The long term goals for the field of stem cell medicine tend to come back around to include rejuvenation at some point. It's unavoidable, really: the medical conditions most obviously suited to treatment via stem cell therapies are the malfunctions and disrepair of old age - failing muscles, hearts, livers, and other more complex organs. But stem cell populations and their supporting infrastructure in the body also fail right at the time when they are most needed. (That progressive failure of stem cell capacity with age goes some way to causing the time of greatest need, of course, but it's far from the whole story of degenerative aging). The bottom line is that to ensure effectiveness for stem cell treatments in the old, efforts must be made to reverse the aging of their stem cells and the aging of stem cell support systems in the body.

You might recall the research group that demonstrated reversal of some aspects of stem cell aging in mice by introducing young blood into old animals - and vice versa, illustrating that the changes of aging observed in stem cells are due at least as much the environment within the body as to the cells themselves. Those scientists been working on the aging of stem cells for some years now, tracing mechanisms and looking for key biochemical switches; here is a piece that outlines their view of the future:

Unlike stem cells in the blood or skin, muscle stem cells spend most of their lives nestled in the surrounding tissue. "They don't do much most of the time," said Rando. "They remain in a quiescent state for most of a person's life. When you injure your muscle, however, they begin dividing to repair the damage. ... Although on the surface the quiescent state seems to be relatively static, it's quite actively maintained. We've found that changing the levels of just one specific microRNA in resting muscle stem cells, however, causes them to spring into action."

...

If you're going to use muscle stem cells as a therapy for disease or aging, you want to be able to transplant cells that have the greatest potential to make new muscle in the recipient. The quiescent state most closely resembles how they are in the body. If you allow them to divide in the lab before transplantation, they are not as effective. This microRNA may allow us to toggle the cells back and forth between the actively dividing and quiescent states.

...

In the future, the researchers will continue to look at the unique features of quiescent muscle stem cells, including those involved in normal aging. "We'd like to understand the aging process at a very fundamental level," said Rando. "That will allow us to move toward more therapeutic applications. Can we use what we've learned to convert old stem cells, which seem to have lost their responsiveness to activation cues, into young stem cells? Maybe the ability of old stem cells to exit the quiescent state is defective. We may one day be able to develop approaches that enhance tissue repair by enhancing stem cell function."

Paired with increasingly effective early detection and elimination of cancer, it should be very feasible in the years ahead to postpone the decline of stem cells in the body. That decline appears to exist as a mechanism to reduce the risk of cancer, but if cancer as a worrying condition becomes a thing of the past there's no reason for us not to dial our stem cells back up to full potency to maintain our tissues better and for longer.

Source:
http://www.longevitymeme.org/newsletter/latest_rss_feed.cfm

An introductory article at h+ Magazine looks at the role of telomeres and telomerase in aging: "Several thousand studies have been published on telomeres and telomerase, which are now known to maintain genomic stability, prevent the inappropriate activation of DNA damage pathways, partially determine disease susceptibility/resistance and regulate cellular and organism-wide viability and aging. Telomerase expression [in conjunction with other genetic alterations] also extends the lifespan and reverses senescence-associated pathologies in mice. ... In humans telomere length and integrity plays a role in some diseases, disease susceptibility, aging and even in mediating the deleterious effects of long-term psychological stress. Several human genetic diseases are caused by alterations in telomerase function. For example, individuals with dyskeratosis congenita (DC) ... Many aspects of DC resemble normal aging, although at an accelerated rate. Individuals with DC are born with unusually short telomeres and not surprisingly, the expression of unmutated telomerase in DC cells corrects many of their molecular defects and lengthens their telomeres. ... Normal cellular telomerase expression is insufficient to prevent telomere shortening with each cell division and hence, telomeres shorten with aging, eventually causing age-related changes. The process is complex, and different cell types and organs show different rates of telomere shortening, although overall telomere shorten most rapidly in growing cell populations. Interestingly, high telomere stability correlates with human longevity while caloric restriction (the only known intervention that increases the [maximum] mammalian lifespan), reduces the rate of telomere shortening, although it does not increase telomerase expression. Last, malignant tumors overexpress telomerase, allowing them to grow indefinitely. One reason why most normal cells of the human body do not express high levels of telomerase might be to prevent cancer."

