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First human to live 1,000 years may already be alive says scientist fighting to end ageing – Express.co.uk

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Dr de Grey, a biomedical gerontologist, is chief science officer at the SENS Research Foundation which conducts counter-ageing research. He argued we could reach the point of longevity escape velocity, when scientific breakthroughs are able to keep pace with the ageing process, in as little as 20 years.

However the leading scientist called for a dramatic increase in funding for research aimed at stopping ageing, arguing it will revolutionise human society.

Speaking to Express.co.uk Dr de Grey stated massive advances in the fight against ageing have been made over the past two decades.

He said: Oh a huge amount of progress has been made - absolutely immense.

Over the past 15 years the whole concept that I first started putting forward about 20 years ago of comprehensively repairing the molecular and cellular damage that the body does to itself throughout life, that concept has become not only totally mainstream; weve seen enormous progress towards actually doing it in the laboratory and even now in the clinic.

There are many different types of damage that need to be repaired which means there are many different therapies that need to be developed, but some of them are already in clinical trials and most of them have got to the point where they will be in clinical trials in the next year or two.

The SENS Research Foundation, based in California, was founded in 2009 to conduct research aimed at halting ageing.

According to Dr de Grey it focuses on early stage research that is unlikely to attract commercial investment.

Asked whether the first human to live to 1,000 years is already alive Dr de Grey predicted they are.

He said: Probably already alive - its very important to be probabilistic about this.

We all know this is early stage research and therefore any timeframe predictions are extremely speculative.

The number of 1,000 years is actually an extremely conservative estimate.

Dr de Grey previously said longevity escape velocity is likely to be reached within 20 years.

Asked if still believes this he replied: I certainly think thats likely.

READ MORE:Donald Trump faces Presidential challenge from Transhumanist

In fact I think my estimate on how long it is before we have an at least 50-50 chance of reaching longevity escape velocity is now about 17 years so its coming down slowly as time goes on.

The definition of the term is the point at which we reach the rate of progress that means we are staying one step ahead of the problem and that the health problems of late life are being postponed faster than time is passing.

And yes I do believe we are definitely getting there.

However Dr de Grey was critical of politicians who he believes need to focus more on the societal effects of radically extended human life.

He commented: The Government always comes last into all of this because ultimately elected representatives main priority is to get reelected and therefore the essence of public policy always follows public opinion rather than leading it.

Theres always a lot of caution amongst the general public in believing progress is really being made against this problem that weve been trying to make progress against since the beginning of civilisation.

READ MORE:Body health deteriorates from 'head to toes' in forties, study reveals

Its beginning to become a conversation within the corridors of power, particularly in the US, but its really only just beginning.

Its crazy that politicians are keeping their heads in the sand like this.

Dr de Grey argued we should expect politicians and wider society to take radical life extension more seriously as technology improves over the next few years.

He asked: How will society change when it becomes the case that most people expect to live a very very long time?

Because that transition of expectation is likely to occur really rather soon.

Whats going to happen is pretty much overnight people are going to go from an expectation that they will live maybe slightly longer than their parents did to an expectation that they will live a very great deal longer.

A huge amount of restructuring of the economy is going to have to happen pretty much at once in order to avoid this transition being really rather turbulent and its about time policy makers started to realise that.

Dr de Grey claimed the main obstacle to research aimed at combatting ageing is the lack of funding.

He said: Even today when this field is becoming much more established it is still really difficult to get enough resources to move as fast as the science allows.

Im quite sure we could be going at least twice as fast if we had one extra digit on our tiny little budget.

Last year the all party parliamentary group on longevity was launched in the UK, though it is primarily focused on managing the ageing population rather than halting ageing itself.

Dr de Grey argued attitudes to ageing amongst the public will shift sharply once the progress towards its abolition he anticipates is made.

He commented: The fundamental problem is that humanity has been aware of ageing since the beginning of civilisation and has been aware that its absolutely horrifying.

Most people have only one way that theyre able to cope with that, namely to put it out of their minds and get on with their lives and make the best of it.

Nobody wants to hear the answers, they want to carry on thinking that ageing is a blessing in disguise so as to not get their hopes up.

Now at some point how close we actually are to achieving this will get to a sufficient stage that the fear of getting ones hopes up can finally be dismissed and people can actually get their hopes up and get emotionally invested in it.

But were not there yet.

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First human to live 1,000 years may already be alive says scientist fighting to end ageing - Express.co.uk

The importance of educating scientists – University Affairs

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Academic mentorship is a very important part of the education and training of scientists, but it comes with its own set of unique challenges.

The following is the third installment in a five-part series on the core issues facing academic science today that will comprise the foundation of our first book, targeted for publication later this year.

Scientists set a very high bar and facts are actually quite rare. Rather, we consider answers to be accepted if there is a lot of data generated by a lot of different scientists using a lot of different tools that arrive at the same answer; generally accepted, but likely to be refined when there is less data generated by fewer scientists using a limited set of tools to arrive at close but not identical answers; or still uncertain and very likely to change when there is very little data generated by one or a handful of scientists, using a single or very limited set of tools to arrive at a possible answer where there wasnt one before. Over time, scientists strive to reduce uncertainty and eventually arrive at generally accepted answers. It is actually very rare that scientists are so confident in the quality and reproducibility of a particular answer that they would brand it a fact.

As you can imagine, this process takes time and regularly requires generations of scientists to arrive at robust conclusions, making training and mentorship incredibly important to ensure the passage of information and techniques down through the generations. New scientists (students or trainees) train under more experienced scientists (professors or principal investigators) to learn how to perform scientific research. Historically, as the role of advisor or mentor at academic institutions became more commonplace within academic institutions, graduate programs were created to normalize and govern the practice of scientific training, and graduate degrees were created to award and recognize students who had achieved a sufficient level of research independence. This academic mentorship soon became the bedrock of education and training, but it is accompanied by a substantial power dynamic between two people that is vulnerable to disagreement, conflict, and abuse. Over the years, academic institutions have tried to establish rules and regulations to avoid the latter while retaining the benefits of mentorship, although what constitutes good and bad in these relationships has evolved considerably as well.

The goal of all of this wrangling about how we educate and train scientists is to facilitate a greater understanding of the natural world, because this enables societal progress. Discoveries like the wheel, paper, electricity, or antibiotics have created tremendous social value by enabling transportation, communication, energy, and healthcare. These advances have shaped society and improved our quality of life and longevity. Indeed, the very recent application of the scientific method to healthcare has significantly extended the average human lifespan from about 45 years through all of human history and up until the 1900s, to roughly 78 years today (and growing!). That is a three-decade increase in ~100 years, and we continue to gain about one year of life for every six years of basic research investment.

However, scientific discovery is not cheap. How we shoulder this cost will be the focus of our next post.

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The importance of educating scientists - University Affairs

Why should the Scottish woodlands be protected? – Inhabitat

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Although Scotland is more heavily forested than England or Wales, much of itswoodlandshave been lost to logging, urban sprawl and climate change. Initiatives to reversedeforestationhave been underway to contribute more trees, protect woodlands and ensure theecology, sustainability and longevity of Scotlands forest resources.

Why has reforestation become important in recent years? Last summer, aYouGovpoll found that the environment is now viewed as the third most critical public issue, given our planets burgeoningclimate crisis. Reforestation has thereby become an important tool in combatting Earths climate emergency.

Related: More than half of Europes native trees face extinction

Essentially, trees fight climate change and offer a solution. How?Planting treesencourages the absorption of carbon dioxide, one of the key greenhouse gasesresponsible forglobal warming. The more trees planted, the better they are at making a positive impact.

According to the British nonprofitWoodland Trust, the harnessing of treepower significantly counteractsclimate change: Each year an estimated 20 million tonnes of CO2 are absorbed and locked away by the UKs existing trees and woods.

And, in the face of a planetwide environmental emergency, the increase of forestcover in Scotland, and by extension the United Kingdom, can help towards achieving Britainscarbon zerotarget of 2050. Thus, implementing a sustainable cycle of replanting immediately after harvesting ensures the healthy renewal of both the supply of wood and the reduction of atmospheric carbon.

There is also a huge environmental significance to the increase in tree planting, Fergus Ewing, Rural Economy Secretary, explained further. In Scotland alone, around 9.5 million tonnes of CO2 each year are removed from the atmosphere by our forests this is a clear example of why an increase in tree planting is so important in the fight against climate change.

