Finalist Teams Awarded $1 Million in XPrize Healthspan Contest to Transform Healthy Aging

The XPrize Healthspan—which will split $101 million among teams developing therapeutics to restore muscle, cognitive, and immune function in older adults—has named 10 teams receiving $1 million each.

(XPrize announced the finalists for its XPrize Healthspan competition | XPrize)

The XPrize Healthspan competition has named its top 20 finalist groups that will submit their aging intervention therapies for human trial testing.

Aging &amp; Longevity

Model: Old (17- to 19-month-old) C57BL6 mice 
Dosage: 14 mg/mg/day of rapamycin in food for 5 months

A purported longevity drug, rapamycin, alters immune cells associated with cancer and reduces brain inflammation in mice. 

Immunity

Model: 5xFAD mouse model for Alzheimer’s disease 
Dosage: Oral administration of 457 mg/kg/day of glucosamine for 2 weeks

Supplementing with glucosamine, a compound found in our cartilage, increases the risk of mortality from dementia in certain individuals while also worsening memory in mice that model dementia. 

Study led by Dr. Ramon Sun on the far right (image: mbi.ufl.edu). 

Brain &amp; Neurons

Model: Old male mice
Dosage: 100 mg/kg/day of ALA administered in drinking water

Restoring the naturally occurring antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), to the gut wall rejuvenates stem cells and counters age-related gut degeneration in mice and human models. 

Images of miniature intestines developed from intestinal stem cells. 

Participants: Older adults (ages 60 to 80) with mild cognitive impairment 
Dosage: 320 mg/day of anthocyanin capsules for 24 weeks

Anthocyanin, a compound found in berries, reduces inflammation and heart disease markers in older adults at risk for dementia.  

Lead author of the study, Dr. Miguel Germán Borda (image: noticias.cun.es).

Search Result: anti-inflammatory

10 Finalist Teams Awarded $1 Million in XPrize Healthspan Contest to Transform Healthy Aging

Rapamycin Elevates Immune Cells That Can Battle Cancer Cells, New Study Shows

Common Joint Health Supplement May Progress Dementia, New Study Finds

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Rejuvenates Stem Cells & Improves Gut, New Study Shows

Anthocyanin Supplement Shows Anti-Inflammatory and Heart Health Benefits in New Study