How long do you expect to live?
That’s a question that can make a lot of people feel suddenly lost for an answer.
In fact, it’s not a question that anybody would like to answer.
However, for scientific, socio-economic, and other legitimate reasons, average life expectancy per region are being documented. According to the World Factbook by the Central Intelligence Agency, the average life expectancy at birth of the following countries as of 2016 are as follows:
- Monaco: 89.5 years
- Singapore and Japan: 85 years
- Macau: 84.50 years
- San Marino: 83.30 years
- Iceland: 83 years
- Hongkong, Andorra, Switzerland, Israel, Guernsey, South Korean, Luxembourg, Australia, and Sweden: 82.10 up to 82.90 years
- Liechtenstein, Jersey, Canada, France, Norway, Spain, Austria, Anguilla, Netherlands, Bermuda, Isle of Man, New Zealand, Cayman Island, and Belgium: 81 up to 81.90 years
The rest of the world has an average life expectancy of 80 years downwards, with Chad ranking the lowest at 50.20 years.
Life is short, too short.
It’s the reason why the pursuit of anything and everything under the sun that can stop aging is mankind’s obsession.
We want to live longer; if possible, forever.
Forever is definitely too, too far away. But, longer, yes. It’s more probable.
Here’s the latest news on anti-aging, and this time it’s about stem cells. Stem cells from a young heart may help in regaining vitality which we lose as we grow old.
Researchers from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute have recently discovered that upon application of Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDC), which they took from newborn mice and injected into the hearts of 22-month-old mice, had resulted to better heart functionality, hair regrowth at a faster rate, 20 percent longer exercise endurance, and longer cardiac telomeres.
The findings on the effect of CDC cells on telomeres is very significant since these compound structures located at the tip of chromosomes function as the cells’ time-keepers. In fact, another study is focusing on methods to lengthen telomeres to fight the effects of progeria and help prolong life.
“Our previous lab studies and human clinical trials have shown promise in treating heart failure using cardiac stem cell infusions,” said Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and lead researcher Eduardo Marbán, MD, PhD, “Now we find that these specialized stem cells could turn out to reverse problems associated with aging of the heart.”
According to Dr. Marban, the CDC cells work on reversing the aging process by secreting very small vesicles that are full of signaling molecules like proteins and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The vesicles appear to have all the necessary information in producing cardiac and systemic rejuvenation.
In 2009, the LA-based team achieved the world’s first stem cell infusion which they hope to use in treating patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cases of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. However, this was the first time that they have observed this kind of rejuvenating effects of CDC cells.
Nevertheless, Dr. Marban and his team acknowledge that they still have a lot to do and figure out. They haven’t determined yet if the CDC cells could lengthen life, or just produce a younger heart in an aged physique. They also have to find out if the cells must come from younger hearts for the stem cell treatment to be effective. They will obviously need more time and tests to find the right answers to these very important questions.
But, if Dr. Marban and his team succeed, CDC cells may be a key to restoring youth and vigor. It will also help globally the large number of people who suffer from cardiovascular diseases-heart disease is the world’s number 1 killer and accounts for 17.3 million deaths per year.
The study was published on the European Heart Journal.
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