In 2019, theIndependentreported on Scotland planting 22 milliontrees. England, by contrast, is falling significantly short of its targets with just 1,420 hectares of woodland was planted, despite a target of 5,000 hectares being set. In other words, England missed its annual target by seven million trees. Therefore, as of last year, the UKs amount of woodland cover remains at 13%, with Northern Ireland at 8%, England at 10%, Wales at 15% and Scotland at 19%.

Indeed, Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor, a membership organisation for sustainable forestry and wood-using businesses, said: Scotland is leading the way in the UK, with 84% of all new planting happening in Scotland.

Meanwhile, The Woodland Trust encourages the turning of a new leaf for another reason. Besides helping to tackle our planets climate crisis, planting trees and increasing tree cover also resetsnature, improving ecosystemequilibrium for the protection of fragile habitats in Scotland and across the UK. Woodlands, at the heart of it all, support pollinators and endangered flora and fauna species. Restoring forests, then, would mean more protection for native wildlife, nurturing localbiodiversityand the overall stewardship of theenvironment.

Reforestationdelivers yet other environmental public goods beyond improving habitats. Flood risks are alleviated.Soilquality and quantity are maintained.Wildfiresare reduced, and the land can recover faster. Landscapes are also preserved, made more versatile and resilient. These benefits are far-reaching for land managers, not just of farms but also of landed estates.

Besides conserving the forest, itswildlife, soil and landscape, trees are imperative for the maintenance of localwaterresources.Scottish Forestry has documented that a healthy forest is also fundamental to goodwater quality. Understandably, a healthy forest ensures resilient catchment, especially for groundwater, indicating that a good forest will help restore underground water reservoirs. But trees can also hold water and maintain the water vapor in the air, thus encouraging precipitation so that the water cycle for an area remains robust.

Interestingly, creating newwoodlandalso helps protect existing ones that hold highconservationvalue, especially where ancient trees live and where wildlife struggles to thrive. As such, these ancient or established woodlands are irreplaceable ashabitats, becoming strongholds for vulnerable flora and fauna. One such paragon is Scotlands rainforest, more commonly known as the Atlantic woodland or Celtic rainforest, situated along the west coast and the inner isles, says theBBC.

Scotlands rainforest is just as lush and just as important as tropical rainforest, but is even rarer, Adam Harrison of Woodland Trust Scotland shared. This rainforest is a unique habitat of ancient native oak, birch, ash, pine and hazel woodlands and includes open glades and river gorges. Our rainforest relies on mild, wet and clean air coming in off the Atlantic, and is garlanded with a spectacular array of lichens, fungi, mosses, liverworts and ferns. Many are nationally and globally rare and some are found nowhere else in the world.

Gordon Gray Stephens, of theCommunity Woodlands Association, which was established as a representative body of Scotlands community woodlands groups, said, Our vision for regenerating Scotlands rainforest is clear. We need to make it larger, in better condition, and with improved connections between people and woods.

Unfortunately, development sprawl and human activity (logging, overgrazing, mismanagement, invasive species introductions) threaten Scottish woodlands, both ancient and new, unique and common. Vegetation is cleared, and nativeanimalsare evicted. In the UK, the term is called habitat fragmentation which the Woodland Trust describes as when parts of a habitat are destroyed, leaving behind smaller unconnected areas. This can occur naturally, as a result of fire or volcanic eruptions, but is normally due to human activity. Fragmentation adversely impacts wildlife because it createsenvironmentalloss of total habitat area, reduction in habitat quality and increasedextinctionrisk.

And so, while there have been proposals and legislation seeking to overcome status quo shortcomings, more work needs to be done to bridge the extensive environmental governance gap. Conservation efforts through woodland restoration, the planting of trees and advocacy for environmentally-friendlylegislation all help as starting points.

One Scottish charity invested in rewilding the Scottish Highlands,Trees for Life, advocates for more trees by informing the public of why trees are positively transformative, even beyond fighting climate change, preserving native trees and securing wildlife habitats forspeciessurvival. The additional benefits from woodlands include providing the natural environs for people to decompress for restorative wellness and absorbing pollutants (ammonia, nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulfur dioxide) to clean the air.

Only by offsetting the poor management, curtailed budgets and neglect of years past can Scottish woodland heritage be safeguarded to ensure a healthy, resilient andsustainablefuture.

Images via Pixabay

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Why should the Scottish woodlands be protected? - Inhabitat

Mediterranean diet scores another win for longevity by improving microbiome – wlfi.com

Posted on February 22, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Yet more bragging rights are in for the Mediterranean diet, long considered to be one of the healthiest in the world.

A new study published Monday in the BMJ journal Gut found that eating the Mediterranean diet for just one year altered the microbiome of elderly people in ways that improved brain function and would aid in longevity.

The study found the diet can inhibit production of inflammatory chemicals that can lead to loss of cognitive function, and prevent the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and atherosclerosis.

'Our findings support the feasibility of changing the habitual diet to modulate the gut microbiota which in turn has the potential to promote healthier aging,' the study authors said.

About 60 tons of food pass through the average human's digestive tract in a lifetime, science says, exposing our insides to billions of different bacteria in addition to those we were born with. Many of those miniscule creatures play important roles -- good and bad -- in how well we absorb nutrients; the functionality of our immune response; and our energy and metabolism levels.

Science has shown that as we age, the types and amount of microbes found in the gut are reduced. A poor diet is especially common among the elderly in long-term residential care and those who live alone. Health and dental issues can also make it difficult for the elderly to eat a well-balanced diet.

As the diversity of bacteria diminishes, 'inflamm-aging' occurs, contributing to age-related inflammatory processes that can lead to cancer, neurological disorders and other diseases.

The study analyzed the gut microbiome of 612 elderly people from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom before putting 323 of them on a special diet for a year.

While the diet was designed for the elderly, it was based on the Mediterranean principles of eating lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, olive oil and fish, and little red meat, sugar and saturated fats.

The rest of the 65- to 79-year-olds in the study were asked to continue to eat as they always did for the same 12 months.

After the year was over, those who had followed the Mediterranean diet saw beneficial changes to the microbiome in their digestive system. The loss of bacterial diversity was slowed, and the production of potentially harmful inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-17 were reduced.

At the same time, there was a growth of beneficial bacteria linked to improved memory and brain function, the study said. The diet also appeared to boost 'keystone' species, critical for a stable 'gut ecosystem' and which also slowed signs of frailty, such as walking speed and hand grip strength.

Nationality did not appear to matter. The findings were similar and consistent no matter where the people lived and no matter their age or weight, both of which influence the unique makeup of a person's microbiome.

The study is part of a larger randomized controlled trial of 1,200 people called the European Project on Nutrition in Elderly People or NU-AGE that began in 2012. Previous publications from the ongoing study found those who followed the diet closely had improved episodic memory and overall cognitive ability. Higher adherence to the diet also reduced the rate of bone loss in people with osteoporosis and improved blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

Discovering that the Mediterranean diet could affect the microbiome in a positive way isn't really surprising; the diet already has a stuffed shelf of scientific trophies. It's won gold medals in reducing the risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, dementia, memory loss, depression and breast cancer. Meals from the sunny Mediterranean region have also been linked to stronger bones, a healthier heart and longer life. Oh, and weight loss, too.

The diet features simple, plant-based cooking, with the majority of each meal focused on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and seeds, with a few nuts and a heavy emphasis on extra virgin olive oil. Say goodbye to refined sugar and flour except on rare occasions. Fats other than olive oil, such as butter, are consumed rarely, if at all.

Meat can make a rare appearance, usually only to flavor a dish. Instead, meals may include eggs, dairy and poultry, but in much smaller portions than in the traditional Western diet. Fish, however, are a staple.

'It's more than a diet, it's a lifestyle,' said Atlanta registered dietitian Rahaf Al Bochi in an earlier interview.

'It also encourages eating with friends and family, socializing over meals, mindfully eating your favorite foods, as well as mindful movement and exercise,' said Al Bochi.

The Mediterranean diet has won first place in the US News and World Report's 'best diet' rankings for three years in a row. Anyone wanting to start the diet can do so in a few easy steps, say experts, by just adding healthy choices to their daily diet.

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Mediterranean diet scores another win for longevity by improving microbiome - wlfi.com

African Killfish Can Put Aging on Pause. Do They Hold the Secrets of Longevity? – Discover Magazine

Posted on February 22, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

The African turquoise killifish might not live long but, during development, it will stop growing and wait for better, wetter living conditions if it needs to.

If the pond the fish lives in dries up too much, killifish embryos can stop maturing for over six months. That pause can be even longer than their usual, uninterrupted lifespan. It appears that the fish emerge from these months relatively unscathed. Those embryos that put off growing live as long, and have as many offspring, as embryos that never pause, according to new research out in the journal Science.

