KHAN WAS RIGHT - better aging through blood (plasma)

[BeatleJWOL]

http://secondnexus.com/technology-and-innovation/how-blood-may-keep-you-young

By year’s end, we may learn whether injecting old people with blood from young people can improve their memory and even reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Last year, the Stanford Medicine New Center reported that a team of medical researchers, led by neurologist Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray, infused old mice with blood plasma from younger mice and then examined the subsequent behavior of the old mice and any ensuing changes in their brain structure. After the “young blood” infusion, the older mice showed marked improvement in both learning and memory tests, and a detailed analysis of their brain structure showed changes in the hippocampus–the area of the brain responsible for memory–that suggested improved activity and nerve regeneration.

The post is corroborated by the Stanford Medicine News Center:
http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-ne...recharges-brains-of-old-mice-study-finds.html

Aside from the obvious digs at nuTrek haters (lolol magic blood), this is actually interesting. Still waiting to see if it works, though; looks like at least one clinical trial was underway last year.

More recent article:
http://www.nature.com/news/ageing-research-blood-to-blood-1.16762

 

[farmkid]

If this pans out, I still don't think injecting blood will become a thing, at least not for long. It's much more likely that there will be a lot of research into what is in the blood of the young that has the effect, and then pharmaceutical solutions will be developed from that information. It is indeed exciting.

On a similar note, one of my colleagues has shown a similar effect with ovaries. He has found that transplanting ovaries from young mice into old mice has an overall rejuvenating effect on the old mice. It reduces many age-related ailments. He is now trying to get funding to further exploring the phenomenon to figure out how it works, which cells are involved, what hormones or other molecules mediate the effect, what about males, etc. It's some pretty exciting stuff, but it is stalled until he can get some money to take it further.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Apart from Elizabeth Bathory, I haven't heard of this being experimented with before. If it turns out to produce demonstrable and consistent results, perhaps the next step would be bone marrow replacement research? If younger blood is truly beneficial, wouldn't it follow that the marrow producing the blood is the next place for research on what the blood is doing?

 

[Trekkin]

I instantly thought of Bathory too. And those super-smart Alzheimer-curing sharks from Deep Blue Sea.

And before anyone jumps in, yes I'm aware Bathory probably didn't really do the blood-bathing thing. Serial killer yes, vampire no.

 

[Scout101]

Worked out well in Deep Blue Sea...