An international team of scientists from the UK and Germany has identified 24 new drugs that potentially stop aging and prolong life. The research preprint has been published in the bioRxiv.org repository.
Aging is a complex process, which manifests itself both in the accumulation of DNA damage and in disruption of homeostasis in cells, tissues and organs. At the same time, the most vulnerable part of the body is the brain, which is expressed in a weakening of cognitive abilities and an increase in neurodegenerative processes.
The researchers analyzed gene activity in 22 different regions of the brain in people between the ages of 20 and 106. Nerve tissue samples were obtained from the frontal and temporal lobes, cerebellum, limbic system, and other brain structures. Experts identified gene products - transcripts (messenger RNA molecules) - whose concentration in neurons changed with age. Thus, the scientists identified genes whose activity was a marker of aging.
Scientists used the Connectivity Map database to search for potential anti-aging agents. It contains information about drugs that affect the synthesis of transcripts, enhancing or suppressing it. Found 24 compounds that can prolong life by influencing the activity of genes. At the same time, four drugs, including resveratrol and sirolimus, have been previously proven to have anti-aging effects on animals.