What is remarkable is the embryos ability to stop damage that would happen over time, says study co-author Anne Brunet, a geneticist at Stanford University. The tiny tissues emerge in good condition and seem to have put off aging. By studying how the killifish genome changes for this months-long pause, researchers could one day prompt those alterations to preserve human organs as well.

Its not totally clear how killifish know it is time to stop growing. Not all enter this hibernation-like freeze, Brunet says, and those that do likely receive a signal from their mothers instructing them to do so. Her team was interested in finding out what all happens inside the embryos that end up waiting out those long months. As killifish bred in Brunets lab, she and her team examined genetic material from embryos before, during and after their stalled growth. Some genes werent as active as they are normally. This makes sense, Brunet says after all, the embryo isnt growing. But a few genes were operating at higher-than-usual levels. Some of these highly active genes were responsible for wrapping up large chunks of the genome and effectively turning them off, an efficient process that shutters several genes at once instead of a bunch of individual pauses, Brunet says.

Other genes active during this developmental hiatus have a role in muscle development. Brunet and her team didnt see how crucial they are for keeping the embryos healthy until they bred some of the fish with dysfunctional versions of these genes. When it came time for the growth pause, the brand-new muscle tissue in the genetically modified fish disintegrated. The team concluded that the reason these genes are normally so active in stalled embryos is because they keep those muscle cells from falling apart. Its not easy to maintain muscle its an active process of amendment, even if the cells dont proliferate. Without it, the muscle is no longer preserved, Brunet says. Thats really remarkable in hibernation.

Brunet and her team plan to investigate how these genetic changes can lead to healthy muscle cells. In other words, what is happening with the fish's hormones or metabolism that lets the embryonic muscle cells keep developing even in stasis? Further down the line, the scientists say it might be worth investigating whether the dormant stem cells in our own bodies share any of the same pause mechanisms as killifish.

That is very preliminary, but that is something that would be interesting, Brunet says. If the machinery is conserved, could that also function to preserve cells in tissues in the longterm? It will take much longer than a killifishs frozen development to find out.

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African Killfish Can Put Aging on Pause. Do They Hold the Secrets of Longevity? - Discover Magazine

Working Monogamy – The Good Men Project

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Is true, lasting monogamy a fading institution?

Ive worked with individuals, happily married couples, people on the dating scene, marriages on the rocks, new relationships, poly-amores, and everything in between.

I wouldnt say monogamous relationships are harder or easier to do really well than committed, consensually open relationships.

When Im working with a couple we aim to make their relationship fantastic. With this as the focus they stop thinking of monogamy as an issue either way. Seriously, people who are in a fantastic relationship arent coming to me to discuss their struggles with monogamy. (Or non-monogamy.) Its a non-issue.

That said, here is what we know about monogamy that works:

Working monogamy is monogamy in practice. Its not conceptual. Its not a personality type (as much as one might insist that it is). Monogamy is a relationship state. It means being monogamous to a real live human being, with all of their quirks and gifts and uniqueness.

What this means is, if youre currently in search of your ideal soul-mate, your perfect match on this EarthIf you left a partner who cheated on youIn short, if you are not in a relationshipThen I hate to break it to you: you are not monogamous.

You cant be monogamous without the who that you are monogamous to. What you are instead is what we might call monogamous to monogamy. You are monogamous to an idea. Its simply not the same as being monogamous to someone.

Why? Because it takes a lot to connect with another human being. All the more so, to connect in a way that eclipses all others.

If youre not actually in such a relationship if youre not doing what it takes to connect with someone at that level, grappling with the beautifully messy realities and complexities of human relating Im sorry but you have no claim to monogamy. There are plenty of people out there who are using their laundry list of ideals, monogamy among them, to avoid relationships rather than to get into one.

So get all up in there with someone. Then maybe we can have a meaningful conversation about monogamy.

Working monogamy is organic monogamy. Monogamy that arises spontaneously because the relationship really is that good. Where the thought of being with someone else draws a rather blank stare and a Why?

Organic monogamy is descriptive rather than prescriptive. It requires no effort and draws little attention. It isnt so much chosen or negotiated as discovered.

Monogamy is a convenient label for what youre naturally doing, left to your own devices. Just as the Moon travelling freely through space orbits the Earth. Theres no resisting temptation because there isnt anyone funner, sexier, more attractive, more alluring, or better in bed than the one youre with. There isnt any wandering because there isnt anywhere to go. Any step away is a step down from what youve already got.

I dont advocate monogamy as a principle, that its somehow intrinsically right or good or superior. I believe deeply in monogamy as a way that I have seen can work incredibly well, and I help couples have such a rich, fulfilling relationship that, if theyre choosing monogamy, its because its the natural best option for both of them.

Working monogamy is being monogamous to someone (as opposed to demanding monogamy from someone). It doesnt work that way. Monogamy has everything to do with your behavior and nothing to do with your partners.

Sure, you can extort / demand / insist on your partners monogamy. Perhaps indefinitely. But it will never get you a good relationship if you dont already have one.

I frequent a Facebook group for singles who are all followers of a certain very popular motivational speaker. Recently a woman posted that she met a great guy. She described his many wonderful qualities and how well-suited they were. But he refuses to be monogamous, and she was asking the group for thoughts on what to do. I read through the many responses, most of them some variation of telling her to dump the scoundrel and run as fast as she could, since hell never change. Until we got into a discussion of what she really wanted, what monogamy represented to her:

Exclusivity isnt the same as longevity. Exclusivity isnt the same as depth, or intimacy, or commitment. If your desire is to have a committed, long-lasting, passionate, deep, intimate relationship with someone, the only way is to build that kind of relationship with someone.

As for monogamy itself, the only kind of monogamy we really care about is the organic kind, where the relationship is so fantastic that nothing out there compares to what youve got at home. But that too has to be built. If you demand it, you end up with monogamy without longevity, without passion or intimacy or depth.

So having a monogamous relationship does not consist of finding a monogamous partner. Crappy relationships are the birthplace of all the affairs of the supposedly monogamy-minded. Newlyweds are generally not planning their future affairs.

By the same token, building a fantastic relationship can render open relationship status functionally irrelevant.

But in all my years of coaching/teaching and living, for that matter Ive never seen monogamy, in and of itself, make a crappy relationship fantastic.

Focusing on monogamy as an issue wont improve a relationship, but focusing on improving the relationship can neutralize monogamy as an issue.

Previously Published on Medium

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Seahawks really need to let these five free agents walk – 12th Man Rising

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

The Seahawks have about ten thousand free agents this offseason. Okay, so the number is actually 32. Ten thousand was only a slight exaggeration, especially when you consider that 22 of those are unrestricted free agents. Thanks to spotrac.com, you can see the list of all 32 right here. The 22 that are free to sign with any team are listed here. Of those 22, the Hawks are definitely going to make some a top priority. Jadeveon Clowney is obviously a player that Seattle will want back, and we have a great look at what it might take to keep him. Right now, Im going to take a look at the five players the Seahawks should be happy to see walk out the door.

I cant keep you in suspense with this choice because everyone expects it. My first choice for a fond farewell package has to be Germain Ifedi. I know, I know, Ive written enough critical pieces on Ifedi, it must seem like he owes me $10 from high school. By all accounts, he is an excellent human being. What he is not is an excellent NFL tackle. Im happy to say that hes turned into a not-terrible player. Pro Football Focus ranked him 64th out of 81 rated players at tackle last year. That was the best performance of his career. That isnt exactly great.

The reason I say the Seahawks absolutely have to let him walk is less about his ability than his price tag. Weve discussed this in-depth previously, but Ifedi is expected to command a salary of at least $12 million per year. Crazy, I know. Thats what happens when there are very few free agents at your position who were at least capable of holding down a starting gig. If by some miracle the market isnt there, and the Hawks could bring him back for something around $7 milafter all, he has improved every year. Not that hell ever sign for that little.

My next big target and I mean big in every sense of the word is Jarran Reed. Hes expected to be offered at least $10 million per year according to Sam Gold of The Athletic:

Reed took offense, as he made clear in his reply, stating Yikes thats disrespectfully low. Gold replied in kind.Reeds response tells me volumes about the guy:

Gotta love how extremely respectful Reed was in his reply to Gold. Which still doesnt mean hes worth more than $10 million. Yes, he created terrific interior pressure on the quarterback in 2018. Projecting his 202 season, before the suspension, I cautioned 12s it was a mistake to expect another double-digit sack total. As I mentioned then, prior to his breakout season he had three sacks in 21 starts. 2019 is the year that really matters. In 10 games, Reed managed just two sacks, eight quarterback hits, and zero tackles for a loss. Prorated to a full season, thats three sacks, 13 QB hits, and still not one tackle for a loss. A reminder: not even Cortez Kennedy ever had more than one double-digit sack season. Id love to have Reed back, but if hes thinking over $12 million per year, theres just no way hes worth that.

