Recent Considerations of Stem Cells and the Aging Process

Investigation of the contribution of stem cells to the process of degenerative aging is a flourishing field of research. As we age our stem cell populations gradually cease their activity, spending more time in periods of quiescence, and becoming more damaged by the wear and tear of continued metabolic activity. The principal role of stem cells is to provide a supply of new cells to keep tissues in working order, and diminished supply results in growing frailty and dysfunction. This is one of the causes of disease and death due to aging. There are reasons for optimism, however. The stem cell research field is collectively one of the largest and most active scientific institutions in the world today. At present there are many possible avenues towards the development of therapies to slow or reverse those aspects of aging that are directly caused by growing stem cell dysfunction and quiescence. Further, since so many of the first generation regenerative therapies emerging from the study of stem cells are intended to treat age-related diseases, researchers in this field have a strong incentive to find and address all of the major age-related issues associated with stem cell biochemistry. They have to tackle these challenges in order to assure the effectiveness of their stem cell treatments. That said, this is of course only one of a number of fields that must all become this energetic and well funded if we are to see significant progress towards a comprehensive toolkit of rejuve...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs