The Technology of Anti-Aging: A Blog About Anti-Aging Products and Research

For generations, people have tried to look younger than their actual age and to stop the aging process. The methods have changed quite a bit over the decades, but one thing remains… the burning desire to reverse the aging process. Fortunately, anti-aging tech is available and is a rapidly growing market. While it may not make you ageless, it could help you achieve that youthful look and make you feel more energetic for years to come.

There are constantly new advancements in anti-aging products and the research is ongoing. This means there are always new ways to turn back the hands of time and staying on top of these will help you ensure you’re always using the best products.

How and Why We Age

Before you start looking at anti-aging remedies, it’s a good idea to understand how you age, and then you can begin to look at how to reverse that.

There are a number of factors when it comes to aging, but it’s essentially the process of time and experiences causing damage to your body’s cells and tissues. Over time, they wear down and begin to fail. It’s estimated that the brain begins this decline starting at 24 years old.

Often, the face is where you notice aging most. Your hairline begins to recede, making your forehead look larger and ears grow more cartilage, so they become larger. The connective tissues throughout the body weaken, causing skin to sag and droop. This is particularly noticeable in the cheeks and around the eyes, as these areas also lose fat and can shift and sag. However, fat tends to accumulate in the chin and neck, creating a very different look as you get older.

Drugs to Extend Your Life

If medicine can heal your body, can it actually repair it and reverse the damage done by time? People now live considerably longer than they did even a century or two ago, mostly due to the availability of medical care and better hygiene. But what about drugs? According to the National Institute on Aging, the drug rapamycin can help mice live up to 25 percent longer.

The drug has been tested on flies, worms and dogs, and it shows that it is possible to keep them alive considerably longer than their anticipated life span. We don’t yet know if it will work on humans, but it certainly appears to do so.

Rapamycin blocks mTOR genes, which are responsible for regulating cell metabolism. This causes cells to enter survival mode, which causes the being to live longer.

Another drug that looks promising is J147. It was derived from turmeric in 2011 and used to treat Alzheimer’s in mice. The drug shows promise in reversing Alzheimer’s, which could be wonderful, but it also promotes the growth of brand new cells in the brain. In studies, it was shown to generate ATP synthase, which is a mitochondrial protein. This provides cells with more energy and has been shown to extend the life of flies, worms and mice.

While these drugs exist, they aren’t being tested on humans yet and may not be for some time. However, there are other options for slowing the aging process.

Blood Transfusions

In 2014, scientists tried giving an older mouse blood plasma from younger mice. The result was that cognitive impairments caused by age improved drastically. It was determined that young blood injected into an older specimen helped rejuvenate synaptic plasticity, which had a positive effect on the brain and cognitive function.

This worked due to activating the cyclic AMP response element binding protein in the older mice. The result was that they reacted better to new challenges. While scientists have not proven the results again in any other animals, there are companies that offer refills of young blood for those looking to boost their cognitive function.

Nanomedicine

Another anti-aging tech is nanomedicine, which uses nanoparticles to strip away pathogens from cells and eliminate them from your body. The actual use is more for diseases, since it can be used to eliminate cancer, sepsis and other ailments. However, these little particles can also be used to eliminate the pathogens that may cause you to age.

The company NaNotics has created NaNots, which eliminate these unwanted molecules from the body, much like very, very tiny sponges.

Looking Younger With Anti-Aging Tech

If you can’t actually be younger, the next best thing is to look it, or that’s the reasoning for many people. There are a few choices here and there are always new options being developed. These include:

Dermal fillers: Injecting hyaluronic acid into the face can help plump up the tissues and make your face look younger. It only lasts six months but is an option for reducing lines and wrinkles.

Laser treatments: These can resurface your skin, remove brown age spots, get rid of scarring and wrinkles caused by sun damage and stimulate collagen to form. While this can be a pretty heavy-duty treatment and may require a week or two for recovery, the results can be quite impressive.

Microdermabrasion: A treatment that removes the upper layers of skin that are damaged and aging can give you a refreshed look with fewer wrinkles and a better complexion. It’s a common procedure that helps stimulate collagen production and make you look younger.

The Future of Anti-Aging Tech

As more of the scientists in the world of anti-aging tech get older, it’s likely you’ll see more options on the market. Scientists are currently studying what they call superagers, or people who are over 80 but have the same type of brain performance as a young person. If they can unlock the secrets to what causes these people to stay cognitively young, it’s possible they’ll know how to replicate it.

For now, there are a few options, but staying healthy is the best way to stay as young as possible.