no forgot the fact that's its on mice. look at the anti-aging aspect of it. the old mice that had lost their fur through aging regrew the hair. its the antiaging aspect you need to look at. the hair regrowing is a byproduct. the peptide is available i think
On the fourth attempt he had something that seemed to work.
He tested it on mice that were just old (the equivalent of 90 in mouse years), those genetically programmed to age very rapidly and those aged by chemotherapy.
The findings, published in the journal Cell, showed liver function was easily restored and the animals doubled the distance they would run in a wheel.
Dr de Keizer said: "We weren't planning to look at their hair, but it was too obvious to miss."
Image copyright Peter de Keizer
He also said there were a lot of "grey" results - things that seemed to improve in some mice but not all.
The drug was given three times a week and the experiments have been taking place for nearly a year.
There are no signs of side-effects but "mice don't talk", Dr de Keizer said. However, it is thought the drug would have little to no effect on normal tissues.
When asked if this was a drug for ageing, Dr Keizer told the BBC News website: "I hope so, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating as you say.
"In terms of mouse work we are pretty much done, we could look at specific age-related diseases eg osteoporosis, but we should now prepare for clinical translation."
Commenting on the results, Dr Dusko Ilic, a stem cell scientist at King's College London, said: "The finding is impossible to dismiss.
"[But] until more high-quality research is done, it is better to be reserved about these findings.
"Though, I would not be surprised if manufacturers try to capitalise on this and, in a few years, we could buy this peptide as a supplement over the counter."
Prof Ilaria Bellantuono, Professor in Musculoskeletal Ageing, University of Sheffield, called for further tests on "heart, muscle, metabolic, cognitive function" to take place.
But added: "The use of this peptide in patients is a long way away.
"It requires careful consideration about safety, about the appropriate group of patients for whom this peptide can be beneficial in a reasonable period of time so that positive effects can be easily measured at an affordable cost."
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