What if getting older didn’t mean your heart had to slow down? That’s the idea behind a new study from the University of Bristol, where researchers found that a special gene injection could actually make aging heart cells act 10 years younger.
Let’s break it down.
Borrowing Genes from Super-Agers
Some people live to 100 or more and stay surprisingly healthy—scientists call them "super-agers." Researchers believe their genes might hold the key to aging more gracefully, especially when it comes to heart health.
In particular, they’ve been studying a rare version of a gene called BP1FB4, which seems to protect these lucky folks from heart problems. Now, scientists are trying to harness its powers for the rest of us.
How It Works
The team inserted the BP1FB4 gene into a harmless virus and injected it into older mice. What happened next was pretty amazing: the mice’s hearts started working like they were 10 years younger (in human years).
Even when the gene was added to damaged human heart cells in the lab, it kickstarted repair—new blood vessels formed and heart cells began to recover their lost function.
Could This Help People One Day?
Professor Paolo Madeddu, one of the lead researchers, said this breakthrough proves the gene can reverse aging effects in the heart. Now, the team is exploring whether just giving the protein made by the gene—rather than the gene itself—could offer the same benefits. This could be a safer and easier option than gene therapy.
Monica Cattaneo, another researcher on the project, added that they saw real rejuvenation in the lab. Elderly heart cells started working better and building new blood vessels—something they usually struggle to do.
Why This Matters
Heart function naturally declines with age, but not everyone experiences it the same way. Lifestyle choices like diet and exercise help, but some people are also born with protective genes.
What’s exciting about this study is it shows those helpful genes could be shared, offering hope for people suffering from or at risk of heart failure.
Professor James Leiper from the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, called the findings “extraordinary.” While it’s still early days, he said this approach could someday be a completely new way to treat or even prevent heart failure.
The full study was published in Cardiovascular Research.
Source: https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/article/119/7/1583/6986428?login…
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