Regenerative medicine promises to cure diseases; end aging

By Dick Pelletier

      

     A recent government report, 2020: A New Vision – A Future for Regenerative Medicine, predicts a revolution in medical technology is underway that will eliminate many diseases by 2020.

    Scientists in this field are focusing on curing health problems, not just treating them. Goals include developing therapies that will one day eradicate cancer, diabetes, strokes, arthritis, heart attacks, osteoporosis, spinal cord injuries and other sicknesses. In fact, any disease that results from damaged or failing tissues can be targeted for elimination with this technology.

    Anti-aging guru Aubrey de Grey has long stated that he believes the way we will extend our lifespan beyond 120 years is to replace worn body parts.

    Regenerative medicine, with its ability to repair aging-related damages, will dramatically improve health and extend lifespans. Today, more than a billion people live in pain and suffering, and many will die from the degenerative conditions of aging. But with predicted advances in this new science, a growing number of doctors now believe much of this death and anguish will become preventable.

    Researchers view regenerative medicine as the "Holy Grail" of healthcare. Re-growing clogged veins, "printing" heart cells on ink jet printers, and learning how the body can replace missing, damaged, or aging limbs, are all part of this new technology. Some procedures are so advanced from today's mostly reactive medicine that they seem almost like science fiction, but they're not.

    At the first annual Translational Regenerative Medicine Forum held recently, Bioheart CEO Karl Groth discussed his company's efforts to combat congestive heart failure. Currently in trials, their state-of-the-art therapy uses adult stem cells to help patients re-grow diseased arteries and veins.

    In a recent TED video, Wake Forest University's Anthony Atala explained how his lab has built, from the cell level up, 22 different types of tissues, including muscles, bladders, and pulsing heart valves. Atala believes that most of our body's cells will regenerate if only they can be prodded into action.

    This ground-breaking scientist then demonstrated how a common ink jet printer in his lab is 'printing' the heart of a mouse. Mouse heart cells are placed into the ink cartridge and then sprayed into a heart-shaped pattern, layer by layer. Atala believes it's only a matter of time before this futuristic process will create whole human hearts.

    University of Nottingham geneticist Aziz Aboobaker recently identified the gene that enables worms to regenerate lost or damaged body parts – including a whole head and brain. Scientists believe this cutting edge research could one day enable humans to re-grow any aging or lost limb; including brains damaged from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other dementia illnesses.

    Regenerative medicine will significantly reduce America's multi-trillion dollar health bill, and bridge many seniors into the "roaring 20s" where disease and aging no longer drain human energies. By mid-2020s, experts predict, most of our killer diseases could disappear, leaving only accidents and violence to bring on the Grim Reaper.

    Will a world without aging and sickness ever become reality? Although challenges are many for this optimistic vision, positive thinkers believe that the desire to live a healthier life will drive this "magical future" forward; and in time to benefit most people alive today.

This article appeared in various print publications and on-line blogs. Comments always welcome.