Just an aside, but I am not going to suggest the Seahawks part ways with C.J. Prosise. Ive made that call every season since birth, it seems, and he keeps coming back. Last year, he was finally able to make some solid contributions. With the terrible luck hes had with injuries, 33 touches is solid. Theres not much reason to resign him, except that the Hawks love the guy, and he does give his best every time out. So I fully expect to see him re-signed.

Back to the guys who will find new homes. This will be a quick run through. I cant imagine defensive end Ezekiel Ansah will be back at any price. Hes just 30, but has the body of a 90-year old. A 90-year-old with a long history of injuries, that is. I dont wish to offend any longevity-blessed readers. Ziggy just cant get healthy, or stay healthy. I really wish he could.

I think its time for the Hawks to part with Jaron Brown as well. His catch rate (57 percent) was the worst of anyone on the team not named Moore. He lacks the explosion of Moore, and his role as a red-zone target has definitely been superseded by DK Metcalf and the tight end roster. Malik Turner did a fine job as well, so Brown look to be the odd man out.

My last call is all in the players hands. George Fant has made it known that he wants to start at left tackle. That would be a problem, as the Seahawks already have a pretty good player there in Duane Brown. I would love to see big George installed at right tackle in place of Ifedi. I believe the Hawks would like that as well. But if the mans dream is to play on the blind side, hell have to move on. I so badly want to see him stay, catch a pass and not stumble until hes trucked the entire back seven of a defense. Hopefully the Niners.

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Seahawks really need to let these five free agents walk - 12th Man Rising

United States’ Genomic Biomarker Industry, 2020: Market Overview & Insights, Lucrative Segments, Competitive Landscape, Key Player Profiles, and…

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

DUBLIN, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "US Genomic Biomarker Market 2019-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The US genomic biomarker market is estimated to grow significantly at a CAGR of around 15.6% during the forecast period.

Factors that are contributing significantly to the market growth include the presence of well-developed healthcare infrastructure, increasing healthcare R&D investments, high healthcare expenditure and others. Moreover, the market growth is attributed to the rising prevalence of cancer, CVDs, and chronic diseases. The rising number of cancer patients is considered to be one of the major factors that are driving the growth of the market in the US.

The US genomic biomarker market is segmented on the basis of application and end-user. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into oncology, cardiology, neurology, and others. There is a huge scope for the market in the oncology segment due to the increasing prevalence of cancer. A genomic biomarker can detect various types of diseases. However, most of the research institutes are majorly focused on oncology diagnosis and therapeutics. The genomic biomarker is widely used for the diagnosis of various types of cancer across the globe. On the basis of end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals and diagnostic.

The major players in the North American genomic biomarker market include Agilent Technologies, Inc., Qiagen N.V., Illumina, Inc., Myriad Genetics, Inc., Thermo Fischer Scientific, Inc., Genomic Health Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., and Hologic, Inc. These players have been focusing on new product developments as well as upgrading their product portfolios to stay competitive in the market.

Product launch, geographic expansion, and mergers and acquisitions are some of the key strategies adopted by the market players in the past few years. For instance, In July 2017, Agilent Technologies, Inc. introduced Agilent Sure select which is advanced high sensitivity Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) target enrichment solution for research, sequence DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples.

This report covers:

Key Topics Covered

1. Report Summary1.1. Research Methods and Tools1.2. Market Breakdown1.2.1. By Segments

2. Market Overview and Insights2.1. Scope of the Report2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends2.2.1. Key Findings2.2.2. Recommendations2.2.3. Conclusion2.3. Rules & Regulations

3. Competitive Landscape3.1. Company Share Analysis 3.2. Key Strategy Analysis3.3. Key Company Analysis3.3.1. Overview3.3.2. Financial Analysis3.3.3. SWOT Analysis3.3.4. Recent Developments

4. Market Determinants 4.1. Motivators4.2. Restraints4.3. Opportunities

5. Market Segmentation5.1. US Genomic Biomarker Market by Application5.1.1. Oncology5.1.2. Cardiology5.1.3. Neurology5.1.4. Others5.2. US Genomic Biomarker Market by End-User5.2.1. Hospitals5.2.2. Diagnostic & Research Laboratories

6. Company Profiles6.1. Abbott Laboratories Inc.6.2. Agilent Technologies, Inc.6.3. Banyan Biomarkers, Inc.6.4. Beckman Coulter Inc.6.5. Becton, Dickson and Co.6.6. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.6.7. Celgene Corp.6.8. Cofactor Genomics, Inc.6.9. Empire Genomics, LLC6.10. Enzo Life Sciences, Inc.6.11. Foundation Medicine, Inc.6.12. Genomic Health, Inc.6.13. Hologic, Inc.6.14. Human Longevity, Inc.6.15. Illumina, Inc.6.16. Insight Genetics, Inc.6.17. Inova Diagnostics, Inc.6.18. Luminex Corp.6.19. Myriad Genetics, Inc.6.20. NanoString Technologies, Inc.6.21. NeoGenomics, Inc.6.22. OriGene Technologies, Inc.6.23. Pacific Biomarker Inc.6.24. Pfizer, Inc.6.25. Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.6.26. Quest Diagnostics Inc.6.27. Response Biomedical Corp.6.28. Signosis Inc.6.29. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.6.30. Verge Genomics Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mldl67

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United States' Genomic Biomarker Industry, 2020: Market Overview & Insights, Lucrative Segments, Competitive Landscape, Key Player Profiles, and...

Rising stress levels will drop the average body temperature – The Daily Titan

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Between December and February, the flu is at an all-time high. There are some who are coughing, sneezing or going through terrible headaches as they get through their everyday lives.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people are most likely to experience the flu for three to four days. In that time span, there is a correlation between handling illness and the way body temperature reflects on this notion.

The average human body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, recent studies have analyzed the average human body temperature has dropped to 97.5 to 97.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Scientists question whether the change in body temperature is the result of the change in physical longevity and body type of the normal human body.

Although the research is still developing, a change in body temperature clearly reflects a persons health given their current environment and could possibly show the immune systems ability to adapt.

According to the International Journal of Biometeorology, the change in core body temperature correlates to heart rate and skin temperature affected through different environmental and working conditions.

A study by Stanford Medicine stated that the decline in body temperature goes back to after the events of the Civil War. During that time, those who were born in the early 1800s had a much higher body temperature by 1.06 degrees Fahrenheit than the average human born during the 1990s.

In the case of the academic environments, such as college, there is a heavy correlation to students ways of coping to get over the flu with their studies and their overall body temperature.

The concept of health and academics clash. With the way students study for finals, projects and other forms of assignments that need to be finished at a discrete deadline, a healthy lifestyle is usually not followed.

The stresses of everything in life tend to weaken your immune system. (Students are) getting less sleep dealing with everything else that theyre going to end up weakening their immune system where they get sick and are just exacerbating the problem, said Richard Coulter, history major.

The idea of putting too much stress on studying not only damages a students psychological health, but also their physical health.

Todays academic culture thrives with succeeding in classes at the cost of students physical well-being. Whether were arrogant in not taking the right medication or not sleeping enough, the idea of self-care seems non-existent within the academia.

Coulter also said students shouldnt take their academics too harshly in the face of coming down with the flu while studying.

Dont overwork yourself because those stresses (with your academics) are whats going to make that time of year so much more miserable, Coulter said.

There are ways the cold or flu can be remedied for a persons health so they dont have to further get sick or catch another flu virus; especially when there are people who are always busy throughout the day.

Though methods of feeling better may vary, there are some who say medicine, such as Tylenol, gets the job done.

Marketing major Maxwell Baranoff said, Go to the store, get some Tylenol, get over it, when asked about his method of getting over the flu.

Yet there are those who say hot drinks and various forms of health devices help battle the flu.

Ive been drinking so much tea, I got a humidifier for my throat, said Shantay Alvarez, psychology major.

Considering the correlation with body temperature and health, its important for anyone, especially college students, to consider their body temperature next time they come down with the flu.

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Rising stress levels will drop the average body temperature - The Daily Titan

Are stem cells really the key to making humans live longer? – Wired.co.uk

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

To some longevity acolytes, stem cells promise the secret to eternal youth. For a hefty fee, you can pay a startup to extract your own stem cells and cryogenically freeze them, in the hope that they can one day be used in a treatment to help extend your life.

