Science & Technology

Scientists succeed in reversing biological aging

By T.K. Randall
November 21, 2020

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) Mankind has been obsessed with gaining immortality for thousands of years, but even despite the incredible advances in science and medicine achieved over the last few centuries, our species still remains just as vulnerable to the aging process as our ancestors were millions of years ago.

This however could be set to change thanks to a recent scientific study that sought to reverse two key indicators of biological aging - telomere length and senescent cell accumulation - through a process known as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

The research, which was carried out by scientists from Tel Aviv University and the Shamir Medical Center, involved placing volunteers in a pressurised chamber where they were given pure oxygen for 90 minutes, five days a week for around three months.Incredibly, after the trial had finished, their telomere length and senescent cell accumulation was found to be equivalent to that of someone 25 years younger.

"Since telomere shortening is considered the 'Holy Grail' of the biology of aging, many pharmacological and environmental interventions are being extensively explored in the hopes of enabling telomere elongation," said study co-author Shai Efrati.

"The significant improvement of telomere length shown during and after these unique HBOT protocols provides the scientific community with a new foundation of understanding that aging can, indeed, be targeted and reversed at the basic cellular-biological level."

What these changes may mean for the day-to-day health of the participants however remains unclear.

Source: Independent

Tags: Aging