Multiple Sclerosis Damage Washed Away By Stream of Young Blood 216
FatLittleMonkey writes "A new study on mice suggests damage caused by diseases like Multiple sclerosis, as well as natural aging, can be reversed by an infusion of stem cell rich blood from younger mice. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that erodes the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord, and can result in serious disability. Similar effects occur naturally with aging. From New Scientist: 'White blood cells called macrophages from the young mice gathered at the sites of myelin damage. Macrophages engulf and destroy pathogens and debris, including destroyed myelin. "We know this debris inhibits regeneration, so clearing it up is important," says team member Amy Wagers of Harvard University.' Here's the academic paper's abstract."
Re:Virgins... (Score:5, Interesting)
Unrelatedly, TED has a lot to say on the topic of ageing, much of it accessible. [ted.com] The general gist seems to be "as long as food is plentiful, it's in our best interest to reproduce fast and die young, so eating conservatively makes our bodies think they need to survive longer."
Re:Links to Aspartame (Score:4, Interesting)
I've been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Started with lesions in my spine taking out all the sensation from my neck to my hips for a month or so, then the blindness in one eye, since then various bouts of stocking+gloves neuropathy that come and go, mixed with random sensations of walking barefoot on gravel and every now and then I lean right while walking in a straight line.
At the time of the first incident, I was drinking about 2 liters (straight from the bottle) of non-diet Dr. Pepper a day, and didn't touch the diet stuff.
Now I drink the diet stuff (still about 2L/day) and lost 60 pounds. Doesn't seem to make a difference neurologically to me. YMMV.
Re:Links to Aspartame (Score:2, Interesting)
I suspect you'd also see a huge correlation between Type 1 (and maybe even Type 2) Diabetics and MS if aspartame was a causal link. Since I was diagnosed with Type 1, I consume massive amounts of artificial sweeteners to avoid sugar.
Re:Links to Aspartame (Score:2, Interesting)
Given the number of people who drink diet coke, there must be some people who are sensitive to it.
Just about every product both natural and artificial has some people that are sensitive to it. If you decide not to eat something because someone somewhere is sensitive to it then I can assure you that you will die of starvation. As to what the people scaring others have to gain, money, notoriety, attention, research dollars, market share.
New Market for Children? (Score:3, Interesting)
I could see this becoming a new business in the third world. Selling children's blood would not be far fetched. Look up were all (or most) of the hair for natural wigs and extensions comes from: Little girls in India.
Not as sexy, but MS found to be reversed by diet (Score:4, Interesting)
Even cheaper, and something that can't be patented by unscrupulous scientists and pharmaceutical companies, but researchers have already found MS can be reversed by changing your diet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc
Dr. Terry Wahl presented at TEDxIowaCity that eating nutrient dense foods reversed her second stage MS, and they have moved on to trying it is more subjects. But it sure won't get government stem cell money. And the recommendations fly in the face of government dietary recommendations. Not to mention probably more than a few slashdotters habits.
Compare, trials in mice. Versus clinical trials in humans.
Sounds great, except for ethical considerations (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Some issues (Score:1, Interesting)
I'm already weary of this world.
That's too bad. I view this world with continued wonder every day. How much there is to explore, how many wonderful people I already know and wish I could spend more time with, how many wonderful people I haven't met yet. How much more time I'd love to spend with my parents, grandparents, and children over the coming decades and centuries.
I also feel strongly our society would change for the better if we increased longevity across the board. I think we'd care much more about Global Warming if our lifespan were measured in 1,000+ years. We'd move more quickly to find alternate energy sources. We might realize we can already meet the basic needs of the entire population through automated conversion of energy into basic needs, and we'd think more compassionately about what society could and should look like.
And then imagine exploring not just the planet, but the solar system. If you can live indefinitely, then being suspended for a few hundred years on a journey across space, might be worth it, if you know your family and friends will still be there 2,000 years later when you return.
The future may be more amazing than we realize. I wouldn't be so quick to be ready to check out.
(I'm also perhaps naively ignoring that your post seems to have a tinge of depression to it. Having been there myself and deeply, I can tell you your brain lies to you when you're depressed. I found it was easy to forget the joy in the world and simply feel weary, but you can get better. You can find the joy again. Don't let your brain lie to you and tell you you don't need help or that no one would help. Help is everywhere you turn if you're willing to ask for it.)