Other firms let you bank stem cells from your babys umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth, if youre convinced the high cost represents an insurance policy against future illness. Or you can follow the example of Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett and opt for an anti-ageing cream made with stem cells derived from the severed foreskins of newborn babies in South Korea.

Stem cells are the parent cells which give rise to other cells in our bodies. Since scientists first isolated human embryonic stem cells in a lab and grew them over 20 years ago, they have been mooted as a source of great hope for regenerative medical treatments, including for age-related degenerative conditions such as Parkinsons, Alzheimers, heart disease and stroke.

But apart from a few small-scale examples, the only stem cell-based medical treatment practised in clinics uses haematopoietic stem cells found in the blood and bone marrow which only produce blood cells for transplants in blood cancer patients. These cells are taken from a patients sibling or an unrelated donor, before being infused into a patients blood, or theyre taken from a patients own blood before being reinfused. The procedure has been used to treat blood malignancies for almost half a century, and recently multiple sclerosis too. So how likely is it that the predictions about stem cells' longevity-enhancing powers will become a reality?

In September 2019, Google banned ads for unproven or experimental medical techniques such as most stem cell therapy, citing a rise in bad actors attempting to take advantage of individuals by offering untested, deceptive treatments [that can often] lead to dangerous health outcomes. The decision was welcomed by the International Society for Stem Cell Research, which emphasised that most stem cell interventions remain experimental. Selling treatments before well-regulated clinical trials have been done, the body said, [threatens public] confidence in biomedical research and undermines the development of legitimate new therapies.

Its easy to see how less scrupulous companies can exploit the allure of stem cells, which seem to occupy a place in our collective consciousness as a kind of magical elixir. High hopes for stem cell-based therapies have grown since 2006, when the Japanese biologist Shinya Yamanaka created a new technology to reprogram adult cells, such as skin cells, into a similar state to embryonic stem cells, which are pluripotent, meaning they can develop into any tissue in the body. The Nobel prize-winning breakthrough was hailed as a major step in the study of stem cells without the need for controversial embryo research, and towards the use of these human induced pluripotent stem cells to regenerate damaged or diseased organs or effectively grow new spare parts which could treat the life-limiting and life-shortening illnesses associated with ageing.

Gerontologist Aubrey de Grey, whose Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS) research foundation aims to eliminate ageing-related diseases, thinks the chances well soon have stem cell based therapies are high. For anything that's in clinical trials, you're talking about maybe five years before it's available to the general public, he says, citing stem cell treatments for Parkinsons disease, currently being tested in phase two clinical trials, as one of the developments he thinks is likely to come soonest.

However, given that these trials involve a relatively small number of participants and most clinical trials ultimately fail, his predictions might be overly optimistic. Often described as a maverick, De Grey believes that humans can live forever and there is a 50 per cent chance medical advances of which stem cell therapies will play an important part will make this a reality within the next 17 years. Though living forever, he says, is not the ultimate goal but a rather large side effect of medicine which will successfully prevent or repair the damage that comes with ageing.

For New Jersey-based Robert Hariri, who co-founded Human Longevity Inc, which set its sights more modestly on making 100 the new 60, stem cells derived from placentas present especially exciting opportunities. A biomedical scientist, surgeon and entrepreneur, Hariri says his current venture Celularity which is focused on engineering placental cells, including stem cells, to create drugs for cancer and other conditions is not as concerned about the actual age number, but about preserving human performance as we age and treating the degenerative diseases that rob us of our quality of life.

Many of those working in the field, however, remain cautious in their optimism. Researchers have highlighted the potential risks of giving pluripotent cells to patients, whether they are induced or embryonic, as these cells can develop cancer-causing mutations as they grow.

Davide Danovi, a scientist at Kings College Londons Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, says the path to stem cell-based therapy is very long and full of hurdles. The supply chain involves challenges, he says. On the one hand, allogeneic treatments those with stem cells derived from one individual and expanded into big batches to create cells to treat many individuals have the advantage of being similar to the traditional pharmaceutical business models. The product is clear, its something that comes in a vial and can be scaled up and mass produced, Danovi says. But this treatment can present a greater risk of rejection from the patient, as opposed to the more bespoke autologous option which is more expensive and time-consuming as it involves extracting a patients own stem cells before reprogramming them.

Danovi is most excited by the potential of stem cells to treat age-related macular degeneration. In 2017 Japanese scientist Masayo Takahash led a team that administered transplants of artificially grown retinal cells created from induced pluripotent stem cells taken from donors to five patients with the eye condition, which can cause blindness, and theyre reported to be doing well. The eye, he says seems to be a place where immunity plays less of a role relative to other issues, so you can host cells which come from another individual with fewer problems [of rejection]. But, with other organs such as the liver, he says there are major conceptual problems with creating enough tissue. Its like the clean meat burger - you're talking about a production that is, in many cases, not easy to reach with the current technology.

Hariri believes placentas will solve some of the production challenges crucially, theyre an abundant commodity, with the vast majority thrown out after childbirth. His interest was sparked 20 years ago when his oldest daughter was in the womb: When I saw her first ultrasound in the first trimester, the placenta had already developed into a relatively sizable organ, even though she was just a peanut-sized embryo. Id been taught that the placenta was nothing more than an interface, but [if that was the case], you would expect that it would grow at the same rate as the embryo. His curiosity piqued, he began to see the placenta not as an interface but as a biological factory, where stem cells could be expanded and differentiated to participate in the development of that foetus. That intrigued me and I started to collect placentas and just, you know, basically disassemble them.

Placentas have numerous benefits, he says they dont carry the same ethical controversy as embryonic stem cells, for one thing. Scientists working on embryonic stem cells have to destroy an early embryo, and that option yields them a dozen cells, which have to be culture-expanded in the laboratory into billions of cells. In contrast, the placenta houses, billions and hundreds of billions of cells, which can be expanded as well, but you're starting out with a dramatically larger starting material.

Increasingly, scientists in the anti-ageing sphere are focusing on an approach that seems like the opposite of planting fresh stem cells into our bodies. Experts such as Ilaria Bellantuono at Sheffield Universitys Healthy Lifespan Institute are working towards creating senolytics medication that could kill off our senescent cells, the zombie cells that accumulate in tissues as we age and cause chronic inflammation. I think stem cells are very good for specific disease, where the environment is still young, Bellantuono says, but the data in animal models tells us that senolytics are actually able to delay the onset and reduce the severity of multiple diseases at the same time for example, there is evidence for osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes. She explains that while human trials are still in their early stages, senolytics are likely to be more cost-effective than stem cell therapy and the status quo of older patients taking multiple pills for multiple diseases, which can interact with each other. Besides, she adds, they may actually work in tandem with stem-cell based therapies in the future, with senolytics creating a more hospitable environment in tissues to allow stem cells to do their work.

And as for the so-called penis facial? Its far from the only ultra-expensive stem cell skincare making bold anti-ageing claims but youre probably better off saving your money, as you are with the experimental medical treatments on offer. Stem cells are definitely exciting but theyre not the key to eternal youth. At least, not yet.

Robert Harari will be one of the speakers at WIRED Health in London on March 25, 2020. For more details, and to book your ticket, click here

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Are stem cells really the key to making humans live longer? - Wired.co.uk

Singapore Hosts International Commission on Healthy Longevity – BSA bureau

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

The commission will put forward actionable recommendations to spur innovation in healthy longevity and guide policymakers, the private sector and stakeholders globally

The human race is at the cusp of a demographic transition, experiencing rapidly ageing populations coupled with declining birth rates all around the world. To successfully mitigate this and build a critical support framework, the United States of Americas National Academy of Medicine (NAM) is spearheading an international, independent and multidisciplinary initiative to develop a Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity that will identify through evidence-based recommendations the necessary priorities and directions for improving health, productivity and quality of life worldwide.

Singapore is privileged to be chosen as the site for the two-day Health Care Systems & Public Health: A Workshop for the Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity Initiative, organised by NAM from 3 to 4 February 2020, in partnership with the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT), the National University Health System (NUHS), the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF).

More than 200 delegates comprising an International Commission appointed by NAM, leading global thought leaders, as well as decision-makers from academia, healthcare organisations, industry players, government, media and civic societies that have active roles in shaping approaches towards global ageing and healthy longevity will convene in Singapore for the workshop.

From the workshop discussions, the International Commission will put forward actionable recommendations to spur innovation, and guide other policymakers, governmental and nongovernmental organisations, the private sector, and stakeholders globally. Proceedings of the presentations and discussions at the workshop are expected to be published in late 2020.

