Applying science to increase 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Mitochondrial dysfunction and elevated oxidative stress are part of the root cause of aging. With poor mitochondrial function, cells can’t perform at an optimal level, leading to an increase in ROS (reactive oxygen species). Oxidative stress, due to an increase in ROS, increases the risk of cognitive decline, inflammation, heart disease, and insulin resistance. So …
I read a lot of studies on health and genetics, and I keep finding research on the mineral lithium popping up. Topics such as circadian rhythm dysfunction, Alzheimer’s disease, telomere length, type 2 diabetes, and obesity…all linking to lithium? The rest of this article explains the research showing the importance of this mineral in our …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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, …
(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 …