WASHINGTON: Scientists believe that they are getting closer to developing a new drug that delays aging and keeps people healthy for longer.
A new study has discovered that sirtuin 1 activation increases lifespan, postpones the onset of age-related metabolic disorders, and enhances overall health in mice.
The results suggest a method that might be useful for enhancing longevity and health.
Studies in numerous animals have demonstrated that activating the protein can have a positive impact on many aspects of health. Sirtuin 1, or SIRT1, is known to have a significant role in maintaining metabolic balance in multiple tissues.
Additionally, in some animal models, medications that boost SIRT1 activity have been shown to delay age-related illnesses and decrease the beginning of aging.
A tiny chemical named SIRT1720 that activates SIRT1 was put to the test in studies conducted by scientists under the direction of Dr. Rafael de Cabo of the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health.
Starting at 6 months of age, the animals received a regular diet plus 100 mg/kg SRT1720 for the duration of their lives.
Researchers discovered that SRT1720 dramatically increased mice’s average longevity by 8.8%. Throughout the animals’ whole lifespan, supplementation lowered body weight and fat percentage and enhanced muscular function and motor coordination.
Researchers found that SRT1720 supplementation reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, which may help protect against heart disease, and improved insulin sensitivity, which may help prevent diabetes, in additional studies examining the effects of SRT1720 on various metabolic variables.
The researchers found that supplementation also showed anti-inflammatory benefits in different tissues, which is significant because persistent low-grade inflammation is known to have a role in aging and age-related disorders.
Here, we demonstrate for the first time that mice on a regular diet have longer life spans and better health, according to de Cabo.
It demonstrates that we can create chemicals that lessen the burden of age-related metabolic and chronic disorders, according to de Cab.
The study is published in Cell Reports.
