Emerging Interventions for Elderly Patients—The Promise of Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

The impressive increase in lifespan that occurred in the 20th century has driven a boom in age‐associated degeneration resulting from senescence. Geriatric syndromes, such as sarcopenia and frailty, do not fall neatly into classical medical definitions of disease because they result from subtle declines in physiological function that occur over many years instead of specific organ‐related pathology. These conditions have become more clinically prominent with the aging population and are the focus of research in regenerative medicine. Two major approaches are being pursued: the first targets specific organs that are adversely affected by senescence, and the second targets senescence pathways themselves, with the goal of favorably altering the affected physiology. This review will highlight a few examples of recent applications of both of these approaches to illustrate the potential of the application of a regenerative medicine approach to improve the quality of life and independence in older adults.

Health Care Evolves From Reactive to Proactive

“…Indeed, for these individuals the focus is directed at increasing the number of years of life without disability. Although historically, geriatric medicine has typically been delivered through maintenance approaches, including clinical care, physical rehabilitation, and nutritional support, recent advances in the biology of aging and senescence have revealed opportunities for new preventive interventions . These recent innovations raise the possibility of not only attenuating the negative effects of aging but in many cases reversing those effects .…”

“…Although historically, geriatric medicine has typically been delivered through maintenance approaches, including clinical care, physical rehabilitation, and nutritional support, recent advances in the biology of aging and senescence have revealed opportunities for new preventive interventions . These recent innovations raise the possibility of not only attenuating the negative effects of aging but in many cases reversing those effects . Indeed, these insights have led to the development of molecular interventions opposing the frailty and the loss of functional muscle mass associated with growing old that promise to extend healthy aging and create a virtual fountain of youth …”

“…These recent innovations raise the possibility of not only attenuating the negative effects of aging but in many cases reversing those effects . Indeed, these insights have led to the development of molecular interventions opposing the frailty and the loss of functional muscle mass associated with growing old that promise to extend healthy aging and create a virtual fountain of youth …”

“…Increases in average life expectancy, in part, reflecting reductions in childhood mortality, the development of antibiotics, and, more recently, advances in the treatment of chronic diseases, have produced greater numbers of individuals living to adulthood. 16 In turn, increases in longevity result in more older adults experiencing age-related senescence across multiple physiological systems. Geriatric syndromes, including sarcopenia, or muscle loss, and frailty, reflect declines in physiological function that occur over decades.…”

“…16 These recent innovations raise the possibility of not only attenuating the negative effects of aging but in many cases reversing those effects. 16,17 Indeed, these insights have led to the development of molecular interventions opposing the frailty and the loss of functional muscle mass associated with growing old that promise to extend healthy aging and create a virtual fountain of youth. 16 At the other extreme of the developmental continuum, novel approaches in regenerative medicine are being applied in utero to address severe congenital conditions at the prenatal stage, offering a unique opportunity for the earliest forms of disease prevention and prophylaxis.…”