Link: http://hplusmagazine.com/2011/03/28/telomeres-telomerase-and-aging/

News from the field of stem cell research: "researchers [report] a game-changing advance in stem cell science: the creation of long-term, self-renewing, primitive neural precursor cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that can be directed to become many types of neuron without increased risk of tumor formation. ... It means we can generate stable, renewable neural stem cells or downstream products quickly, in great quantities and in a clinical grade - millions in less than a week - that can be used for clinical trials and, eventually, for clinical treatments. Until now, that has not been possible. ... Human embryonic stem cells hold great promise in regenerative medicine due to their ability to become any kind of cell needed to repair and restore damaged tissues. But the potential of hESCs has been constrained by a number of practical problems, not least among them the difficulty of growing sufficient quantities of stable, usable cells and the risk that some of these cells might form tumors. ... [Researchers] added small molecules in a chemically defined culture condition that induces hESCs to become primitive neural precursor cells, but then halts the further differentiation process. ... And because it doesn't use any gene transfer technologies or exogenous cell products, there's minimal risk of introducing mutations or outside contamination."

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110425153554.htm

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that the antioxidants in pecans can lower the risk of heart disease.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is a term used to refer to a variety of health conditions that involves the heart. It is often interchanged with cardiovascular disease which is commonly used to define the condition involving the narrowing of the blood vessels that can lead to chest pains, heart attack and stroke. Unlike cancer and other chronic diseases wherein the causes remain to be unclear, the causes of heart diseases are well-established and the condition can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices.

Most diseases are caused by the damage caused by the accumulation of fatty plaques in the arteries. The arteries are responsible for carrying nutrients and oxygen to different parts of the body. In order to properly perform these tasks, the arteries need to stay strong and flexible. Aging and poor, unhealthy habits can put too much pressure in the arteries and make the walls stiff, weak and thick with fatty plaques. This disorder will lead to the insufficient distribution of blood in organs and tissues. Because of this, nutrition and oxygenation are compromised.

Atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries caused by deposition of fatty plaques, is the most common cardiovascular disease. The other heart conditions are heart arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythms, cardiomyopathy or the enlargement and thickening of the heart muscle, heart infection and valvular heart diseases.

Although heart diseases are caused by different factors, studies show that they are primarily due to unhealthy diet and habits, and lack of exercise.

The Risk Factors of Heart Disease

Getting older increases the risk of heart disease. The heart and blood vessels become more at risk of damage. Men are also more at risk of developing the disease than women although a woman’s risk is increased after menopause. Certain heart diseases are also caused by genetic factors. The condition can run in the family and some individuals can be more inclined of developing the condition than others.

Smoking has always been proven to be bad for the health. Nicotine in tobacco can constrict the blood vessels, making blood flow difficult resulting to an increase in blood pressure, while its carbon monoxide content can damage the lining and make them more at risk of damage. Population studies show that the incidence of heart disease is higher in smokers than in non-smokers.

A diet rich in sodium and harmful fats can lead to the development of heart disease. Hypertension, or chronically high blood pressure, can cause the blood vessels to become thick and hard. The accumulation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of the arteries can inhibit the healthy flow of blood and cause serious complications. The other risk factors of heart disease are obesity and diabetes – two health conditions that share similar risk factors: the lack of exercise, poor eating habits and high stress levels.

The risk factors of developing heart disease can be countered by healthy lifestyle choices. Eating the right kinds of food, for example, will supply the body with the nutrients needed to maintain a healthy heart and prevent damage. A study conducted by researchers from Loma Linda University School of Public Health found that the antioxidants in pecans can contribute in the prevention of heart disease.

Pecans Against Heart Disease

The study published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that pecans contain potent antioxidants flavan-3-ol and gamma-tocopherol that helps in lowering the risk of heart disease. The researchers said that these compounds can double the amount of antioxidants in the blood plasma and inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol by more than 30 percent. Head researcher Dr Ella Haddad said that the consumption of pecans can improve the levels of antioxidants in the body and added that antioxidants are needed in order to prevent diseases like cancer and heart disease.

The researchers explained in their study that pecan is a good source of various kinds of vitamin E, especially in the form of tocopherols. This is in addition to its phenolic content which also has antioxidant properties. Formation of plaque on the surface of the blood vessels is primarily due to the high concentration of oxidized LDL cholesterol in the blood. The antioxidants in pecan can help in lowering oxidized LDL cholesterol levels by preventing oxidation. The researchers said that the bioactive content of pecans like flavan-3-ol monomers and gamma-tocopherol exhibit strong antioxidant action in vitro but it has not been established whether this is the case in the human body. The study aimed to investigate and measure the antioxidant effects of pecans after ingestion.

Blood and urine samples were taken from 16 study participants. Prior to these, they were randomly assigned three meals with pecans blended with water, whole pecans and a control meal with equivalent nutritional content. And in between each treatment was one week of washout period.  Study participants who ate meals with whole and blended pecans doubled their gamma-tocopherol blood levels after eight hours. The researchers also observed that the oxidation of LDL cholesterol was reduced by 33 percent after 3 hours. The researchers concluded that their findings are another addition to the health benefits of pecans in preventing various diseases and that the antioxidants in pecans can be absorbed and used by the body.

