The ageing conundrum

It was just last week that the world passed the seven billion population mark. But all of them have to die one day, while millions of babies are born every day.

This is the Circle of Life, as Lion King's opening song so eloquently puts it. Death is inevitable once you are born. In fact, the late Steve Jobs called death 'life's changing agent" because whatever we do, we know one day it will be all over.

We also know another thing - ageing is inevitable the more decades you add to your life. At 80, your skin is not what it used to be when you were 20. That is just one organ.

Ageing happens throughout your body. We try to fight back with cosmetics and even plastic surgery, but the truth is that it is impossible to hide and stop ageing.

All over the world, there are people who want to stop growing old. While a few wish even to be immortal, all mortals want to remain youthful till the end. But is it possible ? Scientists may have just found an answer though it will take years before it really works in humans.

According to a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Nature, scientists have come just a little bit closer to stopping ageing - at least in mice. Given that mice are mammals, it is not a great feat of imagination to extend this possibility to humans as well.

Basically, the researchers have found a way to clear away what are called senescent cells, which are cells that have stopped dividing as people and animals age.

As the study explained, when a cell's DNA becomes damaged by things like ultraviolet radiation, the cell will often enter a senescent state as a precautionary measure against the cancerous growth that can result from such damage.

The immune system normally clears dormant cells from tissues. But as an organism ages, its tiring immune system begins to falter in the fight against these cellular leftovers. Senescent cells then begin to accumulate in the body, becoming formidable enough to trigger ageing.

What the scientists did was rather simple: They cleared out these cells, thus delaying or stopping ageing and the conditions that come with aging, like cataracts and muscle loss in mice.

They exposed the mice to a drug that activates a molecule called caspase 8 that kills the senescent cells and found that there was a significant delay in the ageing process. In the researchers' own words, the study shows "that the removal of senescent cells can prevent or delay tissue dysfunction and extend the health span."

In another study, scientists found that by using the drug guanfacine, they were able to lower levels of a brain chemical called cAMP to strengthen nerve connections in our brain, thereby reversing memory loss. After all, there is no point in living to be 120 if you cannot remember a thing.

These are indeed exciting times. Now there is a real possibility of delaying the ageing process through a mechanism in the body itself. Apparently, the aim of these scientists is not to achieve an upper age limit of 150 years or 200, but to help people live healthier, more youthful lives during their present life span without necessarily resorting to expensive plastic surgery or dubious cosmetic concoctions.

But this is apparently not the only approach to a longer life or even immortality. Scientists are working on several fronts to beat ageing.

I explained in an earlier edition of this column about the 'bionic' devices that are already helping some of us to lead healthier lives. From artificial eyes to lungs, there is a raft of technologies helping people with various disabilities to rediscover their lives. But the next step will be extending these bionic devices to those who want to replace their ageing organs, perhaps one at a time.

The only downside is that it could be horrendously expensive and only the super rich would be able to afford. We know that this disparity already exists - some devices such as ear implants cost millions of rupees and unless enough funds are raised by family and friends, the patients usually cannot afford them. But only time will tell whether artificial life enhancement devices become more commonplace and affordable in the long run.

But a lifespan of say, 200 years, or (ultimately) immortality poses several questions and challenges. The first question is, (though this sounds silly) is 'what are you going to do?' for 150-200 years. People usually retire at 65-70.

The logic is that the body cannot take work anymore but an even more important factor is that it paves the way for the next generation to come in and engage in productive work.

With the world already worrying about a growing silver generation and reproductive rates slowing down in many countries, how are we going to handle and care for those living even beyond 150 years? What kind of productive role can they play in the society? If people do not die at least until they are 150 and if millions are born every month, the natural circle of life will naturally be affected.

This is one major issue population planners will have to think about seriously. Of course, not everyone will want to live until 150 in an 80-year-old's body. On the other hand, some will not want to live that long even if a choice is available. However, if the ageing process can be 'stopped' at least at 50, there will be more takers for the 150-200 club. (By the way, the Justin Timberlake-Amanda Seyfried film 'In Time' now playing in cinemas offers a fascinating glimpse into a world where everyone can remain in their 20s).

In the end, living longer boils down to the way we live. There is one Italian village where nearly everyone lives well over 100 years.

They do little exercise, drink a bit of wine, eat (pasta) well, exchange local gossip and even take a siesta when the sun is hot. They have no stress in their lives at all. That is the ultimate secret of long life. Live your life without worries, without stress. Medicine may offer miracles, but happiness and a peaceful life are things that money truly cannot buy.