Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding the aging process by studying immortal planarians, which can regenerate body parts and live indefinitely. Dr. Longhua Guo’s team has found that these creatures share commonalities with mammals when it comes to signs of aging and reversing age-related decline.
Planarians, also known as Schmidtea mediterranea, are flatworms that have the unique ability to regenerate lost limbs, organs, and even heads. In a study published in Nature Aging, Guo’s team discovered that planarians undergo natural changes similar to those experienced by mammals as they age, including the loss of neurons, muscle mass, and fertility.
However, unlike mammals, planarians do not lose adult stem cells with age and are able to regenerate lost body parts. The researchers also found that regeneration reversed age-associated transcriptional changes in various tissues, suggesting that planarians have mechanisms to support longevity and healing even at older ages.
The study’s findings suggest that age-associated decline may be reversible at a whole-organism level, not just for planarians but potentially for other organisms as well. Guo’s team plans to identify the genes and cells responsible for this regenerative program in order to unlock its secrets.
This research has significant implications for human aging and could potentially lead to new treatments or therapies for age-related diseases. While planarians have evolved distinct characteristics that allow them to live indefinitely, mammals may be able to tap into some of these abilities with limited extent through exercise, calorie restriction, and other interventions.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/this-bizarre-immortal-creature-could-hold-the-secret-to-reversing-aging