Natural Ways to Lower Heart Disease Risk

Eating foods rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants, low in sodium and LDL cholesterol, and regular exercise are a few of the lifestyle choices you can make in order to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Dietary fiber helps prevent the absorption of cholesterol.

A high sodium diet can make the blood thicker and increase blood pressure. It has also been linked to a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. According to the American Heart Association, the recommended sodium consumption should not be greater than 2,300 milligrams or approximately 1 teaspoon a day. For those with existing heart conditions, only 1500 milligrams of sodium is recommended. Avoiding foods and processed products that are rich in sodium as well as carefully avoiding the use of condiments that are sodium-rich can help in reducing your sodium intake.

Avoid foods rich in saturated and trans fats. These foods can increase the LDL cholesterol levels in your blood which is a strong risk factor of heart disease. Regular exercise also helps in keeping the heart healthy and strong while promoting the healthy flow of blood through the blood vessels.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
disabled-world.com
mayoclinic.com
mayoclinic.com

Discuss this post in Frank Mangano’s forum!

Small steps: "The notion of transplanting adult stem cells to treat or even cure age-related macular degeneration has taken a significant step toward becoming a reality. ... researchers have demonstrated, for the first time, the ability to create retinal cells derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells that mimic the eye cells that die and cause loss of sight. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) [gradually] destroys sharp, central vision needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. AMD progresses with death of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a dark color layer of cells which nourishes the visual cells in the retina. While some treatments can help slow its progression, there is no cure. The discovery of human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells has opened a new avenue for the treatment of degenerative diseases, like AMD, by using a patient's own stem cells to generate tissues and cells for transplantation. For transplantation to be viable in age-related macular degeneration, researchers have to first figure out how to program the naïve hiPS cells to function and possess the characteristics of the native retinal pigment epithelium, RPE, the cells that die off and lead to AMD. ... This is the first time that hiPS-RPE cells have been produced with the characteristics and functioning of the RPE cells in the eye. That makes these cells promising candidates for retinal regeneration therapies in age-related macular degeneration."

Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/gumc-sct031811.php

Looking back at historical data on life span in human lineages, researchers find the result you might expect from centenarian studies - the most long-lived families tend to have more long-lived offspring, while for everyone else lifestyle choices and accident are more important determinants: "Although genetic factors are known to influence the human aging process, the proportion of life span and longevity variation explained by them is still controversial. We evaluated the genetic contribution to life span using historical data from three Alpine communities in South Tyrol, Italy. We estimated the heritability of life span and survival to old age (longevity), and we assessed the hypothesis of a common genetic background between life span and reproduction. The heritability of life span was [low], whereas the heritability of longevity [increased] as the longevity threshold increased. Heritability estimates were little influenced by shared environment, most likely due to the homogeneity of lifestyle and environmental factors in our study population. Life span showed both positive association and genetic correlation with reproductive history factors. Our study demonstrates a general low inheritance of human life span, but which increases substantially when considering long-living individuals, and a common genetic background of life span and reproduction, in agreement with evolutionary theories of aging."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20884848

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

A fair chunk of degenerative aging is caused by the accumulation of various kinds of damaging biochemicals, and here dry macular degeneration is added to that list: "A team of researchers, led by University of Kentucky ophthalmologist Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, has discovered a molecular mechanism implicated in geographic atrophy, the major cause of untreatable blindness in the industrialized world. ... Concurrent with this discovery, Ambati's laboratory developed two promising therapies for the prevention of the condition. ... Geographic atrophy, a condition causing the death of cells in the retina, occurs in the later stages of the 'dry type' of macular degeneration, a disease affecting some 10 million older Americans and causing blindness in over 1 million. There is currently no effective treatment for geographic atrophy, as its cause is unknown. Ambati's team discovered that an accumulation of a toxic type of RNA, called Alu RNA, causes retinal cells to die in patients with geographic atrophy. In a healthy eye, a 'Dicer' enzyme degrades the Alu RNA particles. ... We discovered that in patients with geographic atrophy, there is a dramatic reduction of the Dicer enzyme in the retina. When the levels of Dicer decline, the control system is short-circuited and too much Alu RNA accumulates. This leads to death of the retina. ... Alu elements make up a surprisingly large portion - about 11 percent by weight - of the human genome, comprising more than 1 million sequences. However, their function has been unknown, so they have been called 'junk' DNA or part of the 'dark' genome. The discovery of Alu's toxicity and its control by Dicer should prove of great interest to other researchers in the biological sciences ... Ambati's team developed two potential therapies aimed at preventing geographic atrophy and demonstrated the efficacy of both approaches using laboratory models. The first involves increasing Dicer levels in the retina by 'over-expressing' the enzyme. The second involves blocking Alu RNA using an 'anti-sense' drug that binds and degrades this toxic substance. ... Ambati's group is preparing to start clinical trials by the end of this year."

Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/uok-pdi020311.php

Omega 3 can help reduce the incidence of age-related hearing loss.

We know that omega 3 fatty acids are good for the heart – but it appears that this wonder compound is not just good for the heart, but may also be beneficial to our ears as well.  Just recently, a study regarding the additional benefits of omega 3 fatty acids was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The omega 3 study

According to the US study, eating fish at least twice a week can reduce the risk for age-related hearing loss by a whopping forty-two percent.  Paul Mitchell, lead researcher, also stated that regular doses of omega 3 fatty acids can delay or even completely prevent age-related hearing loss (also known as presbycusis).

Mitchell and other researchers made use of questionnaires that were given out to 2,900+ respondents.  They measured the respondents’ fish intake with the prevalence of hearing loss.  An inverse trend was noted: respondents who ate a lot of fish tend to have minimal hearing loss.  The risk for age-related hearing loss was also reduced with increased fish consumption.

Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent sensory-related conditions in the United States, affecting more than 30 million individuals around the country.

More reasons to love omega 3

Omega 3’s dazzling spectrum of benefits does not end with hearing loss prevention and heart health:

1. Omega 3 is considered an essential nutrient because it is required for normal body function.  The body is incapable of producing them; therefore, dietary sources of omega 3 are vital to good health.

2. Suffering from painful joints?  Existing studies state that regular doses of omega 3 can help ease the stiffness and inflammation associated with arthritic conditions.  If you have been prescribed anti-inflammatory medication already, you can still take omega 3 to increase the effectiveness of your current anti-inflammatory medication/s.

3. Eating more fish may reduce your risk for depression.  According to existing studies, cultures that consume fish on a very regular basis also have fewer incidences of clinical depression.  Omega 3 may also help treat depression as it enhances the potency of anti-depressant medication.

4. Pregnant women can also benefit from EPA & DHA: there is evidence that omega 3 fatty acids can improve the general wellness of pregnant women and also aid in the development of the unborn child – specifically with the child’s brain development.

5. In addition to calcium supplementation, omega 3 can also help people with osteoporosis. There is some evidence that this compound can help increase bone density.

6. Surprisingly, omega 3 can also be used by individuals with asthma.  In addition to improving the over-all condition of the lungs, omega 3 may also help reduce the amount of asthma medications a person needs to manage his/her condition.

7. Giving fish oil to school-aged kids can help manage the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.

Sources:
nutraingredients.com
webmd.com

Discuss this post in Frank Mangano’s forum!

Much like the slow and steady lengthening of life expectancy, there is a general improvement in cancer treatment outcomes thanks to progress across the board in modern medicine: "The continued drop in overall cancer mortality rates over the last 20 years has averted more than three-quarters of a million (767,000) cancer deaths according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society's annual Cancer Statistics article reports that the overall death rate from cancer in the United States in 2007 was 178.4 per 100,000, a relative decrease of 1.3 percent from 2006, when the rate was 180.7 per 100,000, continuing a trend that began in 1991 for men and 1992 for women. In that time, mortality rates have decreased by 21 percent among men and by 12 percent among women, due primarily to declines in smoking, better treatments, and earlier detection of cancer. ... Cancer incidence rates decreased in men 1.3 percent per year from 2000 to 2006 and in women 0.5 percent per year from 1998 to 2006. Death rates for all cancer sites combined decreased 2 percent per year from 2001 to 2006 in males and 1.5 percent per year from 2002 to 2006 in females."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-07/acs-cdc070710.php

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

From the Korea Times: "Stem cells, or early-stage cells that retain the potential to turn into other specialized types of cells, are intriguing for their immense potential in treating a wide range of difficult diseases and conditions. And holding an important key to such innovations would be adult stem cells, which are taken from mature tissue, as they could theoretically be taken from patients, grown in culture and transplanted back into the patient without the fear of provoking an immune response. ... The downside of adult stem cells, however, is that they age much faster than embryonic cells, which has limited their usefulness in transplants. ... It has been presumed that the decreasing regenerative capacity of adult stem cells, which is linked to their aging, is a result of inborn genetic variations. But [researchers suggest] that the process isn't dictated by heritable events, such as DNA damage, but rather determined by an 'epigenetic' regulation of gene expression. ... There weren't many studies on finding micro-RNAs related to the aging of cells and learn how they affect stem cells, but this area could be important in developing a way to have adult stem cells retain their normal ability for a longer time."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2010/08/133_71494.html

