Extreme Longevity

Mutations in genes that code for nuclear laminar proteins are known to cause diseases of accelerated aging.  One such disease called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria affected children rapidly become elderly in childhood usually dying by age 13. The nuclear lamina is the envelope that surrounds and protects the cell’s DNA. It is crucial to prevent damage to DNA. Damaged DNA leads to cell dysfunction [...]

There is a large and growing body of scientific evidence that exercise increases lifespan.  This is true for all species of mammal tested including humans. There are an array of biochemical effects of exercise on cells which tend to promote transcription of genes that protect the cells against oxidative stress. Regular exercise reduces the likelihood of all the major leading casue of death including [...]

The family of Sirtuin genes has been linked to longevity.  Activating them generally appears to increase lifespan.  This has been demonstrated in several species, though there is some controversy about its degree of effect. Resveratrol is a small polyphenol molecule found in among other places, grapes.  There has been research suggesting that resveratrol activates the sirtuins but this too remains [...]

Human cells are fantastically complex entities.  Microscopic factories they contain 20,000 or so separate proteins that interact with each other in many ways.  The instructions to build these proteins are encoded in 3 billion base pairs of DNA on 46 tightly wound and compressed chromosomes. As the cells live metabolize and age, proteins are constantly being made, interacting with each other and [...]

There have been several reports in recent years and in increasing number revealing that certain gene variants are associated with extreme longevity. Each of these variants contributes a small increase in the odds the carrier will live to 100. Having one such variant however on its own is not likely to make or break these odds. In reality the genetic component contributes at best about 30% of the [...]

The nutritive supplement industry is booming with over 30 billion in annual sales and about half the adult US population consuming them. People taking these agents in an effort ot prevent disease.  Chief among people hopes for supplements is the belief that that cancer may be prevented. Antioxidants are often touted as having the potential to prevent cancer.  Theoretically cells turn cancerous when [...]

Aging is a multifactorial process. Maximal lifespan is highly variable among people, and is related to genes, lifestyle and chance in equal parts. There is no question lifestyle plays a role and diet and exercise account for a significant portion of that. Many dietary agents have been reported to extend lifespan in animals. Chief among them include resveratrol, green tea, and curcumin. Researchers [...]

The Mediterranean diet isn’t so much a specific diet but more of a dietary pattern found commonly among some people of the Mediterranean. Hallmarks of this diet include a focus on monounsaturated fat in the form of olive oil, plant proteins, and whole grains with a general avoidance of red meat, alcohol, sugars and processed grains. It a low glycemic load diet – it doesn’t create [...]

There is good evidence extreme human longevity is at least in part attributable to genetic variation.  Most estimate the role of genetics is about 25-30%.  Lifestyle likely accounts for more than 50% and chance the remaining 20-25%. Now that genome wide analysis (GWAS) is becoming easier and cheaper the search for longevity genes is well underway. A recent review notes “some genes will likely [...]

The 1,2,4-Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines are a synthetic chemical class of molecules. A group of researchers created a library of these molecules and screened them for biological activity.  In particular they were looking for an antioxidant. This class of molecules are hetero-aromatic organic compounds and are well known for biological effects, with examples acting as antihypertensive, bronchodilatory, [...]