This Whale Species Lives For 200 Years — And Scientists Think Humans Can Too

Meet the bowhead whale. Weighing in at up to 100 tons, these Arctic giants are one of the heaviest animals on the planet. They’re one of the longest-lived too. Bowhead whales can live for more than 200 years — and at least one scientist believes they could hold the key to unlocking extreme longevity in humans.

João Pedro de Magalhães, a professor of molecular biogerontology at the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham, has been studying bowhead whales closely. He believes their super-sized lifespan could come down to a canny molecular trick.

Bowhead whales posses the P53 gene that suppresses cancer and boosts DNA repair. When a cell’s DNA is damaged by factors such as radiation, chemicals, or other stressors, P53 is activated. This activation leads to either DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, or, in cases of severe damage, programmed cell death (known as apoptosis). These actions help prevent the propagation of cells with potential genetic abnormalities, thereby reducing the risk of cancer development.

The science of senescence

In addition to its role in preventing cancer, P53 is involved in cellular senescence — a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest that occurs in response to certain stresses.

Think of senescent cells as old cells that have stopped working properly. They stop dividing and can’t do their usual jobs anymore.These lingering senescent cells can cause problems. They release substances that can disrupt the normal functioning of nearby cells and tissues. Over time, having too many senescent cells can lead to issues like inflammation and tissue damage, which contribute to various factors associated with ageing — like wrinkles, weaker muscles, and age-related diseases.

Here’s the really interesting part. Humans have the P53 gene too. However, its effectiveness tends to deteriorate as we age, and its ability to respond to stress and damage is often reduced. But Magalhães believes that it may be possible to rewrite our genetic software to delay or even reverse this deterioration. He thinks, if we get it right, the average human lifespan could exceed 1,000 years.

The promise of senolytics

Living for a millennium sounds crazy — and it would take some major scientific leaps — but the theory seems sound. It could all start with new senolytic drugs that target and eliminate senescent cells in the body with the aim to slow, stop or even reverse the ageing process.

Scientists have been working on the development of senolytic drugs for several years, and results from clinical trials have been promising. However, while senolytics hold potential, their long-term effects, safety, and effectiveness in humans require further study.

In the meantime, natural compounds like quercetin and fisetin are thought to be effective senolytic agents. Quercetin is present in many fruits and vegetables including kale, tomatoes, broccoli, blueberries and apples, and strawberries, persimmons, grapes, onions, and cucumbers are all good sources of fisetin.

CRISPR to the rescue

But it’s unlikely that a sneaky strawberry smoothie is going to see us all the way to our 1,000th birthday. Even if powerful senolytic drugs that eliminate senescent cells do hit the market in years to come, we’ll also probably need a good dose of gene therapy on the side.

Researchers are exploring the use of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to study and potentially modify the P53 gene to enhance longevity and healthspan. And if the technology continues to advance, we may see a future in which CRISPR-Cas9 could be used to develop personalised ageing interventions based on our individual genetic makeup.

Then there’s telomeres to consider. Telomeres are the protective caps on the ends of our chromosomes. As our cells divide our telomeres get shorter, and they eventually become too short to protect our DNA — which is associated with a wide range of age-related health issues. On the upside, scientists think CRISPR-Cas9 could be used to extend telomeres and potentially extend the lifespan of our cells.

So a cocktail of senescent cell-killing senolytic drugs combined with personalised gene therapy could see humans of the future blowing out many more birthday candles than previously thought possible. Until then, keep sucking down those strawberries.

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