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

Specialties

Dr. Howard Liebowitz was a board-certified Emergency Physician for 30 years who evolved as a healer by integrating his traditional training in Internal Medicine, his ER experience and his studies in functional medicine. Functional medicine is a discipline that strives to reverse the course of a disease rather than just treating the symptoms, which is what most traditional medicine does. His is an individualized approach to healing and longevity, taking into account the patient's environment, diet, lifestyle habits as well as his or her genetic history. Along with a foundational approach to health through nutrition, he understands the importance of assessing and balancing hormones for both men and women. He has over 10 years of experience and knowledge helping women through the hormone transition known as menopause as well as male hormone decline. His unique approach to helping his patients attain optimal health as well as slowing the aging process has helped innumerable men and women.The introduction of Ozone therapies into his practice in 2009 resulted in a major and dramatic shift in improving his patient's health. By combining the three modalities of Ozone, bioidentical hormone replacement and functional medicine he has been able to significantly enhance many peoples health and well being.Dr. Liebowitz integrates his knowledge and skills derived from many years of training and experience in multiple areas of medicine...

Established in 2005.

Dr Liebowitz is a three times Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician who practiced at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles for over 15 years. He experienced many of his patients not getting better and returning to the ER with so many complications from the medications they were taking, that he felt there must be a better way to heal. He studied Functional Medicine and Anti Aging Medicine and realized that people could become healthier when all the normal functions of the body are supported. He integrates multiple disciplines of medicine from 30 years of experience together into his own unique blend. By balancing hormones, supporting the immune system,detoxification along with optimal diet and exercise (His 5 Step REDDI Plan)the result is optimal health with minimal or no pharmaceutical medications.

Dr. Liebowitz was a member of the advisory board of Bally's Health & Tennis and 24 Hour Fitness, and also worked as a physician at the Pritikin Longevity Center. Dr. Liebowitz has been a lifelong athlete himself, as a college swimmer and later a triathlete, completing the grueling Hawaii IRONMAN three times. Dr. Liebowitz received his training in internal medicine at the University of Southern California and worked as an emergency and trauma physician for over 20 years. He has been board-certified and recertified three times and is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

See the article here:
Liebowitz Longevity Medicine - Alternative Medicine - 1513 ...

Photo: Courtesy of Dominik Martin via Unsplash By Kristy Or March 05, 2020

Whether youre trying to fight the flu or build up your immunity, these commonly used ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine will help keep you feeling at your best

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Traditional Chinese Medicine has been making its way back into the mainstream with the popularisation of more natural methods of achieving health and wellness. In Chinese medicine, Qi is the vital energy that helps regulate the body and keep it functioning normally. Any disruptions in the Qi are primarily seen as the source of physical and mental health issues including common ailments like the flu, fever, cough, depression and anxiety.We spoke to two Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners - Gianna Buonocore from Integrated Medicine Institute and Cecilia Cheung from Health Wise- for advice on which herbs to add to your diet to help boost your immune system and improve your wellbeing.

The most commonly suggested ingredient by the two experts to add to your routine to boost your immunity is the Astragalus Root - or Huang Qi - as known in Chinese. The root is a principle herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for increasing an individuals vitality and promotes immune boosting compounds. Astragalus Root is typically combined with Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) and Ledebouriella Root (Feng Feng) to create a soup. According to Cecilia Cheung, this soup is like building a defensive wall to protect your body from cold and flu and is generally good for everyone at all stages of life.

See also: Nutrition Month 2020: 5DietChanges You Can Make For Healthier Living

Fresh ginger is often prescribed to boost the energy levels in individuals. According to Gianna Buonocore, it not only soothes an upset stomach but helps fire up your immune system and helps clear the pathogen by inducing sweat. Ginger has been used to treat many initial flu and heat symptoms like dry and sore throat, constipation and fatigue. It can also assist with promoting blood circulation and aids in relieving constipation, vomiting symptoms and morning sickness.

Garlic has been widely recognised for its many antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects. The active ingredient inside garlic known as allicin, has antimicrobial properties which is activated through the action of chopping, crushing or chewing raw garlic - though Buonocore warns that these properties are destroyed during cooking. It is great for preventing and treating cold and flus, including relieving symptoms such as coughs, clear(ing) phlegm and enhanc(ing) immunity Cheung adds.

