Ever wonder how kids have so much energy or why you never see a teenager with wrinkles? The reason is, quite literally, in their blood. It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie: injecting blood from a young person into an aging, Alzheimer’s patient, and watching as renewed youth is awakened. But that’s the outcome realized in studies of mice, which showed astounding brain cell growth in the area of the brain critical to memory and learning – the hippocampus. Perhaps just as incredible was the effect on the brains of the younger mice who received injections of older mouse blood, resulting in stunted neuron growth.
The first human trial is already underway on Alzheimer’s patients, led by Tony Wyss-Coray, neurology professor at the Stanford School of Medicine, with results expected by the end of the year. But what will be the impact if the study proves that young blood does reverse aging in humans? Practical applications may involve short periods of infusions to help older patients heal faster after a surgery, but there are many fears about the unknown impact of tampering with the body’s natural aging process.
Learn more by listening to Wyss-Coray at a recent TED conference.
While we may never experience an actual fountain of youth, the senior care experts at Heaven at Home Senior Care of Dallas know that you’re only as old as you feel. Our home care services help seniors remain happy, healthy, and independent, allowing them to enjoy the lifestyle they want in the place they feel most comfortable – home. Contact our team today to learn more about our home care services.