Rats involved in the study were dubbed “supermodel grannies”, after an injection of a breakthrough anti-ageing drug gave the rodents a more youthful appearance and better overall health
Rats given the anti-ageing drug were dubbed ‘supermodel grannies’ (Image: MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences/Duke-NUS Medical School)
Boffins have made a breakthrough in the quest for eternal life. A drug has been developed to shut down a protein linked to ageing.
Scientists found that the holy grail drug extended the lifespan of rats by a massive 25%, in addition to a string of other benefits.
Following a 25-week treatment plan, the rodents had a lower risk of cancer, no grey hair and improved vision and better muscle functionality, reports MailOnline.
This earned them the nickname of “supermodel grannies” in the lab, thanks to their more youthful appearance and better overall health, reports BBC.
Rats injected with the anti-ageing drugs, looked much better than the ones who weren’t (Image: MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences/Duke-NUS Medical School)
Rats receiving treatment were aged 75 weeks, the equivalent to a 55-year-old human, and lived for an average of 155 weeks. Rats not receiving treatment kicked the bucket at 120, on average.
The protein, called interleukin-11(IL-11) was passed on to humans from fish around 450 million years ago, and researchers believe the protein is responsible for the bad bits of ageing.
The gene is linked to chronic inflammation, organ tissue scarring, metabolism disorders, muscle wasting and cardiac fibrosis.
Professor Stuart Cook, from the Medial Research Council Laboratory of Medical Science (MRC LMS) who was the study’s co-corresponding author, described the findings as “very exciting”.
While the study hasn’t been completed, data suggests the drug is safe for humans (Image: Getty Images)
He said: “The treated mice had fewer cancers, and were free from the usual signs of ageing and frailty, but we also saw reduced muscle wasting and improvement in muscle strength.
“In other words, the old mice receiving anti-IL11 were healthier.”
He added that while the results are only in mice, the findings offer a “tantalising possibility” that the drugs could effect older people similarly.
He continued: “Anti-IL-11 treatments are currently in human clinical trials for other conditions, potentially providing exciting opportunities to study its effects in ageing humans in the future.”
The scientist added that while the trial was not yet completed, data suggested the drug is safe for humans.
As part of the study, researchers carried out two experiments. The first removed IL-11 from the rats, which extend the rodent’s lifespan by more than 20% on average.
The second experiment triggered the “dramatic” anti-ageing results, when the animals were injected with an anti-IL-11 drug.
Male and female rats both had an increased lifespan of up to 25%.