The mind-boggling story of the 'magic protein' that could slow down aging

Enjoying a

but, above all,

has become the golden dream of those who, beyond longevity, aspire to squeeze their years without (too many) physical and mental limitations.

In this race to discover the 'potion' that, beyond adding decades, helps us to do so by slowing down the logical

, several laboratories have spent decades investigating the role that scientists such as Lee Rubin, professor of Regenerative Medicine at Harvard University (United States) and co-director of the Neuroscience Program at the Stem Cell Institute, has not hesitated to call it the

What is that 'magic protein' that could become the key to our (almost) eternal youth?

The truth is that his nickname is much more poetic and revealing than his real name because his name is

.

'superfamily'

, which regulates the expression of HOX genes, which are fundamental for the regulation of the identity of positional (anteroposterior) changes during

", details Vicente Mera, head of the Genomic Medicine and Healthy Aging Unit at SHA Wellness Clinic and Best European Doctor in the field of Antiaging Medicine at the European Awards of Medicine.

It is one of the, according to those who know about this, tens of thousands of proteins that the human body has, what makes it, then, different from the rest?

Is it true that, according to various investigations, it

(including the heart) in a much closer future than we think?

Mera tries to explain it to us (and it is not an easy task): "In the classic experiments carried out, in the middle of the last century, by Clive McCay at Cornell University, it was first verified that

was the only action that

and

of certain mice, which was later confirmed by a pioneering protocol called

(laboratory technique to study physiology by

, in this case a young mouse with an old one, which are surgically joined to develop a unique and shared physiological system) that, after a certain time,

;

but also that

."

Thanks to, it must be said, this disturbing technique (which is so reminiscent of Dr. Frankenstein's experiments, really), it was observed that "the

, especially the hippocampus, and the

- indeed, including the heart -

. And, these

were not only anatomical, but also functional, as highlighted by memory tests."

Mera reports that, more recently, at Stanford University, "they have been able to isolate and purify at least

and that today correspond to

(small proteins that play a crucial role in in the control, growth, and activity of other cells of the immune system and blood cells) from stem cells passing through the circulation in

."

As has been verified, continues Mera, "the GDF11 protein is isolated only in the blood of young mice. In mature mice, for its part, it has been seen that, over time,

Of course, he emphasizes, "by

have been obtained , but of lesser intensity

than those achieved in the experiments with parabiosis, which suggests that there are still more factors to be identified and that they block or stimulate stem cells".

It is known that several laboratories have been working for decades on a formula that allows it to be marketed, but what is the truth in all this?

"The protein is

, but there are already websites that offer the possibility of participating in a randomized study to demonstrate the benefits (and toxicity) of GDF11."

In order to participate in these projects, warns Dr. Mera, "it is necessary to 'donate' a modest amount of money that can reach up to

. In such a way that a treatment protocol with GDF11 protein is within the reach of very Few yet."

Conclusion?

"It is clear that sooner or later,

that, without toxicity, are capable of mimicking the effect of parabiosis and can be used to prevent, prolong longevity and improve quality of life. , especially in patients with diseases such as Alzheimer's", concludes this doctor.

Hopefully his omen comes true soon!

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