Scientists Extend Lifespan of Mice by 25 Percent
Breakthrough Could Lead to New Treatments for Aging-Related Diseases
Scientists have discovered that deactivating a protein called IL-11 can extend the healthy lifespan of mice by nearly 25%, raising the potential for new treatments for aging-related diseases.
In a study published in the journal Nature Aging, researchers found that mice that lacked the IL-11 protein lived longer, had better metabolism and muscle function, and showed less frailty. Male and female mice who did not produce the protein lived on average 25% longer than mice that did produce IL-11.
The researchers believe that IL-11 may play a role in the aging process by promoting inflammation and oxidative stress. By blocking the action of IL-11, they were able to slow down the aging process and extend the lifespan of the mice.
The findings could have significant implications for human health. If IL-11 plays a similar role in aging in humans, then it could be a target for new drugs to treat age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cancer.
The researchers are now planning to conduct further studies to investigate the role of IL-11 in human aging and to develop new drugs that target this protein.
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