Scientists have created a vaccine that slows aging, at least in mice. Their findings were recently published in Nature Aging. As we age, the ability for the body to get rid of damaged cells declines, which can lead to inflammation and a host of diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as atherosclerosis. The vaccine works by triggering the immune system to create antibodies against a specific protein associated with aging in the cardiovascular system. After giving the shot to mice, the number of cells that carried the protein were reduced. They also observed declines in the amount fat within the blood vessel walls, which can lead to atherosclerosis, and in inflammatory molecules. When they gave the shot to younger mice, the animals were more active and lived several weeks longer than animals who were not administered the vaccine, which is impressive considering mice only live a couple of years.
Stay tuned as there are several such anti-aging drugs currently being explored as treatments to prevent aging or age-related diseases in humans.
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Categories: Aging, Diet and Exercise, Exercise
Tags: Aging, anti-aging, Atherosclerosis, cancer, senescence, vaccine, youth
Life Lines by Dr. Dolittle 
