Can ultrasound therapy rejuvenate cells?

A new study from the University of Texas suggests that ultrasound wave therapy could delay, stop, or even reverse the aging process.

Texas researchers are trying to turn back the clock on human cells by exposing them to low-frequency sound waves. They say the treatment restarts cell division in senescent cells, waking them from a “zombie” like state that triggers cell dysfunction and even disease.

Experiments on older mice found the ultrasound therapy helped their cells become reinvigorated, which helped the mice run further and faster on a treadmill, according to a report published in New Scientist.

“‘Is this too good to be true?” asked lead author Michael Sheetz, a professor from the University of Texas, quoted in the article. “We are examining all aspects of it to see if it really does work.”

Normally, the cells in our bodies stop dividing and become senescent after a certain number of divisions.

Senescence is the gradual deterioration of function. For example, senescent cells stop dividing and growing.

Texas researchers used low doses of ultrasound waves to make senescent cells from monkeys and humans resume dividing. That appeared to also end the senescent cells’ production of toxins, which cause inflammation that has been linked to arthritis and other conditions.

Before treatment, human skin cells usually begin to wear out after about 15 divisions. After treatment, researchers were able to coax 24 divisions with no signs of abnormalities.

While plenty of studies have focused on finding ways to flush senescent cells from the body, this is the first to suggest they can be reactivated. 

Ultrasound is commonly used to treat a variety of conditions.  It is used to break up kidney stones, ablate tumors non-invasively, treat pain, and remedy other problems.

Researchers still must test the limits of ultrasound therapy and assess its value with a variety of age-related conditions.  But the initial findings suggest ultrasound therapy may help to ward off conditions that seriously compromise quality of life in older adults.

The Texas researchers plan a study involving people with osteoarthritis and people with diabetic foot ulcers, according to a report on the research in StudyFinds.