Chrysanthemum is a cooling herb and has antimicrobial properties which has a cleansing effect on the body and can help to clear pathogenic heat. Cheung describes chrysanthemums as a lung clearing herb as it is known to treat ailments like headaches, sore, throats, acne and ulcers. It has also been prescribed for issues like sleeplessness, strained eyes and high blood pressure.

Read more: Where To Eat: Manilas Hidden Gems For Vegans And Vegetarians

Buonocore states that Goji Berries or Wolfberry Fruit are often used to improve health, vitality, longevity, energy and stamina. In Chinese Medicine, it is typically prescribed to treat poor eyesight, diabetes and anemia. Add them to your breakfast or include them in your tea for extra nutrients.

For those suffering from insomnia, restlessness, fatigue or loss of appetite, red jujube dates have often been used as a treatment by Chinese medicine doctors. The dates are said to have properties to calm the mind, reduce stress and decrease anxiety. Buonocore recommends a cup of jujube tea before bed (as it can) promote a restful nights sleep or treat insomnia.

See also: Five Secrets To A Radiant Power Look

In Chinese medicine, rose buds have a warming effect, and are used to alleviate abdominal pain, reduce indigestion, improve blood circulation in the body, and help to regulate menstruation and alleviate abdominal cramps. Buonocore suggests that rose bud tea can be combined with goji berries or red dates to combat tiredness, fatigue and sluggishness, however for those suffering from sore, dry throat, or constipation, Cheung recommends limiting your intake.

Read this article:
Nutrition Month 2020: 7 Traditional Ingredients From Chinese Medicine That Can Help Boost Your Health - Philippine Tatler

A response to recent discussion of the Catholic hierarchy's views on engineered longevity: "Michael Anissimov and Aubrey de Grey call our attention to Pope Benedict's Holy Saturday address from 3 April of this year. In the address, the Pope presents perspective on immortalism, suggesting that radical extension of life as we currently know it is not a cure for death, but rather a cure for death must 'transform our lives from within' and 'create a new life within us, truly fit for eternity'. The Pope's message contains some ideas with which I disagree. For example, he questions the value of extending life hundreds of years and suggests it would be condemnation; does he consider us already condemned as a consequence of extending life well beyond the few decades that were available to our ancestors? Perhaps he does, as do many Catholics, embracing a doctrine of original sin and assuming life as we now know it to have no possibility of naturally improving beyond the consequences of that original sin. He reasons that immortalism would leave no room for youth, yet youth is precisely the goal of immortalism - not merely a perpetuation of geriatric hacks. He also reasons that immortalism would kill capacity for innovation, yet capacity for innovation has only improved as we've extended our lifespans. Finally, he implies that death itself is where we should look to find the beginning of the fullness of life. While I don't consider death the absolute end of identity, I consider it to be among the worst of hollow and meaningless contradictions to equate death with life."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://lincoln.metacannon.net/2010/06/pope-benedict-and-immortalists.html

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

Here is one of many clear signs to show that chronic inflammation is something to be avoided: "Inflammation, oxidative damage, and platelet activation are hypothesized biological mechanisms driving the disablement process. The aim of the present study is to assess whether biomarkers representing these mechanisms predicted major adverse health-related events in older persons. ... Data are from 2,234 community-dwelling nondisabled older persons enrolled in the Health Aging and Body Composition study. Biomarkers of lipid peroxidation, platelet activation, and inflammation (serum concentrations of interleukin-6) were considered as independent variables of interest and tested in Cox proportional hazard models as predictors of (severe) mobility disability and overall mortality. ... The sample's (women 48.0%, whites 64.3%) mean age was 74.6 (SD 2.9) years. During the follow-up (median 11.4 years), 792 (35.5%), 269 (12.0%), and 942 (42.2%) events of mobility disability, severe mobility disability, and mortality occurred, respectively. ... Only interleukin-6 showed significant independent associations with the onset of all the study outcomes. ... The inflammatory marker interleukin-6 is confirmed to be a robust predictor for the onset of negative health-related events."

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22389462

Source:
http://www.longevitymeme.org/newsletter/latest_rss_feed.cfm

Less fat tissue is unambiguously good for you over the long term, and one side effect of calorie restriction is the loss of excess fat tissue - but that is only a side effect. More interesting stuff is going on at the level of cells and their mechanisms: "Caloric restriction (CR) slows the aging process and extends longevity, but the exact underlying mechanisms remain debatable. It has recently been suggested that the beneficial action of CR may be mediated in part by adipose tissue remodeling. Mammals have two types of adipose tissue: white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). In this study, proteome analysis [was] performed on both WAT and BAT from nine month old male rats fed ad libitum or subjected to CR for six months. Our findings suggest that CR activates mitochondrial energy metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis in WAT. It is likely that in CR animals WAT functions as an energy transducer from glucose to energy-dense lipid. In contrast, in BAT CR either had no effect on, or down-regulated, the mitochondrial electron transport chain, but enhanced fatty acid biosynthesis. This suggests that in CR animals BAT may change its function from an energy consuming system to an energy reservoir system. Based on our findings, we conclude that WAT and BAT cooperate to use energy effectively via a differential response of mitochondrial function to CR." It is worth noting that there are other signs that the biochemistry of fat tissue, and its effects on health, can be dramatically altered - see the research on fat in GHRKO mice, for example.