International Commission on Healthy Longevity

As part of the Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity, NAM has convened an International Commission to assess the challenges presented by global ageing, and demonstrate how these challenges can be translated into opportunities for global societies to prolong healthy living and quality of life. The Commission will assess the evidence across three domains:

Singapores workshop on Health Care Systems and Public Health will discuss the challenges and opportunities, as well as potential solutions that would enhance the design of health and long-term care systems, including clinical services, health promotion, disease prevention services, and social care to foster the capacity and ability of ageing societies around the world.

In collaboration with NAM, Singapore is also one of the global collaborators of the Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards launched here in January 2020. This is a global initiative aimed at catalysing transformative ideas and innovation to improve and advance healthy ageing and longevity around the world. Supported by NRF and the Ministry of Health (MOH), Singapore will be sponsoring 45 Catalyst Awards across three years from 2020 to 2022. The Catalyst Awards aim to reach out to local innovators and researchers from all disciplines, as well as private enterprises, thereby catalysing research and innovation in the broader ecosystem. The collaboration also provides greater exposure to the international ageing research landscape, allowing Singapore to plug into global networks in ageing research and translation.

Excerpt from:
Singapore Hosts International Commission on Healthy Longevity - BSA bureau

Health benefits of intermittent fasting – Sampson Independent

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

I know there have been a lot of studies recently on this topic, but I believe in evidence-based information. I have been doing a lot of studying reading and asking questions so that I will be educated on the topic. First of all, we know that everything doesnt work for everybody. Each one of us deals with different body functions different diseases, there is not one inclusive or exclusive plan that will work for everyone.

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting. There are many different types of intermittent fasting, such as the 16/8 or 5:2 methods. Numerous studies show that it can have powerful benefits for your body and brain. Did you know that intermittent fasting changes the function of cells, genes and hormones? When you dont eat for a while, several things happen in your body. For example, your body initiates important cellular repair processes and changes hormone levels to make stored body fat more accessible. Here are some of the changes that occur in your body during fasting:

Insulin levels: Blood levels of insulin drop significantly, which facilities fat burning

Human growth hormone: The blood levels of growth hormone may increase as much as 5-fold higher levels of this hormone facilitate fat burning and muscle gain, and have numerous other benefits.

Cellular repair: The body induces important cellular repair processes, such as removing waste material from cells.

Intermittent fasting can reduce insulin Resistance, Lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Gene expression: There are beneficial changes in several genes and molecules related to longevity and protection against diseases. Many of the benefits of intermittent fasting are related to these changes in hormones, gene expression and function of cells.

The bottom line is when you fast, insulin levels drop and human growth hormone increases. Your cells also initiate important cellular repair processes and change which genes they express.

Many people who try intermittent fasting are doing it to lose weight, Generally speaking, intermittent fasting will make you eat fewer meals unless you compensate by eating much more during the other meals, you will end up taking in fewer calories. Additional intermittent fasting enhances hormone function to facilitate weight loss. In other words, intermittent fasting works on both sides of the calorie equation. It boosts your metabolic rate (increase calories out) and reduces the amount of food you eat (reduces calories in).

One thing that I learned from all this is that most of the studies were done on rats, not humans. Even though the benefits have not been proven in humans yet we do know that reducing our calorie intake and increasing our exercise is beneficial to having good health. Before starting any weight loss program we should always check with our doctor for advice. All of this sounds good but is it the perfect answer.

Researched information came from Health line.com.

Lethia Lee is a former Cooperative Extension agent.

Originally posted here:
Health benefits of intermittent fasting - Sampson Independent

Live Longer And Healthier By Regularly Doing This Simple Activity – International Business Times

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

KEY POINTS

For many years, the human race has been on a quest for ways to improve longevity. Through scientific studies, researchers were able to point out unhealthy practices that you should get rid of to enjoy a longer life. Some of these include quitting smoking as the habit increases your risk of developing several serious ailments like cancer. Although avoiding known unhealthy lifestyle practices play a vital role in achieving longevity, there is a connection between enjoying simple past-times and longevity.

Own a Dog

A new study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes reveals that owning a dog has been associated with living a longer life. It also showed that those who own dogs also have better cardiovascular activities. Those who live alone and have had bouts with a heart attack and stroke are advised to indulge in such activity. dog ownership longevity lifestpan Photo: MabelAmber - Pixabay

The outcome in the published study was based on two other studies, which showed that dog ownership was associated with a reduction in the factors that play a role in cardiac arrest and other heart-related events.

As a result, since cardiac arrest and cardiovascular events are reduced, the mortality rate associated with these diseases is likewise reduced. Although these studies do not necessarily prove that dog ownership is linked to lower mortality rates, the results clearly suggest this.

Other Benefits Of Dog Ownership

According to previous studies, by owning a dog, social isolation is alleviated. It also helps improve physical activity and also helps in lowering blood pressure. They also found that this is very much evident among dog owners as compared to those who dont own one.

The study looked into the data that was provided by the Swedish National Patient Register. Swedish residents aged between 40 to 85 years old became part of the study. They were the ones who experienced a stroke or a heart attack.

Out of these residents, it was found that those who owned a dog were said to have a lower risk of death thereafter. The possible reasons pointed out include decreased loneliness and depression. They also had better socialization because of their dogs. Furthermore, it was found that by owning a dog, they are better motivated to keep themselves active and physically fit.

India’s first anti-aging international conference talks of benefits of preventive health. – Daily Pioneer

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

In order to create awareness about healthy life style, Indias first anti-aging International conference was organized in the National Capital which was attended by more than 300 doctors and featured the most cutting edge and futurists innovations in healthcare.

Preeti Malhotra, president of organising committee said that medicine has taken an exponential leap this century. Preventive health has had a profound effect on human longevity, awareness and mental wellbeing of the people.

I wish more people discover the benefits of preventive health, and can lead happy and healthy lives. This technique has gained attention for its incredible effects on both weight loss and on diseases. Since weight loss is a long journey for some, it is seen quite often that people who opt for healthy lifestyle be it by changing their diet or incorporating exercises in their day to day life, people tend to continue the healthy practice and hence we have seen people continuing the practice. said Dr M (BK Modi) founder and Chairman of Smart Group.

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India's first anti-aging international conference talks of benefits of preventive health. - Daily Pioneer

Over 300 doctors gather in Delhi to emphasize importance of intermittent fasting – Outlook India

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Over 300 doctors from across the globe congregated in the national capital and emphasised the importance of intermittent fasting as a preventive healthcare to lead a healthy life.

They said practices such as intermittent fasting are known to regulate the lipids in the body thereby maintaining the glycemic index. Apart from being a weight loss remedy, it also helps in developing a more active lifestyle.

Highlighting the ways for healthy living, renowned doctors, healthcare practitioners from India, USA, Canada, China, Vietnam, Australia and South Africa took part in the anti-aging conference.

The highlights of the lecture sessions included discussions on advanced cutting edge technology and futuristic innovations in the healthcare for a better and healthy living.

While medication has taken an exponential leap this century, many people are still unaware that preventive health has had a profound effect on human longevity, awareness, mental wellbeing, BK Modi founder-chairman, Smart Group, said via a video conference.

"I wish more people discover the benefits of preventive health. Though people are becoming very health conscious and hence intermittent fasting is one of the ways that has attracted 30-40% of the people for the same. Seeking the benefits, more number of people are opting, as it not only triggers weight loss but also helps the body to combat various chronic ailments," Modi said.

People are always looking for something new way of losing weight, and intermittent fasting is a very old method used by people for weight loss and body cleansing, another doctor said.

Unless any patient has a history of some chronic disease, diabetes, hypertention etc, people in any age bracket irrespective of gender are recommended.

"It is glad to see that doctors in India are taking a keen interest in preventive health. With the introduction of featured new age topics including intermittent fasting, regenerative medicine, autoimmunity, biochemical detox, and sub-fertile male amongst others, these techniques have gained attention for it''s incredible effects on both weight loss and curbing down chronic diseases," said Micheal Brown, director, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

The conference was organised by Smart Group, a diversified business conglomerate with interests in mobility, finance, healthcare and technology sectors, in collaboration with American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, a not-for-profit medical society dedicated to the detection, prevention and treatment of diseases associated with aging. PTI PLB ABHABH

Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: PTI

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Over 300 doctors gather in Delhi to emphasize importance of intermittent fasting - Outlook India

Natures reminding us who is boss – Daily Nation

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

By PATRICK MBATARUMore by this Author

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the noxious gases that hang over cities in Asia and Europe have miraculously disappeared. Dolphins are back in the beaches. Rare birds are soaring over mountain resorts.

