Scientists discover ‘catastrophic’ change in blood cell composition, raising prospect of new therapies to slow ageing process
A groundbreaking theory of ageing that explains why people can suddenly become frail after reaching their 70s has raised the prospect of new therapies for the decline and diseases of old age.
The scientists believe similar changes occur in organs throughout the body, from the skin to the brain, potentially underpinning why people often age healthily for decades before experiencing a more rapid decline in their 70s and 80s. Ageing is a complex process, but many scientists have suspected that the gradual buildup of mutations in cells gradually degrades the body’s ability to function properly. The latest research suggests that thinking is wrong, or at best incomplete, and places the blame instead on “selfish” cells that rise to dominance in old age.
In the over-65s, the picture was radically different. About half of their blood cells came from a measly 10 or 20 distinct stem cells, dramatically reducing the diversity of the person’s blood cells, with consequences for their health., the researchers explain that while stem cells involved in making blood gather mutations over time, most of these changes are harmless.
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