Spermidine and Healthspan

Spermidine is a biogenic amine with many potential anti-aging benefits, ranging from extending healthspan to improving vaccine efficacy in older adults. I’ll dig into the research on the topic, explore the clinical trials, and explain why increasing spermidine can sometimes be a bad idea. For this supplement, it is essential to go beyond the headlines …

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Low dose lithium reduces cellular senescence

A recent study shows that low-dose lithium may act as a senolytic.[ref] This has important implications in healthy aging – including preventing mortality from respiratory diseases, such as COVID, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. First, let me go into a little background information on lithium and then cellular senescence. Next, I’ll explain the new study …

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Preventing muscle loss in aging

Kind of like pornography, we all know aging when we see it. There is a specific point when suddenly someone looks old. Like they have crossed some invisible threshold, moving from healthy and older into the twilight area at the end of life. I’m not talking about gray hair or laugh lines that became more …

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Glycine for improving slow-wave (deep) sleep

A recent study on sleep and dementia points out (once again) that sleep is essential for good health in aging. The study found that decreased sleep, such as 6 hours or less per night, during your 50s and 60s increases the risk of dementia in your later decades by 30%. Quality sleep is foundational for …

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TNF-alpha and Inflammaging

TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) is a proinflammatory cytokine upregulated in aging. TNF-alpha acts as a signaling molecule in our immune system and is important in our innate immune response. But chronically elevated TNF-alpha is one cause of the diseases of aging. Inhibiting chronic inflammation is one tool available for longevity and healthspan. This article …

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Targeting cellular senescence with natural compounds

Cellular senescence is a natural process that stops the reproduction of cells. While senescence happens throughout life, in aging, an accumulation of excess senescent cells seems to be at the heart of many age-related diseases. What is cellular senescence? Senescence is when a cell can no longer divide and has been damaged — but yet …

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Alzheimer’s prevention through targeting the liver

Preventing Alzheimer’s is at the top of the list for many people when considering longevity and healthspan. Genetics, as well as environmental factors, play into the susceptibility to this disease of aging. While most focus is on the brain, recent research points to another key player in Alzheimer’s prevention: the liver! Bile acids, Alzheimer’s, the …

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Luteolin: neuroprotective and anticancer flavonoid

Luteolin is a flavonoid found in herbs and vegetables. Research shows that it has numerous anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Additionally, some research shows that luteolin may help to stop the proliferation of certain cancer cells. The goal here is to simply present a balanced view of the studies and clinical trials on luteolin as a …

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Metformin: Longevity research and genetics

A decades-old diabetes drug now holds promise for increasing healthspan. Research shows that metformin may reduce the risk of some of the diseases of aging, thus increasing the number of years someone is healthy. What is metformin? Metformin, also known as Glucophage, is the most commonly prescribed medication for reducing blood glucose levels. Metformin prescriptions …

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Vitamin D for preventing respiratory infections

Have you ever wondered why you are much more likely to have a cold in the winter than in the summer? It turns out that researchers have puzzled over the seasonality of respiratory viruses for decades. In 1926, one scientist proposed that the seasonality was due to the vitamin found in dairy products and produced …

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Boosting NAD+: amyloid proteins and mitochondrial dysfunction in muscles

A recent study in Cell reported on experiments regarding mitochondrial function and amyloid protein accumulation in the muscles.[ref] The researchers used animal models and human muscle tissue to determine that amyloid-like protein deposits occur in muscle during aging. Amyloid proteins are aggregates of proteins that fold into long fibers. Perhaps the most well-known is amyloid-beta, …

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Nicotinamide Riboside and Nicotinamide Mononucleotide

(Note that this article is cross-posted from Genetic Lifehacks — more to some on this topic) Nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) are two supplements that have taken the longevity and anti-aging world by storm. With animal studies showing exciting results including reversal of age-related diseases, these supplements are an exciting glimpse into the …

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