Category Archives: Human Longevity

Wealth is in the hands of first and second-generation families involved in Australian and Asian family offices with over 70% of family offices wanting to keep the fund alive for further than one generation.

According to a survey conducted by KPMG and high net worth family office network The Table Club (TTC), which examined more than 80 family offices in Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore, found wealth from family offices was concentrated around Sydney and Melbourne with over 70% of the 500 wealthiest TTC members (TTC 500) residing in these locations, averaging about $1 billion each.

But it was Western Australia who led the pack with an average of $2.5 billion, while also holding the fastest growth in wealth at +31%.

Growth and longevity were the two key themes of the survey with 66% aiming to grow capital compared to 21% wanting to preserve capital for future generations.

Over half were targeting returns of 6% to 10% over the next five years while 43% had made impact investments.

Robyn Langsford, lead partner family business at KPMG Australia, said the growth that family offices achieved during COVID-19 during periods of massive fiscal and monetary stimulus was a standout.

First and second generations continue to dominate family offices, Langsford said.

They are on the front foot - responding to the need for more formal governance structures and recognising the benefits of bringing in outside human capital to help manage growth and strategy. The key skill will be in their maintaining control and ownership through subsequent generations.

James Burkitt, TTC founder, said: Our aim was to learn more about the evolution of family offices in the region, and to understand how participants were managing macro challenges.

We also wanted to capture the granular detail across a sizeable sample of family offices to unveil secrets of success.

Over 60% of the TTC 500 primarily generated their wealth in the traditional asset classes of property, investment (which included operational businesses, private equity, credit and other asset classes), and financial services.

A further 105 members (21%) had an estimated wealth between $100 million to $200 million, with the majority of TTC 500 members having wealth between $200 million to $1 billion.

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Family offices focus on growth and longevity - Money Management

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MyMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MYMD) (MyMD or the Company), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to extending healthy lifespan, announced today that it will present at the Dawson James Securities 6th Annual Small Cap Growth Conference on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. ET in Track 1. The conference is being held at the Wyndham Grand Jupiter at Harbourside Place in Jupiter, Florida.

MyMD Chief Scientific Officer Adam Kaplin, M.D., Ph.D. will discuss the multiple indications for each of MyMDs novel drug candidates, MYMD-1 and Supera-CBD. A webcast of the presentation will be available live and on demand for 90 days after the conference.

About MYMD-1MYMD-1s primary purpose is to slow the aging process and extend healthy lifespan, and it is also showing promise as a potential treatment for post- COVID-19 complications and as an anti-fibrotic and anti-prolific therapeutic. MYMD-1 has shown effectiveness in regulating the immune system by performing as a selective inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), a driver of chronic inflammation. Unlike other therapies, MYMD-1 has been shown to selectively block TNF- when it becomes overactivated in autoimmune diseases and cytokine storms, but not block it from doing its normal job of being a first responder to any routine type of moderate infection. MYMD-1s ease of oral dosing is another differentiator compared to currently available TNF- blockers, all of which require delivery by injection or infusion. No approved TNF inhibitor has ever been dosed orally. In addition, the drug is not immunosuppressive and has not been shown to cause the serious side effects common with traditional therapies that treat inflammation. MyMD expects to launch two Phase 2 trials during the current quarter for MYMD-1 one for delaying aging and prolonging healthy lifespan, and the other for post- COVID-19 depression and cytokine elevation.

About Supera-CBDSupera-CBD is MyMDs pre-clinical patented synthetic cannabidiol (CBD) derivative that is being developed as a pharmaceutical drug to address anxiety, pain, and neurodegeneration. Supera-CBD targets the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2), a protein mainly expressed in the immune system and which is associated with the therapeutic effects of CBD, including its anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. CB2 receptors do not create an intoxicating negative psychotropic reaction (e.g. a high). In contrast, CB1 is usually expressed in the brain and distributed throughout the central nervous system to deliver an intoxicating effect. A vast majority of CBD developers are pursuing compounds targeted to CB2 that have minimal CB1 affinity. MyMDs Supera-CBD, with low CB1 affinity and four-fold increased CB2 binding, is 8,000 times more potent a CB2 agonist (activator) than regular CBD. The Company believes that Supera-CBD is currently on a path toward human clinical trials as a therapy for epilepsy, followed by chronic pain.

About MyMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.MyMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MYMD), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to extending healthy lifespan, is focused on developing two novel therapeutic platforms that treat the causes of disease rather than only addressing the symptoms. MYMD-1 is a drug platform based on a clinical stage small molecule that regulates the immune system to control TNF-, which drives chronic inflammation, and other pro-inflammatory cell signaling cytokines. MYMD-1 is being developed to delay aging, increase longevity, and treat autoimmune diseases and COVID-19- associated depression. The Companys second drug platform, Supera-CBD, is being developed to treat chronic pain, addiction and epilepsy. Supera-CBD is a novel synthetic derivative of cannabidiol (CBD) and is being developed to address and improve upon the rapidly growing CBD market, which includes both FDA approved drugs and CBD products not currently regulated as drugs. For more information, visit http://www.mymd.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any expected future results, performance, or achievements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and none of MyMD nor its affiliates assume any duty to update forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "may," "plan," "will," "would'' and other similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: the timing of, and MyMDs ability to, obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for clinical trials of MyMDs pharmaceutical candidates; the timing and results of MyMDs planned clinical trials for its pharmaceutical candidates; the amount of funds MyMD requires for its pharmaceutical candidates; increased levels of competition; changes in political, economic or regulatory conditions generally and in the markets in which MyMD operates; MyMDs ability to retain and attract senior management and other key employees; MyMDs ability to quickly and effectively respond to new technological developments; MyMDs ability to protect its trade secrets or other proprietary rights, operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others and prevent others from infringing on MyMDs proprietary rights; and the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on MyMDs results of operations, business plan and the global economy. A discussion of these and other factors with respect to MyMD is set forth in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021, filed by MyMD on August 16, 2021. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and MyMD disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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MyMD Pharmaceuticals to Discuss its Novel Therapies for Aging and Related Diseases at the Dawson James Securities 6th Annual Small Cap Growth...

SOURCES:

Adam Drewnowski, PhD, professor of epidemiology and director, nutritional sciences program, University of Washington.

Michele Bellantoni, MD, associate professor, clinical director, division of geriatric medicine and gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; medical director, specialty hospital programs, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Stephen Anton, PhD, associate professor, clinical research division chief, department of aging and geriatric research, department of clinical and health psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida.

Cheryl Rock, PhD, registered dietitian, professor, department of family medicine and public health, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.

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National Institute on Aging: Forgetfulness: Knowing When to Ask for Help.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Calcium.

Harvard Medical Schools, Harvard Health Publications: Foods that fight inflammation.

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Simopoulos, A. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, December 2002.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: The Protein Myth.

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Eating for Longevity: Foods for a Long, Healthy Life

There's no greater benefit of a healthy lifestyle than improved longevity and a longer lifespan. Sure, big biceps and a flat stomach are all well and good, but a long and satisfying life is truly the best reward. We all want to spend time with our grandkids and great-grandkids, and it's no secret that clean eating and regular exercise are integral to maintaining strong health well into your 80s, 90s, and beyond.

Besides proper nutrition and exercise, though, what else can one do to promote a longer lifespan? If you've been on the hunt for your own personal fountain of youth, chances are, you've heard it all. From any number of dubious supplements to endless books and strategies, there's no shortage of supposed shortcuts to a longer life out there.

Related: 3 Major Secrets to Living to 99, According to Betty White

The scientific truth about human longevity, however, is that modern science still has a long way to go before we truly understand all the factors at play. For instance, research published very recently in the scientific journal Molecular Biology and Evolution reports the discovery of 2,000 (!) new genes dating back millions of years that appear to be linked to human longevity. So, the mystery of human lifespan is a complex puzzle, and we're not even sure we've gathered all the jigsaw pieces just yet.

Still, there's no shortage of relevant research on longevity and how to potentially extend your lifespanand some it is pretty strange. One study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports viagra can lengthen longevity for men recovering from a heart attack. Meanwhile, another set of research concluded that the risk of dying drops by 5% for each additional $50,000 earned during middle age!

Those approaches aren't exactly universal, but luckily, there are a few more well-kept secrets that have been scientifically proven to promote an especially long lifespan. Keep reading to learn about 3 major secrets for living to 100!

There's nothing wrong with the occasional weekend spent catching up on "me time," but there's a boatload of scientific evidence that tells us to get out there around other people. Why? It will help you live longer. Consider this study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Researchers state maintaining a healthy social network can help individuals live up to 50% longer. Another study published in Psychosomatic Medicine reports that maintaining just four or more good friends may reduce the risk of early death by up to 200%.

