Imagine a situation where ageing can be researched. There has been considerable research in the anti-ageing sector, with several startups on the edge of discovering anti-ageing solutions.
Anti-ageing research intensifying
One of the players in the field is Altos Labs, a biotech launched early this year. With almost $3 billion funding, the startup boasts baking from high-profile investors such as Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder.
Prof Horvath, a respected researcher at Altos Labs, said that ageing is not a breakdown or like accumulation of rust in a car. Instead, it is a process that can be changed with some tweaks.
BioAge Labs CEO Kristen Fortney said that there are no limits imposed by physics or biology on how long we can live. BioAge Labs is focused on identifying ageing biomarkers and is doing it by using a significant volume of tissue and plasma samples from biobanks. The company has already identified a therapeutic target that delays mice’s muscle loss due to ageing.
Fortney said that apelin, a protein found in the blood, can help improve muscle function. He added that middle-aged individuals with high apelin levels in blood live longer and have better cognitive and muscle function with age.
Salk Institute researchers succeeded in reversing ageing
California-based Salk Institute for Biological Studies is another player in the race against time. Researchers at Salk Institute succeeded in reversing ageing in elderly and middle-aged mice through a technique dubbed cell rejuvenation therapy. The process involves the use of programming molecules to turn back ageing cells.
Salk’s Gene Expression Laboratory professor Juan Carlos stated that they are delighted that they can apply the strategy throughout the lifespan to delay ageing in healthy animals. In addition, he noted that the method had been demonstrated to be effective and safe in mice.
It is vital to note that interest in the anti-ageing field is likely to continue growing. Express reports that a study by P&S Intelligence predicts that by 2030, the worldwide anti-ageing business will have grown from its present value of $191.5 billion to an astounding $421.4 billion.
