectancy worldwide has increased thanks in part to modern medicine, according to scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
However, as people live longer, they experience an increasing number of age-related issues.
In light of this, the team set out to strike a balance between the advantages of longevity and improved quality of life as we age.
In the course of their research, the scientists created a medication that shields human cells from harm, enabling tissues to continue to operate normally for a longer amount of time.
According to the authors of the study, a cell’s quality-control mechanism’s decline in efficacy is a significant contributor to the aging process.
The “power plants” of the cells, the mitochondria, accumulate when this mechanism starts to malfunction.
“Mitochondria, the cell’s ‘power plants,’ are responsible for energy production. They can be compared to tiny electric batteries that help cells function properly. Although these ‘batteries’ wear out constantly, our cells have a sophisticated mechanism that removes defective mitochondria and replaces them with new ones,” Professor Einav Gross explains in a media release.
However, as humans age, this system falters. Cell dysfunction and a decline in tissue activity are the outcomes, which can lead to the emergence of diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and heart failure.
The team is optimistic that their research has uncovered a novel substance that could aid in the treatment of various ailments.
The molecules may also function as a preventative measure, correcting cellular aging before it has a chance to cause disease when made into an easy-to-take pill.
“In the future, we hope we will be able to significantly delay the development of many age-related diseases and improve people’s quality of life,” says co-author Shmuel Ben-Sasson.
To continue the development of this molecule into an anti-aging medication, the researchers founded the startup business Vitalunga in collaboration with Yissum, the tech transfer company of Hebrew University.
“Ben-Sasson’s and Gross’s findings have significant value for the global aging population,” notes Itzik Goldwaser, CEO of Yissum. “As Vitalunga advances towards pre-clinical studies, they’re closer than ever to minimizing the unbearable burden that aging-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, have on individuals, their families, and our health care systems.”
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