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22414572

Source:
http://www.longevitymeme.org/newsletter/latest_rss_feed.cfm

DNA methylation is proposed to be a good biomarker of aging, and here researchers show that calorie restriction slows the progression of DNA methylation in the hippocampus - continuing the expected trend of calorie restriction slowing near every identified biological change that occurs with aging: "Aberrant DNA methylation patterns have been linked to molecular and cellular alterations in the aging brain. Caloric restriction (CR) and upregulation of antioxidants have been proposed as interventions to prevent or delay age-related brain pathology. Previously, we have shown in large cohorts of aging mice, that age-related increases in DNA methyltransferase 3a (Dnmt3a) immunoreactivity in the mouse hippocampus were attenuated by CR, but not by overexpression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Here, we investigated age-related alterations of 5-methylcytidine (5-mC), a marker of DNA methylation levels, in a hippocampal subregion-specific manner. Examination of 5-mC immunoreactivity in 12- and 24-month-old wild type (WT) mice on control diet, mice overexpressing SOD1 on control diet, wild type mice on CR, and SOD1 mice on CR, indicated an age-related increase in 5-mC immunoreactivity in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, CA3, and CA1-2 regions, which was prevented by CR but not by SOD1 overexpression. ... These findings suggest a crucial role for DNA methylation in hippocampal aging and in the mediation of the beneficial effects of CR on aging."

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21764481

Here is another piece in the exceedingly complicated puzzle of metabolism and longevity, touching on some other pieces that have shown up here before, such as adenylate cyclase: "Despite the various roles of regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) protein in the G protein signaling pathway that have been defined, the function of RGS has not been characterized in longevity signaling pathways. We found that reduced expression of Loco, a Drosophila RGS protein, resulted in a longer lifespan of flies with stronger resistance to stress, higher MnSOD activity and increased fat content. In contrast, overexpression of the loco gene shortened the fly lifespan significantly, lowered stress resistance and reduced fat content, also indicating that the RGS domain containing GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity is related to the regulation of longevity. Interestingly, expressional changes of yeast RGS2 and rat RGS14, homologs to the fly Loco, also affected oxidative stress resistance and longevity in the respective species. It is known that Loco [reduces] activity of adenylate cyclase (AC) and RGS14 interacts with activated H-Ras and Raf-1 kinases, which subsequently inhibits ERK phosphorylation. We propose that Loco/RGS14 protein may regulate stress resistance and longevity as an activator in AC-cAMP-PKA pathway and/or as a molecular scaffold that sequesters active Ras and Raf from Ras*GTP-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Consistently, our data showed that downregulation of Loco [leads to] higher resistance to the oxidative stress."

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21776417

When you're young, you expect to have a great deal of time ahead of you. You haven't spent much time yet, and so what remains seems like a fortune in comparison - enough to squander. Think of the way that wealthy children so often turn out despite the best efforts of their parents, their view of the value of money and economic common sense poisoned by having grown up with access to a great deal of money. But before you look down on them or pity them, think of your own situation with respect to the expected time remaining in your life. Your viewpoint on time, life, and the future was poisoned by having what appeared to be a great deal of remaining time, far more than it was easy to compare against what little you had lived to date ... so you valued time poorly.

We are evolved to squander the resources that shower upon us and gather in their piles, while spending a great deal of care, thought, and worry on resources that are scarce. So we care little about air, not so very much more about water, and not at all about time when we are young. But that stock of time diminishes as you grow old, and because there is less of it, it becomes more valuable. This is one reason why people are willing to spend greatly on medical technologies at the end of their lives - and here I am talking only of willingness, not any need to spend more. Aging brings with it degeneration and disease, and the cost of remaining alive and able to enjoy life accelerates with the passing years: the old spend increasingly more than the young because they have to in order to stay in the game. Note that "have to in order to stay in the game" is not the same thing at all as "willing to."

