Scientists have hailed the success of a clinical trial which found that experimental anti-ageing drugs may protect older people from potentially fatal respiratory infections by rejuvenating their immune systems.
In a trial involving people aged 65 and over, those who received a combination therapy of two anti-ageing compounds reported nearly half the number of infections over the following year as a control group who received only placebos.
The experimental drugs, known as mTOR inhibitors, also appeared to boost people’s responses to the flu vaccine, with tests revealing 20% more flu-fighting antibodies in the blood a month after the vaccination was given.
The findings are a milestone for researchers who believe that the best way to tackle diseases of old age may be to design new drugs that combat the ageing process itself.
Read more at Guardian
How do these compounds work in the body to boost immune function, I wonder? I wonder too, if it’s in part a similar idea to surfactant, which helps premature babies lungs develop and work more efficiently? I’ll look into it for sure :3