Studies financed by Heales:
Effect of young rat plasma on the lifespan of aging rats
| Heales supports two experiments on the rejuvenation of elderly rats through transfusions. The maximum longevity thanks to these treatments will be measured for the first time. Whether the results are positive or not, they will be published. To accelerate this research or to close doors. |
Today, in spite of the gigantic progress in medicine and research, we still do not know how to be healthy beyond about 85 years of age.
The use of blood plasma to address the issue of human longevity is still controversial, and companies like Alkahest and Ambrosia are never far from the headlines.
Mice and rats also experience old age, but much earlier than we do, starting at about 2 years. And they never get older than 4 years old…
A recent study that has not been peer-reviewed, signed notably by Harold Katcher and Steve Horvath, details a procedure of reverse aging using Elixir that is wholly derived from plasma. Young rat plasma was administered to 2-year-old rats and their physiological indicators during the test had almost become those of 6-month-old rats.
The results, obtained using Horvath epigenetic clocks, showed a mean age inversion of 54.2% in four tissues. Specifically, liver tissue rejuvenation was measured at 75%, blood rejuvenation at 66%, heart rejuvenation at 57% and hypothalamus rejuvenation at 19%.
However, this study does not test longevity per se. This is why the Heales organization decided to fund, with a rather modest but useful amount (2 times 25,000 dollars), two studies on the maximum longevity of these animals. One will be conducted by Professor Harold Katcher in his laboratory in India and the other is under the direction of Professor Rodolfo Goya at the Institute for Biochemical Research in Argentina.
Based on the above information, we decided to evaluate the possible effect of the plasma of young rats on the lifespan of older rats (25 months). Specifically, we propose to compare the survival of older rats treated intravenously with young plasma with that of corresponding age controls (untreated). We also propose to collect blood samples from all animals, every other week, in order to follow the evolution of epigenetic age over time. As a functional assessment, we plan to evaluate the performance of spatial memory before the start of treatment and 3 months after. Cognitive tests will include an evaluation of motor performance.
Already 15 years ago, this surprising lead in the quest for rejuvenation was opened with the experiments conducted by Irina and Michael Conboy and their colleagues at Stanford University.
To verify this, their team had temporarily connected the vascular network of young mice to that of older mice, as if they were Siamese twins, a complex surgical operation called parabiosis. And they found that the muscles and liver of the older mice regenerated more efficiently, while the opposite occurred in the younger mice.
A new study, led by Irina and Michael Conboy of Berkeley University, has revealed an interesting new avenue in efforts to combat the effects of aging. The team’s research showed how diluting the blood plasma of older mice can have a strong rejuvenating effect on tissues and organs by reducing the concentration of inflammatory proteins that increase with age.
Half of the mice’s plasma was exchanged for a solution composed of salt water and albumin. This significantly improved the health of the aged mice. The rejuvenation effects on the brain, liver and muscles were the same or greater than in the first experiments in 2005!
We also hope that Irina and Michaël Conboy, brilliant researchers in this field, will agree to test the longevity of the mice with their plasma dilution technique.
Attention, Please note that the financing of these studies does not mean that Heales vzw is certain of positive results. On the contrary, a major effect unfortunately seems rather unlikely. But, apart from the fact that we would love to be wrong to be pessimistic, in the most probable case these studies on the longevity of rats aim to « close doors », to determine which avenues of research should be continued and which have a limited (or even negative) impact.
To learn more about the protocol used in these two studies, here are the corresponding documents: