Dealing with Aging

Two terms that start with T, TERT and TEC, are both alliterative and essential

Dorian Gray pawned it off on a picture.

The Rolling Stones called it a drag.

Now some researchers at the University of Texas are taking aim at defining and remedying some of the signs and problems of aging (after the fact, not preventing it à la Mr. Grey).

What these doctors at the MD Anderson Cancer Center are working on is a new approach that focuses on a specific enzyme to combat the debilitating effects of aging. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), an enzyme that plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of our chromosomes, naturally declines as we age, leading to a variety of health problems. By restoring youthful levels of TERT, the researchers were able to mitigate many of the negative consequences associated with aging.

How decreasing telomeres lead to some problems associated with aging:

The study, published in the journal Cell, chronicles a screening of over 650,000 compounds to find a molecule that could reactivate TERT in mice. What was discovered is a compound, known as TAC, that effectively restored TERT levels and led to remarkable improvements in the health of the mice.

After administering TAC to the mice for six months, the researchers observed several significant benefits:

• Improved brain function: The mice showed improved cognitive performance and increased neuron formation in the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with memory.

• Enhanced muscle strength: TAC treatment helped to reverse sarcopenia, a condition characterized by age-related muscle loss. The mice demonstrated improved grip strength, speed, coordination, and neuromuscular function.

• Reduced inflammation: TAC reduced inflammation, which is linked to many age-related diseases.

New therapeutic channels: TAC has been theorized to counter and stymie conditions brought on by maladies like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease, and cancer.

This is promising! By restoring TERT levels, it may be possible to improve brain health, muscle function, and overall quality of life.

Don’t expect a solution anytime soon. Significant research and testing are needed. But root cause identification is always important, and that seems to be done in some factor.

For humanity, I don’t think it’s too much to say that a future where the decline part of aging can be mitigated is wonderful.