Scientists belonging to the Brown University have revealed that the ageing of the body is directly connected to the aging of the cells. This conclusion has been arrived at after studying baboons aged between 5 and 30 years, wherein it was found that as the animals grow older, there is also a significant increase in the ageing cells in their skin.
The idea that cellular ageing and the ageing of the body are linked may seem obvious, but the lack of evidence made it highly controversial. The ageing of cells are technically called replicative senescence, a term which means that the cells are losing their ability to divide. The study is the first to quantify the number of such cells in any species.Human cells divide between 60 and 90 times before senescence sets in. Scientists believe the process functions in some ways as a safeguard against disease. But senescent cells are also associated with skin wrinkles, delayed wound healing, weakened immune system response and age-related diseases.
Edited (IANS)
