We have many different types of cells in the body, with each one performing an essential function either at the cellular or tissue level. One of the most important of all these cells is the stem cell.
If a cell is damaged, it’s replaced by a stem cell. If a cell is diseased, or even dies, it’s replaced by a stem cell.
Stem cells are different from other cells. They don’t replace those dead or decaying ones by dividing alone. Instead, they can become a different cell entirely.
Adult cells are multipotent. This means that each type of stem cell can become a limited number of other types of cells in the body.
These cells work to repair damage, regenerate tissue, and keep our bodies in a happy homeostasis.
The issue is that, as we age, our stem cell production slows down. Our body’s ability to repair and recover, then, begins to drop off.
That’s why so many have linked the role of stem cells and regenerative medicine to anti-aging. There are many (including notable celebrities like John Clease) that have started to use stem cell therapy to help live better lives as they age.
Celebrities jumping on a private treatment like a stem cell transplant, however, doesn’t mean there’s a lot of truth in the treatment. So, what’s the truth? Can we live longer with stem cells? Let’s get into it.
Can We Live Longer with Stem Cells?
First things first, we already have stem cells. We continue to produce stem cells throughout our lives, because stem cells can divide to become other stem cells just as easily as they can become other cells.
This means that having or not having stem cells isn’t the way to phrase the question. The actual question is if adding to our stem cell count with stem cell treatments can help us live longer.
How Stem Cells Work
To help you understand the link between anti-aging and stem cells, you first need to know what are stem cells, what they do, and how they work.
Stem cells are progenitor cells. This means that they can become other cells, and do if the cells in your system become damaged, diseased, or even die. As we get older, cells fall off the wagon more often, which means our stem cells have to put in extra work to keep our systems going.
This means that, as we age, our stem cell count decreases. One, is because more needs to be used to maintain homeostasis. Two, because stem cell division slows down as we age, which means our natural production of stem cells dwindles.
Getting stem cell treatment at any of the locations we cover means boosting your system with stem cells.
In the future, you may have access to what’s known as pluripotent stem cells. Specifically, induced pluripotent stem cells, which are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed into their pluripotent state. These iPSCs can become any cell in the body, making them ideal for tackling many age-related problems. However, due to their high cost, you’d usually only have access to these (or true embryonic cells) in a clinical trial.
What are stem cell injections available today? For now, however, you have access to what’s known as a mesenchymal stem cell. The mesenchymal stem cell is an adult cell, which can become a limited number of other cells. Their potential may not be as widespread, but they can help with tissue regeneration and anti-inflammation, which makes them ideal for managing arthritis symptoms, autoimmune diseases, and more.
How Aging Affects the Body
As we age, our cells change in the following ways:
- Cellular senescence: This means that, as we get older, our cells become less effective at dividing and functioning properly.
- Telomere Shortening: Telomeres protect the ends of our chromosomes and shorten every time our cells divide. Cell division is no longer possible when they become too short, resulting in widespread cellular death.
- Genetic Factors: Some naturally live longer than others due to genetic details that vary from family to family.
- Environmental Factors: The environment, health habits, diet, and exercise can impact health and longevity.
How Stem Cells Can Help With Anti-Aging
Stem cells, particularly iPSCs, can potentially help you live longer thanks to these benefits:
- Tissue Regeneration: Stem cells can help repair damaged tissue and, in the future, might be the go-to method for organ replacement.
- Modulate Aging Pathways: Stem cells might be able to modulate the insulin growth factor, which can help regulate cellular metabolism and stress resistance.
- Anti-Inflammation: Inflammation can speed up cellular damage and stress. Stem cell’s natural anti-inflammatory ability helps reduce stress on cells and pain in your system, increasing your quality of life.
Can We Extend Our Lifespan With Stem Cells?
To date, there is no clinical trial that has conclusively determined that stem cell therapy can help extend our lifespan beyond its natural limit. At most, based on what stem cells can potentially do for our health, we can expect to lead healthier lives in our golden years.
There is evidence that, with the help of modern science and stem cell therapy, we may be able to reach a natural lifespan of up to 120 to 150 years. This, however, would also require gene editing.
The issue with living that long is the increased risk of cellular data breaking down. If we can genetically program cells, and use stem cells to help encourage regeneration, however, we may be able to safeguard our health and live healthier lives as we age, even if we may never exceed our natural lifespan cap.
Ask anyone over the age of 80, and they’d give anything for their bodies to function better. With stem cell therapy, at least, leading healthier lives and with less pain is very possible.
Ready to Try Stem Cell Therapy Today?
Regenerative medicine does still have a long way to go, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get treatment here at Bioxcellerator today. In fact, all you need to do to start the process is to get in touch.
All stem cell clinics are private, however. This means you’ll need to cover the stem cell therapy cost out of pocket. If this is an issue, then we do offer payment plans to help make your stem cell transplant more accessible.
