These insights could drive the development of new drugs to treat transthyretin amyloidosis, a progressive and fatal disease.

Transthyretin, a small but crucial protein, plays a vital role in transporting hormones through the blood and spinal fluid. However, when it misfolds after secretion, it can lead to serious health problems. Misfolded transthyretin forms toxic clumps in the heart and along nerves, causing transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR)—a progressive and often fatal disease. ATTR affects up to 25% of men over 80, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, and numbness or tingling in the extremities.

In a breakthrough study, researchers at Scripps Research have revealed new structural insights into transthyretin. Their findings, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.

We could soon live to the age of 150, medics claim.

They say more of us will reach the massive milestone thanks to modern tech, new medicines and healthy living. Longevity medicine expert Dr Debonneuil said: If the current trend continues, we could see individuals living to 140 or 150 in good health.

While that might sound sensational, it’s grounded in science and the longevity field is booming because of these breakthroughs.” Dr Debonneuil spoke after a first-of-its-kind study, Rejuvenation Olympics, produced promising anti-ageing results. He continued: “One of the guys taking part is in his 60’s but biologically he resembles someone in their later 30’s.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As humans age, we develop chronic inflammation in our blood and tissues that gradually decreases the function of blood stem cells in our bone marrow. These defects harm blood cell production and the immune system, often leading to a slew of complications and weakening responses to chemotherapy.

Now, UF Health Cancer Center researchers have discovered a way to prevent this inflammation, called “inflammaging,” by systemically targeting a protein. The findings in mice, published Jan. 3 in Science Immunology, could pave the way for therapies aimed at preserving an aging blood system, with implications for cancer treatments and aging-related diseases, including anemias, infections, and blood cancers.

“We set out to determine if we could fully preserve and rejuvenate blood stem cell function during the course of aging, a goal that had remained largely elusive so far,” said Jason Butler, Ph.D., a professor and vice chief of research in the UF Division of Hematology and Oncology and a member of the UF Health Cancer Center, who led the new study.

A recent study has found that the overexpression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), which is a subunit of telomerase, an enzyme essential for telomere maintenance, leads to lifespan extension in mice without significant side effects [1].

Protecting DNA

Telomere shortening is a well-known hallmark of aging. Telomeres are protective DNA sequences at the ends of the chromosomes. In most human cells, they become shorter with each division.