We already know vastly more about how and why we age than even a few years ago. Changes and modifications to DNA code, known as epigenetics, play a considerable role in aging. We are also beginning to understand the three ways that aging damage accumulates over time and what is needed to reverse that damage. Those three ways are:
- Repairing damaged cells
The SENS Research Foundation is a public charity that funds research and treats aging. It has defined seven biological pathways where aging occurs. Already some areas are showing potential in slowing down or reversing aging in each of these pathways. This approach looks at the damage and then how to repair it rather than preventing the injury in the first place. - Undoing epigenetic changes to cells
As cells grow old, the DNA program runs differently than in young cells. Epigenetics modifies the DNA program execution. We already know that there are significant differences between stem cells and other types of cells. Epigenetic variances cause cells to differentiate. A liver cell and heart cell share similar genetic code but differ significantly at the epigenome. Similarly, aging induces epigenetic changes in each cell. The good news is that epigenetic changes can be modified, and even reversed. An old cell differs epigenetically from a younger cell. Science is just now beginning to learn how to undo those epigenetic modifications to make the cell younger again. - Lengthening telomeres
Actual changes to the gene that occur during the replication process are also better understood. Telomeres are like leader tapes at the end of the gene. These leader tapes sacrificially fray to protect the information carrying part of the gene. Processes that lengthen these endpoints or telomeres on the gene reduce the likelihood of replication errors. The telomere length may have provided an upper bound on the number of times a cell in the body could replicate. With each division, the telomere length would become shorter until genetic copying errors became apparent. We know have substances that increase an enzyme called telomerase, that in turn increases the telomere length. The people with longer telomeres lengths are generally healthier and have less severe diseases.
As we learn more about the mechanisms of aging and what they damage we will also learn how to fix that damage. We already have seen advances in this area that has extended the average human lifespan.