To be old is to live in in the mirror image of youth: time and no money has turned into money and no time. The value of money to an old person is typically less than it is to a young person, and that is nothing more than a measure of how much of the stuff you have: old people are typically much wealthier. The converse is true of remaining time, of which the young have a great deal, whilst the old are time-poor; thus the exchange rate between the time and money is radically different at the opposite ends of life. A young person will give away an hour to gain a small number of dollars, while an old person will spend ten times that sum to gain another hour. A cynic might suggest there is some form of arbitrage to found in this truth of human nature. If you like thinking along these lines, you might look back at past ruminations on the nature of wealth in a past post.

Time is everything. How much have time you spent reading this far? Could you have been doing something more useful, more optimal from your perspective? We make these small evaluations constantly, because time is the most valuable thing we have.

There are always people in the academic world who'd rather spend time looking at factors other than the obvious ones when it comes to aging and economic activity, of course:

Low opportunity cost, weak influence of quality of life in the face of death, the social value of life extension to others, shifting psychological reference points, and hope have been proposed as factors to explain why people apparently perceive marginal life extension at the end of life to have disproportionately greater value than its length. Such value may help to explain why medical spending to extend life at the end of life is as high as it is, and the various factors behind this value might provide normative rationale for that spending.

Upon critical analysis, however, most of these factors turn out to be questionable or incompletely conceived; this includes hope, which is examined here in special detail. These factors help to explain complexity and nuance in the normative issues, but they do not provide adequate justification for spending as high as it often is. In any case, two additional factors must be added to the descriptive explanation of high spending, and they throw its normative justification into further doubt: the "insurance effect" and provider-created demand. Overall, the perception of especially high value of life at the end of life provides some normative justification for high spending, but seldom strong justification, and not for spending as high as it often is.

The trouble begins with a person deciding that an entire clade of people are making systematically incorrect assessments of value despite having access to complete and correct data. Value is subjective, not objective, and it shouldn't be at all surprising that at the end of life there are radical shifts in the value placed by a dying person upon money and time. Note that I don't say "perceived value" - that phrase is just a subtle way of suggesting that the author is correct and the members of the clade are systematically wrong, which is in turn a subtle way of suggesting that value can be objective.

If you have bad or incomplete data, the value you ascribe will probably prove to be unhelpful if you act upon it, but it is still your subjective value: there is no "wrong" or "right" here, just a record of the outcome of a series of actions. People have a way of saying that you valued something wrongly if, by your actions based on that value, you manage to do yourself harm, economic or otherwise. But that really isn't a helpful way to look at subjective value: it is what it is, at any given moment. Either way, I'd argue that when it comes to life, longevity, and medical technology, there's a lot of reliance on bad and incomplete data taking place these days, given the possibilities presented by longevity science and the level of public ignorance of those possibilities. A fraction of people alive today will have the opportunity to live for centuries or longer, but consideration of that possibility is almost entirely absent from their economic calculations.

I suppose I should also mention that this short discussion has nothing much to say in connection with the horrible state of medical economics in the US. Participation in the heavily regulated marketplace for medical technology and services is a pit of horrors for both old and young: everyone suffers from the effects of regulation, lack of accountability for costs incurred, and the general miasma of government-induced systems failure. So arguments based on differential willingness to spend on medicine by age stand apart from that mess.

The neat endpoint to this post, if you want one, is that it can't hurt to think on the value you place on the time remaining in your life expectancy, and to look at whether you are basing both expectation and value on factual data.

Hormesis is the name given to the processes by which a little damage at the cellular level can actually be beneficial, as it spurs repair and maintenance systems to greater efforts - the result is a net gain. Here researchers demonstrate one method of inducing hormesis in nematode worms: "As organisms age, cellular proteins, lipids and nucleic acids sustain damage that can lead to functional deficits in tissues and, ultimately, death. The free radical theory of aging proposes that aging results, at least in part, from damage to cellular components by reactive oxygen species (ROS) ... Indeed, oxidative modification is a major form of damage detected in aging tissues ... Here, we report that hormetic chemicals can be modified to optimize beneficial effects and minimize toxicity in C. elegans, a model for studying aging in whole organisms. C. elegans is well-suited to this problem due to the short lifespan, ease of genetic manipulation and transparent anatomy. First, we examined whether lifespan extension is common among biological toxins with various chemical structures and mechanisms of action. In a small screen of natural phytochemicals, we identified two ROS generating compounds, plumbagin and juglone, which extended lifespan at subtoxic doses. Mean lifespan extension by plumbagin was dependent on SKN-1, a cap'n'collar transcription factor that promotes antioxidant gene expression in response to oxidative stress. We further screened a collection of six plumbagin analogs, identifying three additional naphthoquinones that activated expression of a skn-1 target. One of these could extend lifespan over a larger range of doses than plumbagin, demonstrating the utility of stress hormesis mechanisms as promising prolongevity intervention."

Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0021922