October 28, 2015
The benefits of growing older are countless: increased wisdom, a slower, more relaxed pace of living, grandchildren and perhaps even great- or great-great-grandchildren. But it’s not without its concerns, including near the top of the list, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. But take heart; recent research is shining new hope into the world of aging and Alzheimer’s! A new study is showing how injecting blood from a young person into an aging, Alzheimer’s patient, could reverse aging. It sounds very futuristic, but that’s exactly the outcome realized in studies of mice.
The study showed astounding brain cell growth in the area of the brain critical to memory and learning – the hippocampus. Perhaps just as incredible was the effect on the brains of the younger mice who received injections of older mouse blood, resulting in stunted neuron growth.
The first human trial is already underway on Alzheimer’s patients, led by Tony Wyss-Coray, neurology professor at the Stanford School of Medicine, with results expected by the end of the year. But what will the impact be if the study proves that young blood does reverse aging in humans? Practical applications may involve short periods of infusions to help older patients heal faster after a surgery, but there are many fears about the unknown impact of tampering with the body’s natural aging process. Learn more by listening to Wyss-Coray at a recent TED conference.
If your loved one suffers with Alzheimer’s, contact Continuum of St. Louis. Our caregivers are professionally trained in providing excellent care for people with Alzheimer’s in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties. Our home care services can provide you and your loved one the extra support you need.