Researchers developed ‘HistoAge,’ an algorithm that unravels brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders.
As we age, our brains undergo structural and cellular changes influenced by intrinsic and external factors. Accelerated aging in the brain can result in an increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions, bipolar disorder, and mortality. In a bid to deeply understand how an aging brain works, researchers say they have built a powerful AI tool that can identify regions in the brain vulnerable to age-related changes.
The team used AI to develop an algorithm called ‘HistoAge,’ which predicts age at death based on the cellular composition of human brain tissue specimens with an average accuracy… More.
This is a bit technical. “nucleocytoplasmic compartmentalization assay”, Yeah buddy.
Life is dependent on the preservation and storage of information. The genome and epigenome are the two central storehouses of information in eukaryotes, and although they work interdependently, they are fundamentally quite different. Genetic information is consistent across all body cells throughout the life of an individual while epigenetic information varies between cells as well as changes over time and as per environment.
Researchers have identified several hallmarks of aging such as epigenetic alterations, genomic instability, cellular senescence, telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction, and others [1]. These are known to play a role in the dysfunction and deterioration of cells with age. David Sinclair and other researchers have previously indicated that loss of epigenetic information can cause changes in gene expression, leading to cellular identity loss. Previous studies in mice have also shown that cell injuries such as cell crushing and DNA double-strand breaks can promote loss of epigenetic information which can accelerate aging along with age-related diseases [2].
Cellular senescence is a state of stable cell cycle arrest that can be triggered due to a wide range of extrinsic as well as intrinsic factors. It promotes tissue remodeling, wound repair, and cancer prevention by stopping the proliferation of damaged and aged cells. Senescent cells are characterized by metabolic and morphological alterations, reorganization of the chromatin, and release of pro-inflammatory substances known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) [3]. Irreparable DNA damage, loss of epigenetic information, and telomere shortening are a few factors that can initiate cellular senescence. Accumulation of senescent cells with age results in inflammation as well as the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Centenarians, once considered rare, have become commonplace. Indeed, they are the fastest-growing demographic group of the world’s population, with numbers roughly doubling every ten years since the 1970s.
How long humans can live, and what determines a long and healthy life, have been of interest for as long as we know. Plato and Aristotle discussed and wrote about the ageing process over 2,300 years ago.
The pursuit of understanding the secrets behind exceptional longevity isn’t easy, however. It involves unravelling the complex interplay of genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors and how they interact throughout a person’s life.
Tech mogul Bryan Johnson, who is on a quest to reverse aging, said he does not believe humans will survive without the help of artificial intelligence.
In this October 13 Learning Lab, Hilary Sherman, a Senior Scientist in the Corning Life Sciences Applications Lab, and Robert Padilla, a Field Application Scientist at Corning, dive into the topic of 3D culture techniques and why these technologies should be a part of any researcher’s repertoire.
Three-dimensional (3D) cultures such as spheroids and organoids are an important part of the research model market, helping to close the gap between cell cultures and animal models. Both organoids and spheroids have been used to create in vivo-like tissue models of cancer subtypes to study novel therapies and to make models for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine studies. But there are some key differences, with important implications for various applications. The right tool for a project is not always obvious. For spheroids and organoids, knowing where the cultures are similar and where they differ will help scientists select the best resource for their projects the first time around.
The idea of postponing or even reversing the ageing process has always fascinated humanity. Some claim that immortality will be possible as little as thirty years from now – but will it just be for the rich?
Our team visited research laboratories working on this objective and interviewed the world’s top researchers in the field. We ask just how long humans might be able to live, and what it could involve.
The programme also looks into the popular wish to remain young and extend our lifespan. Some go to the extent of paying 8,000 dollars for a blood transfusion from a young person. We visited the clinic where they perform this bizarre procedure, whose scientific basis has been criticized, and spoken to the people in charge.
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Can artificial intelligence, or AI, make it possible for us to live forever? Or at least, be preserved for posterity? What are the current developments in the fields of artificial intelligence and biotechnology?
Will humanity exist without biological bodies, in the near future? Could humans and AI merge into one being? This documentary explores these questions, and more.
The film also explores current advances in AI, robotics and biotechnology. What is the essence of human existence? Can that essence be replicated? Technological development in these fields is rapid. It is also increasingly urgent, as people’s lives play out more and more online. Visionaries, authors, and theorists such as Nick Bostrom, Hiroshi Ishiguro, Douglas Rushkoff and Deepak Chopra are questioning how a humanity without a biological body might evolve.
The scientific community is fascinated by the idea of merging human and machine. However, leading minds are also pondering the question of whether AI might just be the last thing humans ever create.
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While the bacteria in the intestine are helpful for digesting food and fighting infections, they have long been suspected to play an essential role in triggering rheumatoid arthritis. This chronic inflammatory disorder affects the joints.
Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered a link between an abundance of specific gut bacteria and the triggering of an immune response against a person’s tissue. They also found that this happens even before the clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis appear. They published their findings from the study in Science Advances.
“As we age, our gut bacteria and their byproducts change, which impacts our immune system,” says senior author Veena Taneja, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic immunologist. There is a known link between imbalances in gut bacteria, aging, and rheumatoid arthritis, but it is challenging to prove this connection in humans. “This research sheds light on the complex relationship between gut microbiota and rheumatoid arthritis.”
Researchers say they have linked shorter telomeres on white blood cells to higher dementia risk, although outside experts say there are limitations to this study.
