Anti-aging breakthrough: Doctors invent ‘Benjamin Button’ vaccine that turns back the body clock – could prevent dementia
Scientists say the prospect of an anti-aging vaccine that can prevent age-related mental decline is ‘closer than ever’.
The prospect of a jab capable of combating the ‘internal enemies’ of an aging population, including dementia, could easily be dismissed as ‘fantasy’, according to a group of Israeli researchers.
But the team at the Weizmann Institute of Science said experts are closer to making this a reality than you might think.
Writing in the diary Neuron they said: ‘It is exciting to propose an immune-focused approach to reduce the threat from our internal enemies that are driving our decline with an aging population.
“We believe we are closer than ever to realizing these possibilities.”
They explained that as we age, the immune system goes haywire, leading to more inflammation in the body and an increase in so-called “zombie cells.”
These so-called senescent cells are cells that no longer function as they should, but remain in the tissues instead of being cleared away.
The Weizmann scientists said the brain is an organ particularly affected by this ‘immune aging’ – making it vulnerable to damage leading to dementia-like symptoms.
Scientists say the prospect of a vaccine against aging that rejuvenates our brains and the mental decline considered a precursor to dementia is ‘closer than ever’. Stock image
Experts from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel said that as people age, their immune systems also age, which is associated with increased inflammation in the body and an increase in so-called ‘zombie cells’, problems that can hamper the brain.
They said researchers are trying to identify a specific type of protein that could be used to trigger an immune response in the brain, called an epitope, which “could serve as an anti-aging vaccination.”
Researchers also highlighted the possibility of using senolytics, a class of drugs that target zombie cells – which do not function properly – as another promising area.
Cognitive impairment, a term that means a person begins to have problems with their memory or thinking, can be an early sign of dementia, although this is not always the case.
Problems with memory and concentration often become more common as we get older, although these are not always cognitive disorders.
However, if people show these symptoms for a few months, charities say it could be a sign of cognitive impairment.
Dementia itself is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive disorders that affect memory, thinking and behavior.
There are many types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common, but it can also be caused by problems with blood flow to the brain, such as after a stroke.
Dementia is a growing problem in Britain due to an aging population, with almost a million people estimated to be living with the condition, although this is expected to increase.
The condition is believed to cost the country around £40 billion a year, a combination of healthcare costs and loss of income as people have to take time off work to care for their relatives.