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Could the secret to healthier aging be partly hidden in our bones? Researchers are discovering that bones do much more than provide structure and support. A new study in mice found that physical activity may stimulate the release of proteins from bones that help keep the body healthier as it ages and may even contribute to a longer lifespan.
Until now, much of the research into exercise and healthy aging has focused on muscles, while the role of bones has received less attention. Yet bones experience many of the same physical forces during movement. Previous research has also shown that bones can communicate with other organs and influence how they age, making them an important area to explore.
The researchers discovered that physical movement activates specialized bone cells called osteocytes. These cells act as sensors, responding by releasing substances that may help slow aging. By gently stimulating the leg bones of mice, they were able to increase their lifespan by nearly three months, which would be comparable to roughly nine additional years in humans.
Part of the research was to see what would happen if bone cells could no longer detect the physical forces created by movement. They used specially engineered mice that allowed them to switch off this sensing ability in osteocytes when the mice were 10 months old, which is considered middle age for these animals. After five months the mice appeared older, had poorer memory and slower reflexes, and showed signs of inflammation throughout several organs and accelerated aging. They also lived significantly shorter lives than normal mice. These findings suggest that osteocytes do more than maintain bone health, they also may help regulate how the entire body ages.
More research is needed to determine whether this approach can safely slow aging in humans, especially older adults. Scientists also want to explore whether targeting these proteins could provide another way to promote healthier aging.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Dynamic force sensing by bone delays aging and extends lifespan
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