Scientists Reverse Muscle Aging In Mice

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Scientists Reverse Muscle Aging In Mice

Posted by Soulskill on Friday December 20, 2013 @09:50AM from the mighty-mouse-will-return dept.

retroworks sends word that a group of researchers has found a chemical that successfully rejuvenated muscle tissue in mice. The scientists "said it was the equivalent of transforming a 60-year-old's muscle to that of a 20-year-old — but muscle strength did not improve." The study (abstract) is being called an "exciting finding" but the researchers are quick to point out the chemical only reverses one aspect of aging. Damage to DNA and shortening of telomeres continues. Still, it's one piece of the puzzle, and the group is hoping to begin clinical trials in 2015.

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Huh? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-12-20 09:53 · Score: 4, Interesting

DNA and telomere damage continues, and muscle strength does not improve. So what exactly makes this the equivalent of 20 year old's muscles? An affinity for beer and an overwhelming urge to chase women around?
1. Re:Huh? by Trepidity · 2013-12-20 10:06 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  From the summary, it seems they're specifically looking at the decline in mitochondrial function that accompanies aging. There's already known to be such a relationship, and the study linked here is claiming that increasing the levels of something claimed NAD+ in the muscular tissue of mice appears to reverse the decline in mitochondrial function.
  
  --
  10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
2. Re:Huh? by iamnotasmurf · 2013-12-20 10:16 · Score: 1
  
  i drank a lot of beer and i chased a women home last night.and now im in a police cell. last time ill take part in a cretin advertising campaign!
  
  --
  My sig has no nature
3. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-12-20 10:23 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  This isn't really novel since the SIRTUIN/NAD+/Resveratrol story has been know for sometime. Activation of Sir2 in yeast by resveratrol extended lifespan(guarente et al).
4. Re: Huh? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-12-20 10:28 · Score: 1
  
  It's been known for a while that NAD is beneficial - what they seem to have achieved here is find something that increases the amount in the tissue. They are using something called NMN to do this but appear to be using massive doses that are injected.
5. Re:Huh? by ackthpt · 2013-12-20 10:31 · Score: 2
  
  DNA and telomere damage continues, and muscle strength does not improve. So what exactly makes this the equivalent of 20 year old's muscles? An affinity for beer and an overwhelming urge to chase women around?
  Don't forget the urge to drive monster trucks.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
6. Re: Huh? by mmell · 2013-12-20 10:55 · Score: 1
  
  s/NAD is complete/NADS are
  Fixed that for you.
Left out some details? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-12-20 10:06 · Score: 2, Funny

Yes, but more importantly, how does that affect the flavor of the mice?
Re:The Mice are Thrilled! by Stargoat · 2013-12-20 10:07 · Score: 1

Here he comes to save the day!

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Hoist Number One and Number Six.
Dont bank on it yet -- GSK did by Yergle143 · 2013-12-20 10:12 · Score: 1

The lead author, David Sinclair, has pursued some very interesting hypothesis. This work dovetails into his findings about resveratrol. The trouble is that there has been a mixed record, to say the least, in others (Amgen and Pfizer) reproducing his work:
Still you never know, so I'm mixing up a nice resveratrol NAD+ cocktail.
Keep up the good work scientits! by Sla$hPot · 2013-12-20 10:19 · Score: 2

Speaking of scientits. What about soft tissue?
NAD(H) by Anonymous Coward · 2013-12-20 10:27 · Score: 2, Interesting

Bodybuilders have been using this for a while now...
Re:movie by erikkemperman · 2013-12-20 10:34 · Score: 1

For an interesting and entertaining extrapolation of a planet without death, I recommend Torchwood: Miracle Day. (British scifi, spun off of Doctor Who, but rather more grim and dark and gory.

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Gosh, thanks. That must be why the other ships call me Meatfucker -- GCU Grey Area (Eccentric)
Re:The Mice are Thrilled! by Culture20 · 2013-12-20 10:51 · Score: 1

http://science.slashdot.org/story/11/12/19/1435257/researchers-create-mighty-mouse-with-gene-tweak
"You are not ready for immortality." by mmell · 2013-12-20 10:57 · Score: 2

*turns, leaves room*
Re:movie by ChrisMaple · 2013-12-20 11:24 · Score: 1

You might also consider Niven's "Bordered in Black".

--
Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Frozen MidWest by StewBaby2005 · 2013-12-20 11:59 · Score: 1

This 61 year old would love to have 20 something muscles after shovelling snow for the last week here in the frozen MidWest! :)
WHAT chemical: by Ungrounded+Lightning · 2013-12-20 12:44 · Score: 1

From TFA:

Experiments showed that boosting NAD levels, by giving mice a chemical which they naturally convert into NAD,

The chemical used in the study is not mentioned in the linked abstract, either.
Does anyone know what the chemical, and dosage, in question might be?

--
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
I welcome our young mice overlords... by ignavus · 2013-12-20 15:49 · Score: 1

It's no wonder that mice are so successful as a species. We put so much effort into making them healthier.
Now we are giving them the elixir of youth as well.

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I am anarch of all I survey.