It has taken barely two weeks for nature to reclaim its space but its unlikely that the havoc the pandemic has visited on human systems will be undone in a year.

But these events belie the impact that human industrial pursuits and accompanying greed have had on the environment. In the words of the American writer Robert Ingersoll, In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are (only) consequences.

Make no mistake: The pandemic is a consequence of wanton human abuse of nature. In our pursuits of profit and more profit, we have violated all natural laws. And nature (call it God if you wish) is reminding us who is boss here.

The coronavirus that is shutting down human systems is suspected to have originated from a wet market in Wuhan, China. These markets are literally wet with blood of slithering snakes, creepy bats and ghostly spiders that are cut into pieces for food. This is common in Southeast Asia.

I do not mind what cultures have chosen to eat. The tragedy is, animals that are poached, removed from their natural ecology, are forced together all in the name of personal profit by well-known buccaneers. Snakes, monkeys, pangolins, bats and humans do not ordinarily mix in nature.

It is not so difficult to imagine that, at some point, there is bound to be a confluence of factors that make conditions conducive for new germs. It is always a matter of time before lithe viruses make that animal-to-human quantum leap.

Human hubris has blinded us to a naked truth. Viruses and animals have been around for millions of years. The modern human being is barely 200,000 years old. The universe itself has been living for about 13 billion years.

Longevity is good measure of capacity to adopt to the environment. There is no guessing what is superior.

Because of our large brain, we delude ourselves that nature depends on us. It is the opposite: We depend on it. The universe does not really give a hoot whether we are here or not. Other species have come and gone, mostly as they were unable to obey Mother Natures laws. There is nothing special about us and this virus is reminding us that.

To paraphrase Robert M. Lilienfeld and William L. Rathje, it is a common myth that we have to save Mother Earth. Earth doesnt need to be saved. In its existence, this planet has survived cataclysmic changes over and over again.

It is widely believed 99 per cent of all species have come and gone but the planet remained.

Critically, note the resilience of nature in the current crisis. Within weeks, nature has quickly readjusted itself. But such flexibility is not easy with humans. More than 10,000 people are dead so far. Trillions of dollars gone down the drain.

This catastrophe threatens to bring down even the systems that buccaneers use to advance their nefarious interests. Gone also are cherished values that come with capitalism, such as freedom of association and movement.

Saving the environment is really for our own sake and future generations. This is the truth that more people need to grasp and be committed to if we are to cope with such shocks as the current one.

This is the time to learn lessons on resilience and coexistence with nature. Many human societies are weak in resilience and, therefore, building it is a reasonable objective for a public sector wishing to avoid a sudden demand for services when systems fail.

Human societies are poor in managing chronic and accelerating stress. This is because stress is not recognised as critical until the tipping point is reached.

Sustainable development can drive provision of public services with embedded value for the environment. Without this, it will always take time for human systems to absorb emerging shocks.

Resilience planning requires analysis of the vulnerabilities of critical systems and strategies to address them through diversification, localisation and stronger community connectivity: Things which ordinary markets cannot be expected to deliver.

Sustainable development offers a framework within which to invest in systems that sustain health, protect resources, build capacity, create wealth and make a high quality of life possible. Strengthening these systems reduces community vulnerability to unexpected events.

One hopes that humanity will learn to coexist with other species. If it does not, nature has more, nastier ways of reminding us about it. Its obvious who is boss.

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Natures reminding us who is boss - Daily Nation

Carmel Valley doctor joins Clearity Foundation board in the fight against Ovarian Cancer – Del Mar Times

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Elegant science are not two words you hear put together very often. But for Carmel Valley resident Dr. Pamila Brar the phrase sums up her lifes career goals. Brar sees elegant science as the promise of precision medicine and works as the chief medical officer and clinical phenotyping research lead at the J. Craig Venter Institute in La Jolla. Her clinical research focuses on genomics, electronic medical records and artificial intelligence to identify various markers of health and disease.

The promise of precision medicine is intoxicating to me, Brar explains, the ability to tailor care to each individual is so very compelling and feels right in such an intuitive way. I am passionate about helping to extend the healthy human lifespan, and to help us all understand what makes us who we are as individuals.

Brar was recently appointed to the board of directors of the Clearity Foundation, which strives to improve the survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. Brar says she was interested in joining the foundation because it stands as a glowing example of an organization that provides the highest level of scientific knowledge to patients and their doctors, combined with truly helpful psychological support, and at no charge to patients.

Brar points out that, because ovarian cancer is such an elusive disease with no clear screening tools, it requires serious attention for us to outsmart it. It often contains multiple cell types even within a single tumor. So, in a way, it isnt just one disease. It is a valiant enemy. And to add insult to injury, it affects women in the prime of their lives.

Brar has personal experience in witnessing the devastating toll that ovarian cancer can take. During her internal-medicine residency, one of her interns was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 25. I recall her complaining of vague symptoms and all of us attributing it to the demands of medical training, she says. I remember the shock of learning she had ovarian cancer. After all, she was one of us -- a doctor. She wasnt supposed to be the patient. Tragically, she died within six months of diagnosis. Her situation hit very close to home for me, and her death left a big hole within our close-knit group.

Brar says she knew from around the age 7 or 8 that she wanted to be a doctor. She attended medical school at Louisiana State University at New Orleans and then trained at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla. She worked in general practice at Scripps Clinic from 1999 to 2009. Then as we would say in my home state of Louisiana, I got a wild hair and decided that I wanted to stretch my wings and open my own private concierge medicine practice in La Jolla in 2010, she explains. During that time, she became quite intrigued with the fertile science and biotech environment San Diego has to offer.

I learned of the opportunity to participate in a new preventative precision medicine clinic at Human Longevity, Inc. founded by Craig Venter. I decided to leave my practice to participate in this new movement of genomics and precision prevention, Brar says. She served as medical director at the Health Nucleus at Human Longevity from 2015 to 2019. In that role, she led a multidisciplinary team responsible for the integration of whole genome sequencing, microbiome, metabolome and whole-body imaging, as well as the delivery of results to the participants. And she started to dream big.

My dream is that during my lifetime (I am 47), we will eradicate cancer, both through radical prevention, advanced screening and targeted and precise therapies, she says emphatically. I believe through the use of artificial intelligence, we will be able to make exponential advancements in the understanding of disease and health. We are inundated with data, and to be able to apply machine learning to these complex data sets, we can make connections faster and more profound than those that our minds can.

One challenge that still exists, Brar admits, is gender bias in research. She says statistics back this up. Even in animal studies, she explains, we have seen gender bias reproduced with more male mice in studies than female mice. Its our job as doctors, researchers and patients to close that gap. She encourages more women to participate in clinical trials and points out that awareness is key.

Despite the statistics, significant progress has been made. Women are now evenly represented in conditions such as diabetes, mental health, cancer and respiratory disease. But they still remain underrepresented in cardiology, HIV, chronic kidney disease, hepatitis and digestive disorders. We still have a long way to go, says Brar, but we are making progress.

Brar says she is very enthusiastic about the notion of understanding and realizing human potential and considers herself fortunate to be at the forefront of some of the most meaningful and potentially powerful research in the world.

The team of incredible people that I have the honor to work with at the J Craig Venter Institute, at Human Longevity, Inc. and at the Clearity Foundation truly embody the best of the scientific community working for the good of the human race. Lucky me!

For more on the Clearity Foundation, visit http://www.clearityfoundation.org.

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Carmel Valley doctor joins Clearity Foundation board in the fight against Ovarian Cancer - Del Mar Times

Clean living closer than you think at Cletas Nutrition – Alton Telegraph

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Cletas Nutritions full-time sales consultant, Jennifer Rulo, left, store manager Wendi Wittman, center, and Wittmans mother and Cletas founder, Beverly Roberts, all of Godfrey, stand inside Cletas Nutrition, at 3004 Godfrey Road, in Godfrey. Roberts founded the health food store in 1991.

Cletas Nutritions full-time sales consultant, Jennifer Rulo, left, store manager Wendi Wittman, center, and Wittmans mother and Cletas founder, Beverly Roberts, all of Godfrey, stand inside

Clean living closer than you think at Cletas Nutrition

GODFREY One of the regions most comprehensive health food destinations is right here in our own backyard.

Were the place you come to if you have a food intolerance, said Cletas Nutrition store manager Wendi Wittman. We have that edge. We carry and focus on what you would normally have to go to St. Louis to find.

Wittmans mother, Beverly Roberts, 75, founded Cletas Nutrition, in Godfrey, nearly three decades ago, at 3004 Godfrey Road, and still works at the health food store.

