Biotechnology in Aging and Longevity

There are several measures individuals can take to maintain their health, including maintaining a balanced diet and engaging in regular exercise. However, aging is an inevitable part of human life and a driving cause of chronic diseases. Biotechnology is currently being used to improve the quality of life and longevity in various ways, demonstrating the potential to slow down aging and prevent diseases.

As technology has become more advanced, scientists have been able to manipulate cells and influence their lifespan through genetic rewiring. An experiment was conducted by a research team from UC San Diego, where the team changed the aging pathways of yeast cells, slowing the aging process and increasing the cells’ lifespan. This could potentially be applied to people as well, maintaining healthier cells and preventing chronic diseases. Another study was conducted on mice, which are known to have similarities with humans in biological structure. Scientists reprogrammed their cells to a younger state, with no increase in cancer or other diseases. The mice appeared more youthful; they recovered faster from injuries and had accelerated muscle regeneration. The scientists are hopeful that this cell rejuvenation therapy can safely prevent aging in the human body, adding years to the average lifespan and preventing diseases.

Additionally, biomarkers, or biological markers, are a type of biotechnology that shows what is happening in a cell or organism at a certain point in time. Biomarkers can be used to discover diseases in the body and how far it has progressed. AI has been used in combination with biomarkers to identify and predict age-related diseases, preventing them from progressing further and extending lifespan. Biotechnology and AI have also been used to design new drugs to find anti-aging solutions. 

Although biotechnology in aging and longevity is still a relatively new research topic, its results have already proven useful in reversing cellular aging and preventing chronic diseases in the human body. With the help of biotechnology, scientists may be able to find a way to reverse aging shortly.

References:

“Adding Life to Years: The Promise of Longevity Biotech for Healthy Aging | UNCTAD.” Unctad.org, 6 Mar. 2023, unctad.org/news/cstd-dialogue-kristen-fortney.

“Cellular Rejuvenation Therapy Safely Reverses Signs of Aging in Mice.” Salk Institute for Biological Studies, www.salk.edu/news-release/cellular-rejuvenation-therapy-safely-reverses-signs-of-aging-in-mice/.

Lang, Katharine. “New Clues to Slow Aging? Scientists Use Genetic Rewiring to Increase Lifespan of Cells.” Medicalnewstoday.com, Medical News Today, 30 Apr. 2023, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/longevity-scientists-use-genetic-wiring-to-increase-cells-lifespan#Implications-on-increasing-healthy-life-years-for-people.

Lyu, Yu-Xuan, et al. “Longevity Biotechnology: Bridging AI, Biomarkers, Geroscience and Clinical Applications for Healthy Longevity.” Aging, vol. 16, no. 20, Winter 2024, pp. 12955–12976, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39418098/,

https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206135.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “Biomarkers.” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 2 Aug. 2023, www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/science/biomarkers.