“Can we rejuvenate an organism?”
No one knows for sure, but Juan Carlos Belmonte is getting close.
In a fascinating talk at the All-In Summit, Belmonte explains how he’s using cellular reprogramming to reverse aging in mice and, perhaps one day, us.
Why We Age
After age 40, the likelihood of death skyrockets.
It barely matters what cause of death we look at. All the curves slope upward violently around that age — which is right around the age I am now.
As we age, our cells become less able to repair themselves. Eventually, the damage becomes more than we can bear, and we die.
But Belmonte, a researcher at the Salk Institute and Altos Labs, thinks he has the solution.
How Yamanaka Factors Could Reverse Aging
Belmonte gives short pulses of Yamanaka factors to cells. These pulses change the epigenome, or the way genes express themselves. They don’t change our actual DNA.
These short pulses can rejuvenate cells.
So far, Altos Labs has succeeded in reversing aging in countless mouse models: liver, kidneys, brain, muscle tissue, and skin. They’re also studying the use of metformin in monkeys to restore cognitive function in elderly animals and increase lifespan.
Rejuvenating Humans
Helping mice live longer is impressive. But when you get to monkeys, you’re incredibly close to being able to treat a human.
Human beings are where Belmonte is headed next. His team is working on rejuvenating human cells in vitro, or in a petri dish.
Next, he plans to work on rejuvenating organs that have been donated. Sometimes, those organs aren’t in good enough condition to be transplanted. But if Belmonte can reprogram them, surgeons may be able to use them.
In vitro studies and rejuvenating organs for transplant will be incredible proofs of concept. And since they pose no danger to humans, they’re a clever way to test Altos’ technology.
When Is the Pill Coming?
But of course, we all have one question: how long until I can take a pill and be young again?
Belmonte’s answer shocked me:
“I feel the next decade probably many of these discoveries, with the caveat that it’s a mouse and a mouse is not a human, might be translated to humans.”
Ten years. That’s nothing!
In a decade, we could be taking pills to live longer and healthier. Even if he’s wrong and it takes 20 or 30, it will still be the greatest achievement ever made by human beings.
And If You Don’t Want to Wait…
In the mean time, there are ways we can rejuvenate our own cells. And they don’t take a scientific breakthrough.
Exercise causes cellular changes very similar to short pulses of Yamanaka factors. You can bet I’ll be hopping on my exercise bike in a bit.
Yamanaka here I come!
Wrap-Up
I think it’s wonderful that we have a society that will give billions of dollars to a guy like Belmonte and say “Give it a shot!” Even if he fails, one of the many other teams working on longevity will surely crack the code.
We might live much longer than we ever imagined. 120 years, 180, who knows.
I’m here for it!
What did you think of Belmonte’s talk?
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