Wittman, 49, and knowledgeable full-time sales consultant, Jennifer Rulo, 46, research every single brand and product that is sold at Cletas Nutrition.

Rulo, a former customer, came to Cletas 12 years ago seeking pain relief. Not only did she find that relief often through trial and error but she also discovered a desire to help others find relief from persistent daily human conditions.

She is a blessing, said Roberts, who opened Cletas Nutrition in 1991.

Shes on it, shes into it, her hearts into health.

Rulo originally came to Cletas Nutrition to address her own fibromyalgia and inflammation. Now shes worked at Cletas for more than four years, helping others who walk through Cletas door to manage their own physical pain and fatigue.

I do a lot of one-on-one, Rulo said. People approach me about different things theres so many options. Theres a lot of different avenues as far as what people respond to we never diagnose or recommend, but talk about what has worked for other people and different research on pain management.

You have to know your companies and do your research to talk to others about clean products, she said, and you should always consult a physician before changing your diet or adding any supplements, especially with prescription medication.

Current diet trends include a ketogenic diet, high in fat, adequate in protein and low in carbohydrates, or plant-based, not necessarily vegetarian, consisting mostly, or entirely, of plant-derived foods, including vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes and fruits, and with few, or no, animal products. Diets that address food intolerance issues also are common, Rulo said.

Roberts began working in the health food and nutrition industry in the 1970s, for River City Nutrition, founded by Carl Muckler, who had an Alton location and three Missouri locations: Florissant, Chesterfield and Kirkwood, where Roberts worked. But her experience there wasnt the only thing that inspired her to have her own health food and nutrition business.

Different family members were getting sick and I was trying to think outside the box, about what could fuel the body so it could heal, Roberts recalled.

Now twice widowed, Roberts said health improved for her first and for her second husband when, during the course of their respective medical treatment, they began consuming clean foods and giving more attention to nutrition.

Clean means no chemicals, no dyes, no preservatives, no artificial or synthetic anything, explained Wittman.

In general, clean eating follows the belief that consuming whole foods in their most natural state and avoiding processed foods, such as refined sugar, offers certain health benefits.

For instance, organic ketchup has 45 percent more lycopene than commercial brands, Wittman noted.

Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, can be found as a supplement, but it may be most effective when consumed from lycopene-rich foods, like, tomatoes. Lycopenes many health benefits purportedly include improved heart health and lower risk of certain types of cancer, as well as sun protection.

Roberts was diagnosed with lupus approximately three years ago, she said, and credits clean eating for reversing the systemic autoimmune disease, for which she no longer tests positive.

Within a year and a half, I tested negative, she said. God made the body to heal. In my recovery, I worked with diet changes, cleaning it up even more.

Cletas also offers healthy alternatives, such as homeopathic medicinal products, for mind and body, including beauty and hygiene products, such as fluoride-free toothpaste and hair and skin care.

Its nutrition for your outer organs, Wittman said.

Roberts gives all the credit for Cletas longevity to God.

Hes the reason, He has blessed our business, she said.

People come in here for so many things medically that may be irreversible, but you can clean up.

Visit Cletas Nutritions Facebook page for more information.

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Clean living closer than you think at Cletas Nutrition - Alton Telegraph

Five Factors Influencing The Mobility Solutions Industry – Forbes

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Mobility and accessibility solutions are products and services that meet the needs of a dynamic spectrum of people with varying degrees and types of disabilities that result in mobility and accessibility challenges.

Products you could offer in this industry include stairlifts, ramps, scooter carriers, mobility scooters, elevators, vertical platform lifts and more, as well as the services provided by installers, dealers and distributors.

While it may not be what most would consider a sexy industry, I expect this market segment to expand even more rapidly as the United States sees a shift in demographics and demand increases.

Lets explore some of the key factors influencing the mobility solutions industry and how to determine if it's the right industry for you.

1. There are more older people.

According to the U.S. Census Bureaus 2017 National Population Projections, all baby boomers will be older than 65 by 2030. For the first time in history, older people are projected to outnumber minors by 2034, and experts predict that 77 million people will be over the age of 65 in the United States by 2034.

I have already seen the positive impact this shift has had on the mobility and accessibility solutions industry, and I expect it will only increase as the aging population continues to grow.

2. More of these Americans are choosing to age in place.

Not only will the coming years see greater numbers of older Americans, but a growing trend is also making the mobility solutions industry even more appealing.

Instead of selling the homes where their families grew up to move to retirement communities or assisted living facilities, more older people are deciding instead to age in place. According to a 2014 AARP survey (viaHomeCare), 87% of those over 65 want to age in place.

An entire realm of education and advice about this has developed, on which entrepreneurs can capitalize. For example, the National Institute on Aging offers material on costs, concerns and issues related to aging in place.

3. You can offer a variety of modifications.

Whether an older person wants to age in place in their own home or move into the home of a child or relative, there are often many areas in a home that companies can modify for them. Similarly, when a child or spouse becomes disabled, you can offer them adaptations.

According to a recently updated article on AgingInPlace.org, the 2015 American Housing Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau looked at 118,290 homes, only 36,845 of which were one-story homes; 66,534 reported that steps were necessary to access their homes from the outside. But even flat floors and narrow doorways can make life tough.

4. Service is a necessary, ongoing human component.

The equipment and products themselves are just some of the solutions you can offer. The people for whom these products are designed need help. Consider providing installation services as a vital part of a comprehensive solution that provides the help they need.

Consider the example of a wheelchair-bound customer who lives in a house with four steps at the front door. This affects the life of the disabled resident as well as friends, families and caregivers who must be present to lift the wheelchair up and down the steps.

As a mobility solutions provider, you should be able to dispatch an installer promptly to efficiently install a lift or ramp to become a trusted go-to in the area.

Success and longevity in this industry will also require you to provide ongoing service and support, including routine maintenance beyond the sale and installation.

5. Positive energy can fuel your momentum.

Another factor that can quietly drive your success in this industry is the spirit of the people behind your business. The connections built between business owners and their customers and the satisfaction that comes with helping others in need are big parts of why many who get into this business love it.

At first blush, an outsider might think of the mobility and accessibility solutions business as profiting from the misfortunes or problems of others. The reality, however, is quite the contrary. The need exists, regardless of how unfortunate, and someone has to provide the necessary solutions. When you build a business that addresses the needs of a growing population, everyone can benefit.

Those of us with full mobility often take for granted the simplest things in life. Being able to make a night-and-day difference in a customers quality of life is incredibly rewarding and can make business ownership in this segment an attractive opportunity.

If you are considering pursuing a business opportunity in this growing industry, you might ask yourself a couple of questions to decide if it's the right fit for you. Do you have an outgoing and engaging personality? Will you enjoy assisting aging, disabled and special needs customers with ways their homes and the businesses they visit can be modified and/or better equipped? Are you outgoing, and do you enjoy relationship development activities with other business owners and agencies? Are you a strong team leader who can build and lead a motivated team of employees with the same vision that you have?

If so, here are a few things to look into:

Do some local market research to find out how many businesses are involved in this. Don't be worried if you find some, because odds are you will. In fact, I'd be more concerned if you didn't. It's always important to know who and where the competition is.

Once you've found the competition, secret shop a few of them. This will allow you to see what you might be doing on similar appointments in the future. Is it something that you feel as though you'll enjoy? You can also see where you might handle things differently or differentiate yourself.

Do some local research to find senior and/or disabled persons support agencies. Go visit an agency director, and find out what kind of activities and events they sponsor. See if they have something that you could do or be involved with.

Did you enjoy this process, and can you see yourself engaged in these kinds of activities as a norm?

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Five Factors Influencing The Mobility Solutions Industry - Forbes

New genes preventing healthy aging in China – Free Press Journal

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Chinese researchers found that two new genes can prevent healthy aging, which provides a theoretical basis for delaying brain aging, according to a report by Science and Technology Daily.

The research published in Nature was jointly carried out by two research teams from the Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS.

Previous studies found that longevity genes do not necessarily delay the behavioral deterioration of animals in aging, which means increasing longevity is rarely accompanied by an extended healthspan.

Through screening of genes that regulate behavioral deterioration in aging Caenorhabditis elegans and the examination of human databases, researchers found that the expression of two genes, BAZ2B and EHMT1, increases with age and correlates positively with the progression of Alzheimer's disease, said the research paper.

The research further showed that reducing the function of BAZ2B can improve cognitive function and behavioral ability of aging C. elegans or mice.

Considering the large species differences between human beings and animals, there is still great uncertainty as to whether the study can be applied to human beings, the researchers said.

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