More specifically, one report released in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research examined a group of nearly 300 centenarians (people over the age of 100) living in New Zealand. Researchers concluded that maintaining an active social life and avoiding cigarettes were the two recurring lifestyle choices reported by participants. "Electing not to smoke and committing to maintain social networking will be the best investment one can make towards successful aging," associate professor & study co-author Yoram Barak from the University of Otago comments.

Don't make the mistake of assuming that this means you have to keep partying all night long well into old age. Staying social doesn't have to mean cocktails and clubs. Yet another research project published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that volunteering and helping others is also a great way to live longer. Study authors report older adults who volunteer for about two hours per week are significantly less likely to pass away.

"Humans are social creatures by nature. Perhaps this is why our minds and bodies are rewarded when we give to others," explains lead author Dr. Eric Kim, of the Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University. "Our results show that volunteerism among older adults doesn't just strengthen communities, but enriches our own lives by strengthening our bonds to others, helping us feel a sense of purpose and well-being, and protecting us from feelings of loneliness, depression, and hopelessness. Regular altruistic activity reduces our risk of death even though our study didn't show any direct impact on a wide array of chronic conditions."

Related: Queen Elizabeth's Surprising Secrets to Living to 95

Location, location, location! One especially noteworthy piece of research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reports choosing the right neighborhood can go a long way toward living to 100.

The research team analyzed an extensive dataset of 145,000 recently deceased older adults who had lived in Washington state and passed away between 2011-2015 at age 75 or older. They looked specifically for any similarities among individuals who lived to 100 or older. Sure enough, they observed that Washingtonians who had lived in highly walkable, mixed-age communities were much more likely to see their 100th birthday.

While each person's lifespan is heavily influenced by their genes, study authors say their work indicates that living in a community that promotes healthy aging can make it much easier to overcome those "genetic odds".

In all, three neighborhood factors were named as promoting a longer lifespan: High walkability, a diverse range of ages among locals, and high socioeconomic status.

"These findings indicate that mixed-age communities are very beneficial for everyone involved," says study author Rajan Bhardwaj. "They also support the big push in growing urban centers toward making streets more walkable, which makes exercise more accessible to older adults and makes it easier for them to access medical care and grocery stores."

Related: This Workout Is Three Times Better for You Than Walking, New Study Says

No one is saying it's easy, but maintaining a positive attitude has been shown to work wonders for overall health and longevity. One study published in Age and Aging analyzed over 4,000 adults over the age of 60 before concluding the happier an older individual is, the more likely they are to live longer. "The findings indicate that even small increments in happiness may be beneficial to older people's longevity," explains senior study author Rahul Malhotra, an assistant professor and Head of Research at Duke-NUS' Centre for Ageing Research and Education.

A different project examined 70,000 women over the course of eight years. Sure enough, those who were more optimistic were much less likely to pass away from causes including heart attack, stroke, and cancer. More specifically, the most positive females were 38% less likely to die from heart disease and 52% less likely to die from infection in comparison to the most pessimistic women.

"Previous studies have shown that optimism can be altered with relatively uncomplicated and low-cost interventions even something as simple as having people write down and think about the best possible outcomes for various areas of their lives, such as careers or friendships," says study co-leader and postdoctoral research fellow Kaitlin Hagan. "Encouraging use of these interventions could be an innovative way to enhance health in the future."

An additional review of 35 prior studies published in Psychosomatic Medicine also reports that happy individuals are known to live 18% longer on average than their more depressed peers.

For more, check out This 15-Minute Workout Can Add Years to Your Life.

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3 Major Secrets to Living to 100, According to Experts | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Living to the grand old age of 130 could be possible this century.

The longest-lived person in history so far is Jeanne Calment, a chain-smoking French woman born in 1875 who died aged 122 years and 164 days in 1997.

However it may be possible to outlive her record, a study has found.

Researchers analysed the lifespans of more than 3,800 Italian semi-supercentenarians, who made it beyond the age of 105, and more than 9,800 people who achieved the same longevity in France.

They conclude that beyond the age of 110, when people with poor genes and terrible health have typically died off already, the chances of staying alive are roughly 50/50.

Supercentenarians: Living to the grand old age of 130 could be possible this century, scientists have predicted. The longest-lived person in history so far is Jeanne Calment (pictured), a chain-smoking French woman born in 1875 who died aged 122 years and 164 days in 1997

Jeanne Louise Calment holds theGuinness World Record for the oldest person ever.

