Nevertheless, an intriguing animal study on the African Killifish has sheds light on the possibility that our bodies, particularly our muscles, need not wither away with age. As these fish near the end of their natural lifespan, their muscles undergo a remarkable phenomenon where they appear to reverse the aging process. Reverting to a state resembling their early life grants these fish the ability to decelerate aging and extend their lifespan.
This discovery prompts us to ponder whether humans could potentially replicate this extraordinary ability.
From Study Finds:
“In this study, we performed a thorough cellular and molecular characterization of skeletal muscle from early life, aged and extremely old late-life stages, revealing many similarities to sarcopenia in humans and other mammals,” says Avnika Ruparelia, a professor from the University of Melbourne and co-author of the study. “Importantly, the late-life stage during which we observed improved muscle health perfectly coincides with a stage when mortality rates decline. We therefore postulate that the improvement in muscle health may be a critical factor contributing to the extension of life span in extremely old individuals.”
The team studied the metabolism of fish at different stages of their lifespan. There they made a surprising observation. As fish got older, their metabolism started to look more like the metabolism of a young fish. The findings highlight the important role lipid metabolism plays in age-reversing effects. While not tested in the study, the authors suggest drugs involved in forming certain lipids may help humans produce age-defying muscles.
“During extreme old age, there is a striking depletion of lipids, which are the main energy reserves in our cells,” explains Currie. “We believe that this mimics a state of calorie restriction, a process known to extend life span in other organisms, which results in activation of downstream mechanisms ultimately enabling the animal to maintain nutrient balance and live longer. A similar process is seen in the muscle of highly trained athletes.”
The findings of this study are undeniably captivating, and it holds immense potential for researchers to harness this knowledge in aiding the aging population in preserving greater muscle mass.
It is truly exciting to envision the possibilities that may arise from this research and the positive impact it could have on individuals as they age.
