Scientists extend the lifespan of oldest lab rat
Katcher’s results will be published after Sima passes away. However, the data collected so far indicates that eight rats who received placebo infusions saline, lived between 34 and 38 months. Eight other rats, however, received E5, a purified, concentrated blood plasma. The rats also showed improved grip strength. Rats usually live between two and three years. However, a brown rodent that lived on a low-calorie diet for more than 4.6 years is the contender for oldest ever.
Katcher stated that the real purpose of his experiments was not to prolong life, but rather to prolong youthspan. \”Our goal is to rejuvenate and revitalize people so they can enjoy their golden years instead of suffering through years of decrepitude,\” he said. \”But the truth is that if you can do that, then you will also be able to extend life, and that is not a bad effect.\”
The results of such small studies may be tentative, but scientists are optimistic that the work and other similar efforts have potential. In a preliminary study, Katcher, along with experts from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that the infusion of young plasma slowed down the biological clock in rat liver, blood and heart, as well as a region of the brain called the hypothalamus. Prof David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School, an expert in ageing, commented on the research 2020. He said that if it held true, \”rejuvenation may become a commonplace practice within our lifetimes\”.
Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/08/anti-ageing-scientists-extend-lifespan-of-oldest-living-lab-rat?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social
