So, a month ago, we spoke about our blood. How it can provide us indications about our general health, as well as provide much better indications if someone is experiencing PTSD.
But, today’s post is more related to one from longer ago than that- Young Blood . Where we discussed how transfusing blood from younger species ameliorated- or obliterated- many of the attributes of aging.
Dr. Benoit Lehallier of Stanford, along with Drs. D Gate, N Schaum, T Nanasi, SE Lee, H Yousef, PM Losada, D Berdnik, A Keller, and T Wyss-Coray; Drs. J Verghese, S Sathyan, S Milman, and N Barzilai of Albert Einstein (Bronx), and Dr. C Franceschi (University of Bologna) published their study of blood in BioRxiv (Undulating changes in human plasma proteome across lifespan are linked to disease).
They decided on this study based upon the results discussed in that blog post referenced above. Given those studies, it was obvious one needed to look at the proteins in blood plasma; their study pool was some 4300 folks ranging in age from 18 to 95, and they examined some 3000 proteins overall.
One of the interesting facts they found was that there are three distinct waves, three periods where the proteins in our blood change dramatically. It wasn’t just one or two proteins- but about 1400 of them. These waves of change appear at ages 34, 60, and 78. Notably, the changes at 60 are when most age-related diseases manifest.
(The wave change at 34 was surprising- but, who knows, that may be why middle age involves such a change in our lives. And, that aging is clearly evident long before we ever get “old” [or, to be politically correct, attain senior citizen status]. Or, it may be related to pregnancy and lactation, prevalent in our 30s. After all, 2/3 of the proteins that change with age have gender-related differences. )
According to this research, some of the preservation factors for our health are found among folks in their 80s and 90s- which may be exactly what’s keeping them alive.
Interestingly, Dr. Lehallier et. al. found that using some 373 blood proteins affords one a sort of “proteomic clock”; one that can be used to determine one’s age. When the clock failed, those folks were performing significantly better on their physical and cognitive tests. (In other words, they are biologically younger than their age would indicate.)
But, more importantly than the parlor trick of guessing one’s age, imagine if we use this clock to discern if certain anti-aging drugs are working, to identify folks who are prematurely aging.
And, the research team is also hoping to discern which of the proteins provide protective or rejuvenating effects. To stave off aging results or maybe cognitive decline.
That would make it a brave new world.
This reader, who is older than 60 but younger than 78, is thinking “I hope, in my lifetime.” Science fiction novels warn us, though, of unintended consequences.
There always are intended- and unintended- circumstances, Alana. Sci-tech is amoral; what we humans do with is where moral and amoral arrive. the trick is to learn the unintended circumstances fast and completely and ensure they are minimal- or eradicated.