The latest on Methuselah, health span research, and regenerative medicine
As we age, it’s even more vital for our bodies to absorb nutrients, however nutrient malabsorption increases in the elderly, often leading to anemia and other illnesses. A recent study has identified a protein complex, mTORC1, a sensor of nutrients and growth factors, which is a central regulator of aging and a target for lifespan and healthspan extension.
Read MoreThe annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is one of the largest healthcare investment symposiums in the industry, bringing together industry leaders, emerging fast-growth companies, innovative technology creators, and members of the investment community. We had the privilege of attending this month alongside our partners at Leucadia, Turn Bio, OncoSenX, Volumetric, Viscient, Oisín Bio, and the Methuselah Fund.
Read MoreA remarkable report was published on July 11, 2018 which some readers may have heard about. There are not many interventions known to improve physical function and extend remaining lifespan when given to mice in old age. However, the consistently positive results reported in this study suggest that, at the very least, using this particular senolytic cocktail intermittently appears to have multiple benefits in old mice, and suggest that senolytics may be worth testing in aging humans.
Read MoreAging is the principal risk factor in many chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, and metabolic & neurological diseases. There is therefore great interest in the development of accurate age biomarkers that can be targeted and measured to track the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and other lifestyle adjustments. In this recent paper, Alex Zhavoronkov et al. show how deep learning algorithms can help advance aging research.
Read MorePatients, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, clinicians, amongst others, all rely on the release of clinical trial results. Despite this, a report published by The Lancet indicated that only 41% of completed clinical trials reported results within the deadline. In the meantime, a team at Oxford are doing their part, using AI and Machine Learning to spot unreported trials, advocating on behalf of all those who could benefit from proper reporting, and encouraging sponsors to report. Learn more about this problem below.
Read MoreOne of the best way to meet others in our community and stay current is to attend several conventions and events hosted by institutions focused on Longevity. The following is a list of events in chronological order that will add to your knowledge base. Special thanks to John D. Furber for compiling this comprehensive list!
Read MoreWhat do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see more wrinkles than yesterday? Can you tell if your hairline has receded slightly? Isn’t it impossible to perceive these subtle visual queues that we’re getting older? Noah Kalina, a photographer, found a way to document the changes we all experience in a timelapse video spanning the last 20 years.
Read MoreAs human life expectancy increases, it’s become clear we can’t just focus on simply extending the human lifespan, but rather extending our healthy lifespan (a concept now commonly referred to as “healthspan”). After all, what good is a long life when its plagued by illnesses for the final 40 years? This study, conducted by researchers at Harvard, included over 100,000 people tracked for more than 20 years, and discusses the effects that diet, exercise, smoking status, and other factors have on extending the healthspan in individuals over 50.
Read MoreCancer, Alzheimers, Cardiovascular diseases… as a scientific community it feels as though we’re always playing catch up. How many more people could be saved, how much more could we extend the healthspan (or healthy human lifespan) if instead we focused on being proactive? This article, written by a doctor at the University of Washington, focuses on the importance of targeting aging when discussing adding years to human life expectancy.
Read MoreBeing careful about what we put into our bodies is vital to maintaining our health, and potentially prolonging our healthy lifespan. Some centenarians have even been found to have taste receptors that gravitate towards healthier foods. We all wish we could find the perfect diet, however our bodies change as we age, thus calling for a change in diet as we get older. The main finding of this study is that lower consumption of protein in the mid-life, and higher consumption for the period of late age may benefit our health and longevity.
Read MoreMillions of people can be classified as having sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Despite its prevalence however, its affect on aging hasn’t been well studied until recently. A study presented at SLEEP 2019 by researchers at Harvard Medical School has linked SDB with epigenetic age acceleration.
Read MoreA recent study by the Mayo Clinic including more than 2,000 people, found that exercise can have an effect on grey matter and total brain volume. Both of which are involved in cognitive decline and aging. According to Mayo Clinic experts, exercise that is good for the heart (such as brisk walking, running and cycling) could also help to slow changes in the brain.
Read MoreViewing art can stimulate thought, evoke emotion, inspire conversation, and is often a social activity. A study published this month by researchers at the University College of London has shown that ‘receptive arts’ engagement could have a protective association with longevity in older adults. Read More ⇩
Read MoreLast month (November 2019), we came across a promising report (see below) of a new drug designation created by the FDA: the “Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy” (RMAT). This designation was actually announced back in early 2017, but we suspect many readers may not know about it yet, so we’d like to share it here!
Read MoreRemember when turning 18 or 21 years old felt like an eternity away? How is that working out for you now? It’s true that the older we get, the faster we feel time pass us by. All of us wish we had more time to do the things we love or simply spend time with our loved ones a little longer. What if you had the chance to get time back, would you do it? See how Turn Bio is working to make this a real possibility.
Read MoreIt’s common knowledge that an animal in the zoo fares better when its enclosure resembles its natural environment. Humans however, are often resistant to the notion that we’re similar in that regard. However a recent World Health Organization funded study underlines the importance of surrounding ourselves with nature and green spaces. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of residential green spaces on all-cause mortality, and the results of these studies found a significant inverse relationship between an increase in surrounding greenness and the risk of all-cause mortality.
Read MoreGiving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a day where donors could take a different approach to filling up an online virtual cart with goods. It has since grown into an international day of charitable giving, where hundreds of millions are donated every year. One of the best ways to get involved this Giving Tuesday is in your community and to causes you deem worthy of support. This year it falls today, December 3rd. So give back, whether it be to the Methuselah Foundation or another charity of your choice. Non-Profits around the world depend on generous donors like you and your ongoing support. Your donations are greatly appreciated!
Read MoreOver the past 10 years, there has been enormous attention given to serum vitamin D level and its association with human health. We therefore found it remarkable that a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed no reduction in cancer or cardiovascular mortality with a median of 5 years of supplementation with 2,000 IU of vitamin D and 1 g of fish oil in nearly 17,000 men and women over age 50. This brings us to the dog metaphor in the title of this article…
Read MoreResearchers at Washington University School of Medicine have determined that sleep deprivation in humans can lead to the spread and aggregation of the Alzheimer inducing protein, Tau. These new findings suggest that Alzheimer’s disease and sleep loss are even more intimately intertwined than previously thought. Hopefully, knowledge of this critical brain process will lead to further research on how the process works and the role it plays in neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
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