Human Study has Reversed Aging in Telomers and Senescent Cells

Introduction

The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research at Shamir Medical Center, Tel Aviv University announced that according to a new study, for the first time in humans, two key biological hallmarks of aging, telomere length shortening, and the accumulation of senescent cells have been reversed.

Hallmarks of Aging

The biological deterioration of aging is cited as a major risk factor for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, dementia and Alzheimer's. At the cellular level, two key hallmarks of the aging process are:

• The shortening of telomere length, of approximately 20-40 bases per year, which is associated with a variety of serious life-threatening illnesses

• The accumulation of senescent cells, the so-called "old malfunctioning cells," which inhibit cell proliferation. The accumulation of senescence contributes to many age-associated conditions and illnesses, while elimination of those cells can reverse them, as shown in previous animal studies.

The Study Team

The clinical trial was conducted by Prof. Efrati, MD, from the Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University and Dr. Amir Hadanny, MD, Chief Medical Research Officer of The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research and co-author of the study.

It is the first study to evaluate whether HBOT can affect telomere length and senescence using their specific Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) protocol.

The Study

The scientific included 35 healthy adults aged 64 and older who did not undergo any lifestyle, diet or medication adjustments. Each patient was placed in a hyperbaric chamber for 90 minutes a day, for 5 days a week, over 3 months while breathing 100% oxygen through a mask.

The pressurized chamber allows more oxygen to be dissolved into the tissues and mimics a state of hypoxia, or oxygen shortage, which is known to have regenerating effects.

Whole blood samples were collected prior to treatment, at the 30th and 60th session, and one to two weeks following the last HBOT session, to assess peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells telomere length and senescence.

Statement

In a statement Professor Efrati said "After dedicating our research to exploring its impact on the areas of brain functionality and age-related cognitive decline, we have now uncovered for the first time in humans, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy's biological effects at the cellular level in healthy aging adults.

Since telomere shortening is considered the 'Holy Grail' of the biology of aging, many pharmacological and environmental interventions are being extensively explored in the hopes of enabling telomere elongation.

The significant improvement of telomere length shown during and after these unique Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy protocols provides the scientific community with a new foundation of understanding that aging can, indeed, be targeted and reversed at the basic cellular-biological level."

Results

The study found that the telomere length of T helper, natural killer and B cells increased significantly, by over 20% following HBOT. The most significant change was in B cells, which increased at the 30th session, 60th session and post HBOT by 25.68%, 29.39% and 37.63% respectively.

In addition, there was a significant decrease in the number of senescent T helpers by -37.30%. The website www.Eurekalert.com summarized the results as a lengthening of up to 38% of the telomeres, as well as a decrease of up to 37% in the presence of senescent cells.

Statement

Dr. Hadanny stated that "Until now, interventions such as lifestyle modifications and intense exercise were shown to have some inhibition effect on the expected telomere length shortening.

However, what is remarkable…is that in just three months of HBOT, we were able to achieve such significant telomere elongation; rates far beyond any of the current available interventions or lifestyle modifications.

With this pioneering study, we have opened a door for further research on the prolonged cellular impact of HBOT to reverse the aging process."

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