(MENAFN- The Arabian Post)

Scientists have reported a marked extension of lifespan and physical resilience in extremely old male mice after administering a two-drug combination that targets fundamental mechanisms of ageing. The findings outline a shift in longevity research, showing that even late-life intervention can trigger substantial recovery in biological systems typically regarded as irreversibly deteriorated.

Researchers observed that administering oxytocin together with an Alk5 inhibitor led to a pronounced improvement in both survival and physical capability in elderly male rodents, extending their remaining lifespan by roughly seventy per cent. These animals were at an age equivalent to humans in their nineties, and the magnitude of improvement surprised investigators who had expected far more modest results. The study focused on examining whether altering signalling pathways involved in tissue repair and inflammation could restore function in ageing organisms that had already crossed a threshold associated with steep decline.

Female mice subjected to the same treatment showed a different pattern. While they displayed measurable boosts in strength and mobility shortly after receiving the therapy, the benefits diminished over time, suggesting a sex-linked divergence in biological response. The scientists leading the work noted that the distinction cannot be dismissed as experimental noise, arguing that male and female bodies regulate regenerative pathways differently as they age. This gap is increasingly being recognised across biomedical fields, prompting calls for more targeted approaches rather than assuming uniformity across sexes.

A core focus of the investigation centred on the cellular pathways linked to TGF-beta signalling, a system that becomes overactive with age and contributes to the gradual loss of tissue integrity. Alk5 inhibitors are known to reduce this signalling. When paired with oxytocin, a hormone associated with muscle maintenance, wound healing and metabolic balance, the two agents appeared to counteract long-established patterns of ageing in blood and tissue. Blood samples taken from the treated male mice displayed protein signatures closer to those found in much younger animals, indicating a partial reset of molecular ageing markers.

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The improvement was not confined to laboratory measurements. Treated elderly males performed significantly better in physical assessments, including grip strength and endurance tasks designed to reflect real-world functional capacity. Researchers highlighted that these mice were frail prior to receiving therapy, with many showing impairments that commonly precede mortality in standard ageing colonies. After the drug combination, several showed behavioural and physical changes consistent with restored vitality.

The concept of restoring youthful properties at such an advanced age challenges longstanding assumptions in gerontology. Much of the previous longevity research has involved early or mid-life interventions, but this study demonstrates that late-stage rejuvenation is possible without genetic engineering or intensive medical procedures. Investigators pointed out that this supports the theory that ageing is not an entirely fixed trajectory and that some aspects remain amenable to change even in the final stages of life.

The drug combination's accessibility is notable. Both oxytocin and Alk5 inhibitors have established clinical profiles, meaning the path toward human trials may be more straightforward than for therapies built on untested compounds. Oxytocin is widely used for obstetric and metabolic indications, while Alk5 inhibitors have a history of application in fibrosis and oncology studies. Their safety records do not automatically guarantee viability for anti-ageing use, but they reduce the number of regulatory hurdles that typically slow early-phase development.

Scientists emphasise that translating the therapy to humans requires careful evaluation. Biological ageing differs across species, and the extreme ages reached by laboratory mice do not perfectly mirror the complexities of human ageing. Nonetheless, the consistency of the male data and the clear mechanistic pathways involved offer enough promise to justify further evaluation. Teams involved in the study have already signalled interest in exploring dosage, timing and potential modifications to accommodate human physiology.

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Experts not connected to the research remarked that the outcome signals a broader shift in longevity science, where targeted, pathway-driven approaches are replacing generalised lifestyle-based strategies. They pointed to the restoration of youthful protein networks in the blood as a critical sign that the intervention operates at the level of systemic ageing rather than acting merely as a stimulant or temporary enhancer. If replicated, such results could open the door to therapies aimed at older adults rather than individuals in early middle age.

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