Slow Ageing 

Read Time: 2 min 50 sec. 

Once upon a time, there was a dream that many people shared - to slow down the ageing process. Scientists have been working on this dream for years, exploring various methods and approaches to achieve it. Some of these methods include dietary restriction, telomerase, senolytic drugs, epigenetic clock, and more. Among all of these, two methods have caught my attention, and I'd love to share them with you.

The first method is the popular telomerase. To understand telomerase, we must first understand telomeres. Telomeres are like the edges of an X, which represent the chromosomes inside a cell. Their role is to protect these chromosomes, which carry all our genomic information. Unfortunately, every time a cell divides, the telomeres also divide, which shortens them. The telomerase is like a hero enzyme that acts as an extension to those telomeres, lengthening them and increasing our lifespan. However, only a few cells in our body possess this enzyme, and so the telomeres in other cells continue to shorten with each division.

The idea is to add this enzyme to every cell in our body to extend the telomeres and help us live longer and healthier lives. Imagine that! With this method, people with intelligent brains like you and me might live much longer. However, it's not that easy. Lengthening the telomeres excessively may lead to an increased risk of cancer, as seen in mice. Thus, scientists are working to find the optimal balance to extend telomeres without risking the development of cancer.

The second method that has captured my attention is epigenetic clock. This method is used to predict how old someone is biologically, in terms of their health and disease risks. The age measured is called epigenetic age, and it's based on DNA methylation levels. Simply put, the more methyl groups accumulate in one's DNA molecules, the older they are biologically. Scientists are exploring this method to find ways to reverse or slow down the ageing process by controlling the accumulation of these methyl groups.

Imagine a world where we could slow down the ageing process or even reverse it. It sounds like a fairy tale, doesn't it? However, with the advancements in science and technology, this dream could become a reality. But, there is a catch. Many might think that this will lead to an immense increase in the population, as grown-ups will live longer and have more opportunities to reproduce. Unfortunately, that's true, and it brings up a whole new set of challenges, which I have discussed in some of my other predictions.

In conclusion, the dream of slowing down the ageing process is not just a fantasy. It's a real possibility that scientists are working towards, and who knows, one day, we might live in a world where people can live longer, healthier lives, and age gracefully.

Updates: In mice, excess adding of telomerase leads high risk of  cancer, but in short frames it could lengthen the telomeres with no risk.