Aging: This is what happens to cells after age 70

Here is an explanation for theaging. Researchers have confirmed that some DNA abnormalitiescan cause a noticeable reduction in blood production after the age of 70. Basically, aging is caused by the accumulation of damage to cells over time. In addition, the accumulation of somatic mutations causes the cells to lose their functional reserve.

For the experiment, bone marrow blood cells were examined in 10 subjects (between infants and the elderly). The entire genome was sequenced from 3,579 blood stem cells to determine any somatic mutation in each cell. so the family trees of each person’s blood stem cells. After the age of 70, these family trees have changed significantly.

Our results show that the diversity of blood stem cells is lost in old age due to the positive selection of faster growing clones with driver mutations.

Emily Mitchell, Ph.D., student of the Wellcome Sanger Institute and principal investigator of the study

In adults under the age of 65, 20 to 200,000 stem cells have given equal life to blood cells. On the other hand, blood production was really irregular in people over 70 years old.

Factors such as chronic inflammation, smoking, infection and chemotherapy cause early growth of clones with cancerous mutations. We predict that these factors also lead to the decrease in blood stem cell diversity associated with aging. It is possible that there are also factors that can slow this process down.

Elisa Laurenti, assistant professor and researcher of the study

Scientists will now have to understand these well mutations in the blood of the elderly. A way to minimize the risk of disease and promote healthy aging.