Though it may seem like a tale from Dracula, researchers have discovered that aged brains can be revitalized with young blood.
Experiments indicate that when older mice received blood from significantly younger subjects, the connectivity between brain cells improved and memory was enhanced.
This treatment proves so effective that mice aged 18 months performed in memory assessments just as well as those only four months old. Generally, mice have a lifespan spanning between 18 months and 2 years.
If the treatment demonstrates safety and effectiveness in humans, it might help delay the effects of aging.
Middle-aged individuals could receive regular injections of blood sourced from those in their 20s, as suggested during a conference. Additionally, this method could potentially mitigate diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Researcher Saul Villeda stated at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting in New Orleans, ‘I increasingly believe that young blood could influence humans. It’s not a drug with harmful side effects; it’s simply blood. We routinely do this for blood transfusions.’
Researchers at Stanford University in the US connected the circulatory systems of two mice differing in age.
This setup allowed young blood to enter the older mouse’s system and vice versa. The brains of younger mice appeared to age, while the infusion of young blood into older mice amplified the interconnections between their brain cells. These connections, vital for memory, were also strengthened.
In memory tests, older mice matched the performance of their younger counterparts. The treatment is currently being evaluated in mice exhibiting Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. Experts have mentioned that continued research could result in treatments offering even more significant advantages than penicillin.
Additional studies indicate that young blood infusions might benefit muscles, liver function, and the immune system. However, this research is still in its infancy, and it will take time before human trials commence.
There could also be potential to isolate the rejuvenating compounds found in blood, transforming them into a pill.
Professor Andrew Randall, a brain disease specialist from Exeter and Bristol Universities, remarked: ‘While this might hint that Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, had insights far ahead of his era, the notion of temporarily mixing teenagers’ blood with that of their elderly relatives doesn’t seem to be a practical solution for cognitive decline.’
‘Instead, this intriguing research suggests that determining the beneficial components in young blood could yield significant benefits, allowing us to provide just those essential elements to older adults.’
Professor Chris Mason, a regenerative medicine expert from University College London, noted: ‘Key questions include what substances in the blood of younger mice influence aging and whether these effects are relevant for humans.’
‘Even if this research results in a drug that merely prevents, rather than reverses, the typical impacts of aging on the brain, the outcome for future generations would be profound, potentially surpassing the benefits of other remarkable drugs like penicillin.’
Dr. Villeda expressed, ‘Our discoveries create pathways for utilizing young blood in future therapies aimed at reversing cognitive challenges in the elderly.
‘This raises the exciting potential of testing whether these effects extend beyond normal aging to counteract cellular and cognitive deterioration in individuals suffering from neurodegenerative disorders related to aging, such as Alzheimer’s disease.’
by David Livingstone
