'Supermodel Grannies': New drug extends lifespan in mice by 25%, offering hope for humans

The mice treated with the drug, known as "supermodel grannies" in the lab, exhibited a remarkably youthful appearance.

A recent study has shown that a new drug can increase the lifespan of laboratory mice by nearly 25%, raising hopes for its potential to slow down human ageing. The mice treated with the drug, known as "supermodel grannies" in the lab, exhibited a remarkably youthful appearance. They were healthier, stronger, and developed fewer cancers compared to their untreated counterparts, the BBC reported.

Currently undergoing human trials, the drug's effectiveness in combating human ageing remains uncertain. However, the quest for a longer life has always fascinated humanity, and scientists have long known that the ageing process is adaptable. Laboratory animals live longer when their food intake is significantly reduced. Today, the field of ageing research is thriving as scientists strive to uncover and manipulate the molecular mechanisms behind ageing.

Researchers from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Science, Imperial College London, and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore have been investigating a protein called interleukin-11. This protein, which increases in the human body with age, contributes to higher levels of inflammation and activates several biological processes that accelerate ageing.

In their experiments, the researchers performed two key studies. First, they genetically engineered mice to prevent the production of interleukin-11. Second, they administered a drug to 75-week-old mice (equivalent to 55-year-old humans) to purge interleukin-11 from their bodies. The findings, published in the journal Nature, revealed that the treated mice experienced a 20-25% increase in lifespan, depending on the experiment and the sex of the mice.

Old laboratory mice often succumb to cancer, but those lacking interleukin-11 showed significantly lower levels of the disease. Additionally, these mice exhibited improved muscle function, leaner bodies, healthier fur, and better scores on various frailty measures.

When asked about the credibility of these results, Professor Stuart Cook, one of the researchers, acknowledged the potential scepticism: "I try not to get too excited, for the reasons you say, is it too good to be true? There's lots of snake oil out there, so I try to stick to the data, and they are the strongest out there." He expressed his belief in the drug's potential for human ageing, stating that the impact "would be transformative" if successful, and he was even willing to take it himself.

The main unanswered questions are whether the drug will have the same effect on humans and if any side effects will be tolerable. Interleukin-11 does play a role in human development, with deficiencies leading to issues with skull bone fusion, joint problems, and dental emergence. It also has a role in scarring.

Later in life, however, interleukin-11 appears to contribute negatively by accelerating ageing. The drug, a manufactured antibody targeting interleukin-11, is currently being trialled in patients with lung fibrosis, a condition where the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes difficult. Although the trials are not yet complete, preliminary data suggest the drug is safe for use.

This research represents just one of the latest approaches to tackling ageing with drugs. Other compounds, such as the type-2 diabetes drug metformin and rapamycin, which is used to prevent organ transplant rejection, are also being investigated for their anti-ageing properties.

Professor Cook believes that a drug would be more practical for people than severe calorie restriction. "Would you want to live from the age of 40, half-starved, have a completely unpleasant life, if you're going to live another five years at the end? I wouldn't," he said.