Harvard Scientists Unravel The Secret Of Aging
Seattle – Scientists at Harvard University may have pinpointed a vital element in determining how we age–and maybe even how to slow it down.
David A. Sinclair, a professor at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, writes this week in the journal Cell about his studies involving sirtuins, proteins that play a vital role in the aging process. First discovered in fungus, and now, in this latest series of studies, in mice, these proteins seem to work toward repairing the DNA damage caused by aging. This isn’t their primary function, though–their main job is to control gene regulation–turning various genes “on” and “off” as necessary.
But when DNA damage reaches a certain level as we age, the sirtuins are no longer able to keep up with the repairs. Overwhelmed with their secondary task, the sirtuins increasingly neglect their first task, of gene regulation, and aging accelerates.
How, then, can we slow or reverse this process? Resveratrol, a chemical found in red wine, as well as certain nuts, peanut butter, and grapes, appears to activate the sirtuins so that they function more efficiently and are better able to continue with gene regulation, thus slowing the aging process.
Other ways to achieve this effect in Sinclair’s work included injecting the mice with additional sirtuins, or stimulating the sirtuins through restricting the number of calories the mice consumed. Both of these techniques increased the mice’s lifespans by twenty-four to forty-six percent–a significant and promising result.
The discovery of these proteins in mice is a big step forward in the study of the causes of aging and how to combat its effects. Some conditions that were improved in the mice included cataracts, osteoporosis and decline in motor skills. The overall effects seemed to focus on the heart, bones, muscles, and eyes in general, reducing the chances of major injuries due to frail bones combined with reduced coordination–a sometimes fatal combination in older people. Scientists have yet to determine if this substance functions the same way in humans, but its discovery in mice introduces a strong possibility that it does.
“We see here, through a proof-of-principal demonstration, that elements of aging can be reversed,” said one of the researchers, Philipp Oberdoerffer, in a news release.
While research hasn’t yet reached the point of developing anti-aging drugs, Sinclair believes this isn’t far in the future. By continuing to study the effects of resveratrol, he and other scientists hope to develop drugs that will combat Alzheimers, as well as other degenerative diseases and possibly even some cancers. In the mean time, as Harvard scientists unravel the secret of aging in the lab, a glass of red wine with dinner might be a step toward increasing life expectancy.
hi
sorry about the above- I hit send accidently- maybe I need some resveratrol
. anyway- I would be careful with the peanut butter- it may be good in some ways- but it also can contain toxins that can cause liver cancer. but, other types of nuts, (walnuts, almonds etc,) are very good for anti-aging in other ways, too.
the previous comment was pointless as much as this one…
Peanut Butter causes cancer? Jesus Christ. You people will believe anything. I guess Obama is also going to pay your mortgage too, right?
I think you missed the point made, otherdude. The article says, “Resveratrol, a chemical found in red wine, as well as certain nuts, peanut butter, and grapes, appears to activate the sirtuins so that they function more efficiently and are better able to continue with gene regulation, thus slowing the aging process”" And no, Obama is not going to finance my mortgage. Can you read, because that is just what may help you finance yours. Learn to read, otherdude, and then you may be qualified to make a comment.
Just to let you know publicly traded on NYSE (NUS)has also be using resveratrol in our LifePak nano a nuritional supplement, to work from the inside out, and from the outside in is and new product called ageLoc which will also stop theproduction of areNox Check these out! http://www.nsevideos.com  if you are interested send me an emailfrank.david@sympatico.ca
In my opinion only one substance cant do much for slowing the process of aging.
It is known that human lifespan is around 120 years,but we all have our own biological clock which is ticking our lifespan.
what we need to do to slow down accelerated aging is to eat according to our own unique Metabolic Type to balance our metabolism.Only with balanced metabolism our trillion cells in the body will get sufficient energy to perform optimally their designated functions and repair itself ,thus prolong their lifespan and slow down the aging process.
Why does the author of this article suggest a drug should be the outcome of his research here? Why not supplements? That is what I do.
I read about red wine, certain nuts & berries, omega 3/fish oils, etc. and how these foods affect your well being and brain health in the book “7 Steps to a Healthy Brain” by Dr. Paul Winner. I didn’t know about the possible added benefit of life extension. In any event, there is much you can do to help yourself just by eating the right foods and supplementing what you don’t get enough of.