Can ageing be delayed?
Check out this answer from Consensus:
The collective research indicates that aging can indeed be delayed through various interventions, including genetic, dietary, and natural compounds. These interventions not only extend lifespan but also improve the quality of life by reducing the incidence of age-related diseases. The economic benefits of delayed aging are substantial, although they come with increased entitlement costs that can be managed through policy adjustments. Overall, the evidence supports a shift in medical research focus towards delaying aging as a means to enhance public health and economic stability.
The possibility of delaying aging has garnered significant interest in the scientific community. Recent research suggests that interventions targeting the aging process itself, rather than individual diseases, could yield substantial health and economic benefits. This synthesis examines the key insights from multiple studies on whether aging can be delayed.
Key Insights
- Delayed Aging and Health Benefits:
- Economic Impact:
- The economic value of delayed aging is estimated to be around $7.1 trillion over fifty years, highlighting its potential for substantial economic returns1 2.
- Although delayed aging would increase entitlement outlays, such as Social Security, these costs could be mitigated by policy changes like raising the Medicare eligibility age1 2.
- Natural Compounds and Genetic Interventions:
- Natural compounds and genetic or dietary interventions have shown promise in increasing lifespan and delaying aging in various organisms, suggesting that mortality can be postponed3 4.
- Specific natural compounds have been identified that delay cellular senescence and in vivo aging by affecting cellular signaling pathways3.
- Epigenetic Regulation:
- Epigenetic changes, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, play a crucial role in aging. Modifying the epigenome could potentially delay or reverse aging and age-related diseases5.
- Biodemographic Evidence:
- Human senescence has already been delayed by a decade, with people reaching old age in better health. This trend suggests that further advancements in delaying aging are possible6.
Can ageing be delayed?
Karl Riabowol has answered Near Certain
An expert from University of Calgary in Cell Biology, Anti-Ageing, Biochemistry, Genetics
Yes, by exercise, moderate caloric intake and avoiding things that increase cell turnover.
Can ageing be delayed?
Evandro Fei Fang has answered Likely
An expert from University of Oslo in Anti-Ageing, Alzheimer’s Disease
Yes, via diet and exercise. You can read more here (https://evandrofanglab.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/evandro-fang_sofie-lautrup_-nad-in-brain-aging_cell-metabolism-2019.pdf)
Can ageing be delayed?
Marco Demaria has answered Near Certain
An expert from University Medical Center Groningen in Cell Biology, Anti-Ageing
Definitely. We have several lifestyle interventions clearly influencing onset and progression of aging (diet and exercise at the top of the list). And we have now different pharmacological strategies that could modulate aging by 1) preventing or removing damage; 2) reprogram and rejuvenate tissues.
Can ageing be delayed?
Lizzy Ostler has answered Near Certain
An expert from University of Brighton in Chemistry, Gerontology
Lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise) have already been shown to improve health in later life in humans, and pharmacological interventions are showing great promise in pre-clinical studies. This will mean that people with chronic disease that limits their ability to benefit from lifestyle changes can be helped to have a healthier old age too.
Can ageing be delayed?
Valery Krizhanovsky has answered Near Certain
An expert from Weizmann Institute of Science in Cell Biology, Anti-Ageing
It can be delayed by a better lifestyle – exercise etc. Pharmacological intervention might be also used some time in the future once such intervention will be appropriately tested and approved by relevant authorities.
Can ageing be delayed?
Lorna Harries has answered Uncertain
An expert from University of Exeter in Genetics, Cell Biology
It depends what you mean by ageing. Chronological ageing cannot be delayed. Biological ageing can. Ageing itself cannot be delayed, but its adverse outcomes can. This can be done by adopting a healthy lifestyle! Staying active, connected during the ageing process brings benefits. There is some evidence that some interventions (e.g. calorific restriction, drugs like rapamycin, clearance or rejuvenation of senescent cells) may be able to delay ageing – although at present this remains mainly in vitro or in animal models.
Can ageing be delayed?
Gerardo Ferbeyre has answered Likely
An expert from Université de Montréal in Biochemistry, Anti-Ageing
Aging has been delayed in model organisms using caloric restriction or simple genetic manipulations. Although not everything that works in model organisms will likely work in humans some of the ideas coming from aging research may eventually lead to anti-aging therapies.
Can ageing be delayed?
Janet Thornton has answered Uncertain
An expert from European Bioinformatics Institute in Bioinformatics, Anti-Ageing, Cell Biology
In many organisms it has been shown that ageing can be delayed – either through genetic interventions or through dietary restriction. This goes from yeasts through worms, flies and mice up to dogs and monkeys. In particular eating less tends to increase longevity (even in monkeys).
In humans it is not ethical to perform mutations, and there are so many conflicting forces at work that it is difficult to assess the impact of dietary restrictions. In the lab in worms life span can be increased 10-fold (by a combination of mutations); in flies and mice the max increase is just 1.5 fold, but an equivalent measure is not available in humans. It is likely that the human system is complex with many interconnections and buffering, so such extensions may not be accessible.