Though you may be familiar with Jason Hope’s work with digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), you may not be aware of his work in promoting human longevity and anti-aging. As healthcare changes to improve outcomes through AI, IoT and similar digital transformation technologies, the way that people age and how long they live is changing at the same time. New analytics allow us to predict odds of disease based on having more information available than ever before. IoT technology provides opportunities to track real-time health metrics in the home. Genetic information makes it easier to find the right treatments at the right time for the right people, lowering the odds of people dying from ineffective treatments. Here’s a look at how Jason Hope is focusing on helping people live longer with better quality of life than ever before.
Jason Hope on Stem Cell Research
As the basic cells in the human body that have not specialized, stem cells have become a strong focus of anti-aging study. From injections into aging joints to restore cartilage to adding stem cells to tissue grafts to promote healing, stem cells provide a wide range of opportunity for less-invasive anti-aging treatments in the future. Rather than having a joint replacement at a certain age and loss of functionality, an hour or two spent allowing a machine to harvest your stem cells followed by an injection into the joint a few days later allows you to regain your movement.
However, according to Jason Hope, we are still at the very beginning of understanding how stem cells work and how they can be adapted for further medical treatments. As a glance at the future, stem cells, which continue dividing in the body after birth, could provide options for creating fully-formed organs for organ transplants, eliminating the need for anti-rejection medications. When an aging loved one’s heart begins to fail, science can simply use stem cells to create a new one, lengthening human lifespans.
Regenerative stem cell therapy works by reducing body inflammations and consequently boosting your immune system. Moreover, regenerative medicine is a conventional medical approach for anti-aging.
Telomere Lengthening
One aspect of genetic treatments to aging is lengthening telomeres. As your cells divide, the telomere in the parent cells shorten. Over time, the telomere shortens enough that the cell can no longer reproduce and it dies, known as the Hayflick Limit. When this happens, the cell must be removed by the body as a waste product. As aging moves forward, the buildup of cell death products increase inflammation and make it more difficult for the body to function properly, causing organs to begin shutting down and eventually leading to death.
The enzyme telomerase can potentially lengthen telomeres in your body’s cells, but that in and of itself can be problematic. Though some portions of the body, such as the digestive tract, require regular cellular reproduction to continue functioning, excessive telomerase can actually cause problems. Imagine if a cancer cell was inundated with the enzyme. It would rapidly reproduce, which is why simply adding more of the enzyme to the body could cause problems.
In about 90 to 95 percent of cancers, scientists have found that telomerase is actually reactivated. By increasing telomerase to extend life, Libella could be potentially injecting patients with something that will cause cancer.
AI Accelerates Anti-Aging Research
In the past, scientific advancement came at the rate of human ingenuity. But with today’s advancements in analytics, machine learning and other aspects of digitization, artificial intelligence is helping to accelerate the pace of research. One area where research has potential for rapid advancement is in anti-aging research and the quest to expand the human lifespan. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept around the globe, researchers in biological science turned to technical experts in digital transformation to help speed up the process of finding a successful vaccine, treatment or other remedies for this disease.
Now that same approach can be taken to a disease that impacts every human life on the planet: our own limited lifespans. Because AI models have been developed to deal with the many variations in the human body, they can now be turned to treating aging as a disease with the same efficiency, helping us find the right possible remedies to health complaints that impact the whole of the human condition.
The machines have proven that they can easily solve some of the complex biological puzzles rapidly as compared to some of the human experts. As a result, the healthcare sector has focused more on dedicating a large number of resources on AI drug discovery.
The Role of Senescent Cells
Another area where physical rejuvenation can occur is by removing excessive senescent cells, or cells that have stopped dividing but which have not yet died, out of the body. Recent studies in mice found that when the AP20187 ligand is injected twice weekly, the mice realized lifespan increases of nearly 25%. It is believed that this result occurs due to the delay in onset of aging diseases in the mice, delivering quality of life at the same time. Cell senescence is a natural body function that prevents damaged cells from continuing to divide, a natural defense against aggressive cellular growths such as cancers.
When we are young, the immune system removes these damaged cells over time, removing the danger they present. However, as we age, the immune system becomes less efficient, and the body’s ability to remove senescent cells becomes more limited. Over time, as these cells accumulate in the body’s tissues, they promote inflammation and aging, eventually leading to aging diseases, organ failure and death.
At this juncture, cell senescence stops being a security valve and becomes an active aging driver. These senescent cells take part in the process of healing wounds, even if they don’t require a significant number of cells to do this.
As our world rolls forwards from the COVID-19 pandemic and our population continues to age, the mechanisms that were put into play during the pandemic can now be put to use to heal all people, not just those who were impacted by this terrible disease. Entrepreneurs and philanthropists such as Jason Hope and organizations such as the SENS Research Foundation can help move our world forward from simple acceptance of aging and treating the symptoms thereof to truly increasing the human lifespan while improving overall quality of life during those additional golden years.
About Jason Hope
Jason Hope is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, futurist and investor who has a passion for improving people’s lives through outstanding new technology. He focuses on operating multiple enterprises which leverage technology and computer information systems to deliver superior results for improving people’s lives. With a strong focus on preventing the diseases which cause rapid progression of aging, such as Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and similar illnesses, his philanthropic work with SENS Research Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to anti-aging research, is helping to open doors to extending the human lifespan. He frequently speaks about the many benefits of delaying and mitigating the impact of aging on the human body.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.