British scientists discover miracle drug that can increase longevity by 25 years

Since the dawn of time, man has been searching for the secret to a longer life. But the mysterious elixir of life remains elusive. However, it seems that London researchers have found a magic drug that could extend life expectancy by 25 years! Scientists from the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Science and Imperial College London have found a way to increase the lifespan of laboratory mice by 25 years and hope that this process could be applied to humans.

The researchers found that turning off a protein called interleukin-11, or IL-11, significantly extended the healthy lifespan of mice. The treatment significantly reduced cancer-related deaths and decreased the prevalence of diseases associated with chronic inflammation and slow metabolism, two common phenomena associated with aging.

Mice given the therapy lived an average of 155 weeks, compared with 120 weeks for untreated mice. These treated mice were nicknamed “supermodel grannies” in the lab because of their youthful appearance.

In humans, levels of this protein increase with age and have been associated with various age-related pathologies, such as chronic inflammation, metabolic disorders, muscle atrophy and frailty, according to previous research.

Professor Stuart Cook, co-corresponding author from the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Science (MRC LMS), Imperial College London and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, told Independent Co UK that mice that underwent the treatment saw fewer signs of ageing, those diagnosed with cancer improved significantly and also saw improvements in muscle strength.

He also added: “Previously proposed drugs and treatments to extend life have either had poor side effect profiles, do not work in both sexes, or may extend life but not healthy life. However, this does not appear to be the case for IL-11.

Can this miracle drug help humans?

The main unresolved questions are whether the same effects can be achieved in humans and whether the potential side effects would be tolerable. Interleukin-11 plays a role in human development, and people who are unable to produce it, although rare, suffer from problems such as impaired skull bone fusion, joint problems requiring surgery, and impaired tooth emergence.

Interleukin-11 also helps with wound healing. Researchers believe that later in life, interleukin-11 contributes to aging. A synthetic antibody targeting interleukin-11 is currently being tested in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, a disease in which scarring of the lungs makes breathing difficult. Professor Cook said that while the trials are not yet complete, preliminary data suggest the drug is safe to use.