Exposure to young blood circulation in mice leads to a substantial reduction in epigenetic ageing, with lasting effects even after the youthful circulation is removed. This discovery opens avenues for potential interventions in age-related diseases and longevity enhancement.
Key takeaways: Multi-omic rejuvenation and lifespan extension on exposure to youthful circulation
- Young blood circulation and epigenetic ageing: Introducing young blood into the circulatory system of older mice resulted in a noticeable decrease in epigenetic ageing markers. This implies that certain factors present in younger blood have the potential to reverse or slow down ageing processes at the molecular level
- Long-lasting rejuvenating effects: Remarkably, the anti-ageing benefits continued to persist for several months even after the young blood was no longer circulating in the older mice. This suggests that the exposure to young blood can induce long-term positive changes in the body, potentially resetting certain ageing-related mechanisms
- Potential for mitigating age-related diseases: The findings indicate a promising avenue for research into treating or preventing age-related diseases. By understanding and possibly replicating the mechanisms through which young blood affects ageing, there could be potential to develop interventions that target the root causes of age-related diseases
Beyond disease mitigation, the results of the experiment open up exciting possibilities for enhancing longevity and improving quality of life in later years. If the mechanisms of this rejuvenating effect can be understood and safely applied, it could lead to innovative strategies for extending healthy lifespan.
Reference: Zhang, B., Lee, D.E., Trapp, A. et al. Multi-omic rejuvenation and lifespan extension on exposure to youthful circulation. Nat Aging 3, 948–964 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-023-00451-9