If this works it will be brilliant for the kids who suffer the awful disease ,,and rusty as well
Scientists have found a drug which may slow down the ageing process while conducting research into a disease which causes children to age at an accelerated rate.
The drug could potentially be used to treat children with a rare genetic condition called Progeria which causes them to age up to eight times faster than normal. The average life expectancy for someone with the condition is around 13 years.
Durham University scientists, who led the study, said the treatment may also help to slow down some of the damaging effects of ageing in older people.
Professor Chris Hutchison, from the Biophysical Institute at the university, said: "Our findings could be an important step to helping children with Progeria and older people live lives that are less debilitating in terms of health problems.
"It would be great to find a way to help relieve some of the effects of Progeria and help increasingly ageing populations.
"The findings are at a very early stage but they show potential for helping people live more comfortable lives when they reach 70, 80 and beyond."
The study, published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics, found that a drug called N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) was able to reduce the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), molecules which cause damage to cells and to cellular DNA.
The same molecules are partly responsible for premature ageing as well as normal ageing.
Although the drug did not affect some types of cellular damage, the researchers said that these can be controlled by drugs currently in use.
The findings suggest that the combination of existing drugs and NAC could improve the health of children with progeria, the researchers said.
They added that the findings were at an early stage and further studies and human clinical trials would be needed to develop effective drug treatments.
Dr Leslie Gordon, medical director for The Progeria Research Foundation, said: "Dr. Hutchison's study has not only confirmed basic cellular defects in Progeria, but has also identified potential ways to improve those defects.
"This type of biological science is how progress towards treatments and a cure for children with Progeria will advance."
Scientists have found a drug which may slow down the ageing process while conducting research into a disease which causes children to age at an accelerated rate.
The drug could potentially be used to treat children with a rare genetic condition called Progeria which causes them to age up to eight times faster than normal. The average life expectancy for someone with the condition is around 13 years.
Durham University scientists, who led the study, said the treatment may also help to slow down some of the damaging effects of ageing in older people.
Professor Chris Hutchison, from the Biophysical Institute at the university, said: "Our findings could be an important step to helping children with Progeria and older people live lives that are less debilitating in terms of health problems.
"It would be great to find a way to help relieve some of the effects of Progeria and help increasingly ageing populations.
"The findings are at a very early stage but they show potential for helping people live more comfortable lives when they reach 70, 80 and beyond."
The study, published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics, found that a drug called N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) was able to reduce the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), molecules which cause damage to cells and to cellular DNA.
The same molecules are partly responsible for premature ageing as well as normal ageing.
Although the drug did not affect some types of cellular damage, the researchers said that these can be controlled by drugs currently in use.
The findings suggest that the combination of existing drugs and NAC could improve the health of children with progeria, the researchers said.
They added that the findings were at an early stage and further studies and human clinical trials would be needed to develop effective drug treatments.
Dr Leslie Gordon, medical director for The Progeria Research Foundation, said: "Dr. Hutchison's study has not only confirmed basic cellular defects in Progeria, but has also identified potential ways to improve those defects.
"This type of biological science is how progress towards treatments and a cure for children with Progeria will advance."
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