Stem Cells Could Extend Human Life By Over 200 Years

 

At the Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Pittsburgh, fast-aging elderly mice with a usual lifespan of approximately 21 days were injected with stem cells from younger mice. They were given the injection approximately four days before they were expected to die, and the results were outstanding. Mice who were injected not only lived, but they live 3 times their normal lifespan, surviving for an additional 71 days. In human terms, that would be the equivalent of an 80-year old living to be 200 years old.

The research was published in Nature Communications, by Mitra Lavasani in 2012. The mice were genetically engineered to be fast-aging.

“Specifically, the investigators studied the effects of injecting muscle-derived stem/progenitor cells (MDSPCs) into a murine progeria model (fast-aging mice). Since age-related degenerative changes are universal in the musculoskeletal system, the impact on the musculoskeletal system by murine muscle-derived stem/progenitor cells (MDSPCs) became the primary focus of the experiments. MDSPCs are multipotent cells isolated from postnatal skeletal muscle. They have the capacity for long-term proliferation, are resistant to oxidative and inflammatory stress, show multilineage differentiation and self-renew, induce neovascularization, and stimulate regeneration of bone, skeletal, and cardiac muscles. These characteristics raise the possibility that the loss of MDSPCs or related perivascular progenitor cells could contribute to sarcopenia, osteoporosis and other age-associated degenerative diseases.”

This is a significant finding, it could not only extend the life of humans but also be able to delay symptoms that are correlated with aging.

Humanity is continually progressing in its understanding of science and technology. Everyday, new breakthroughs are made that have the potential to change the way we live. Unfortunately, we live in a system of competition, misinformation and corporate interests. Imagine if science and technological discoveries were free, and made available to the entire human population for exploration and experimentation. Imagine if we shared with one another, instead of always trying to generate a profit.

Multiple scientists have attempted to find the “Fountain of Youth.” Prolonging life is not a new idea, it’s a common theme found throughout ancient history, philosophy, mysticism and more. One example is the Elixir of Immortality, or the Philosopher’s Stone(s) that were sought out Before the Common Era (BCE). We recently wrote an article about a team of scientists in Russia who discovered a way to extend human life and cure age-related disease, including cancer.

It seems that we have a wide variety of possibilities when it comes to science and technology. As the human race continues to move forward, discoveries that bring ethics into the picture will continue to increase. Some might argue that this is playing ‘God,’ but I believe a part of human nature is the ability to make new discoveries, and advance ourselves as a human race. For our race to one day reach a point where we can extend our lives, I see nothing wrong with that, and feel it would be completely natural.

What’s more important right now is to provide everybody on the planet with the basic necessities for life. Everybody should have access to proper health care (organic fruits and vegetables), clean water, shelter and energy. We have the solutions, but those solutions are accompanied by excuses, and often lead to “the problem of money.” Money never has to come in the way of necessity, so ask yourself, why does it?

New discoveries are useless unless we evolve past a competitive society, into a cooperative one, where we see ourselves as one human race. Science and technology is useless if the consciousness and intent behind the beneficial discoveries is for the betterment of the whole.

 

Source(s):

dujs.dartmouth.edu

collective-evolution.com

http://www.healthfreedoms.org/stem-cells-could-extend-human-life-by-over-200-years/