Scientists have uncovered a new method to extend the ‘healthspan’ of women’s ovaries, enhancing their upkeep and thwarting significant age-related changes in ovarian function. The term ‘healthspan’ is defined as the duration a person remains healthy without severe illnesses or chronic diseases.
The ovaries in women function like a factory, where eggs are produced and hormones are created to manage various processes, including menstruation, pregnancy, bone density, and mood. As women age, the production from these factories declines, and by the average age of menopause (around 51), their functions are nearing a halt.
A recent study conducted by Northwestern Medicine on mice has revealed a groundbreaking approach to prolonging the “healthspan” of these ovarian factories by improving their maintenance and preventing critical age-related changes. “Healthspan” refers to the duration a person stays healthy and free from significant illnesses or chronic conditions.
“While the average age for menopause has remained steady over the years, women today live for many more years beyond that due to advances in health and medicine,” stated Francesca Duncan, the study’s lead author and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology (reproductive science in medicine) at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “We’ve transformed our way of living, but the ovarian function also needs to evolve so that it can sustain women’s health for an extended period.”
The results are set to be published on September 16 in the journal GeroScience.
In this investigation, researchers utilized Pirfenidone, a drug often prescribed for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Additional studies are in progress to determine the best drug targets for ovarian fibrosis and to initiate clinical trials involving women.
“While this drug isn’t suitable for clinical use for this purpose due to serious side effects like liver toxicity — which we didn’t observe in mice — we have proved that we can modify ovarian fibrosis and enhance outcomes,” Duncan explained. “Our current focus is on finding a safe and effective drug for use in humans.”
Effects of Stiffer Ovaries with Age
In prior research, Duncan’s team discovered that aging ovaries experience excessive inflammation and become fibrotic and rigid, resembling scarring in other tissues. According to Duncan, these stiffer ovaries create favorable conditions for cancer cell growth, as these cells thrive in collagen-rich environments.
The previous study also revealed that stiff ovaries negatively impact egg quality, which might explain the decline in fertility women experience during their 30s and 40s.
Mice that received treatment to reduce ovarian scarring showed increased follicle counts, better ovulation rates, and stable hormone levels.
“Currently, our solutions for age-related fertility decline, like egg freezing, are merely temporary fixes,” Duncan noted. “Ultimately, when those embryos are transferred to an older woman, it carries its own set of risks.”
‘Extending the Fertile Window is Not the Primary Objective of the Study’
While extending a woman’s fertility window is one aspect, it’s not the main focus of the research, Duncan emphasized.
“We may naturally extend the fertile window, but that is not the primary aim of this study,” Duncan said. “Not everyone is eager to have children.”
This research seeks to enhance the ovarian environment to ensure it can continue producing vital hormones much later in a woman’s life. Reduced levels of estrogen and progesterone accelerate the loss of bone density, raising the risk of osteoporosis. Low hormone levels may also increase the likelihood of heart disease, lead to thinning vaginal walls causing discomfort during sex or urinary problems, and contribute to diminished cognitive function and mood stability.
“By improving the ovarian environment, we address the fundamental problems because you’ll have follicles and eggs capable of supporting fertility and hormone production,” Duncan explained. “It’s about tackling the underlying issue.”
The study is titled, “Systemic low-dose anti-fibrotic treatment attenuates ovarian aging in the mouse.” Funding for this research was provided by the Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equality.