Born onFebruary21, 1875, she is reported to have lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days.

She passed away in a nursing home in Arles, in the south of France, on August 4, 1997.

Her unparalleled longevity has been the subject of numerous studies, both before and after her death.

Jeanne enjoyed good health for the majority of her life, having even taken up fencing as a hobby at the age of 85.

Ms Calment also claimed to have met the artist Vincent van Gogh, to whom she sold painting canvasses in her fathers shop as a teenager.

He was ugly as sin, had a vile temper and smelled of booze, she said.

Jeanne Calment, pictured with herGuinness World Record

It means every year beyond someones 110th birthday is a coin-toss as to whether they will survive.

So far, getting heads 20 times in a row, to make it the age of 130, is hugely unlikely the chances are about one in a million.

However, with life expectancy still likely to increase over the years, despite Covid, and improvements in healthcare and lifestyle, the authors say studies suggest someone may reach their 130th birthday this century.

Dr Lo Belzile, the statistician who led the study from HEC Business School in Montreal, said: As the world population keeps increasing, there are more people reaching 100 and more reaching 110.

The more people tossing a coin, with a 50 per cent chance of surviving each year after they turn 110, the more we can expect that someone will have a lucky streak and get to the age of 130.

The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, set out to determine if there is an upper limit on the human lifespan.

If there were such a cut-off age, beyond which no one could survive, a cluster of people would statistically be expected to die at around that age.

But the study of French and Italian super-agers found no such thing.

At the age of 108, the researchers found peoples odds of dying started to stabilise, reaching around 50/50.

The results may have implications for super-rich people like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who is reportedly investing in age-reversing technology.

Some animals, such as clams, do not age at all and working out why is one of the main aims of gerontology.

Solid empirical understanding of human mortality at extreme age is important as one basis for research aimed at finding a cure for ageing, the researchers write.

If there is no wall, like the age of 130, beyond which people can go, several more decades of life could theoretically be possible.

But it is highly unlikely, with people who are 108 only likely to live around an extra year and three months on average.

Dr Belzile said: People are fascinated by the idea of living forever, but unfortunately very few people reach these very old ages.

In England and Wales, there have been only 157 supercentenarians, over the age of 110, between 1968 and 2017.

Currently, the worlds oldest person and the third longest-lived ever is 118-year-old Kane Tanaka of Japan.

Mrs Calment outlived her husband, who died at 73, smoked two cigarettes a day and only gave up cycling when she was 100. She is pictured aged 20

The Japanese have the highest life expectancy in the world, attributed by experts to a diet high in fish and low in saturates and a good health service.

Mrs Calment had reached the remarkable age of 122 when she died. She outlived her husband, who died at 73, smoked two cigarettes a day and only gave up cycling when she was 100.

Bezos is one of a number of tech billionaires pumping vast amounts of money into technologies aimed to slow or stop the aging process or enable immortality.

His investment company has plowed cash into Unity, a Bay area firm that hopes to stop the aging process.

It is trying to find a way to eject senescent cells which stop cancer cells, but build up over time and go on to cause macular degeneration and arthritis from the body.

A study performed on mice suggests that removing the cells can prevent or delay tissue dysfunction and extend healthspan.

Scientists decoded an enzyme thought to halt ageing in plants, animals and humans as part of a recent breakthrough study.

Unravelling the structure of the complex enzyme, called telomerase, could lead to drugs that slow or block the ageing process, along with new treatments for cancer, researchers reported in the journal Nature in April.

Elated scientists announced the completion of a 20-year quest to map the enzyme thought to forestall ageing by repairing the tips of chromosomes.

It has been a long time coming, lead investigator Kathleen Collins, a molecular biologist at the University of California in Berkeley, said in a statement.

Our findings provide a structural framework for understanding human telomerase disease mutations, and represent an important step towards telomerase-related clinical therapeutics.

Part protein and part RNA (genetic material that relays instructions for building proteins) telomerase acts on microscopic sheaths, known as telomeres, that cover the tips of the chromosomes found inside all cells.

In humans, each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, including one pair of sex chromosomes the X and Y that differ between males and females.

Australian-American biologist Elizabeth Blackburn, who shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering telomeres and their protective function in the 1970s, likened them to the tiny plastic caps that keep shoelaces from fraying.

Eventually, however, shoelace tips and telomeres do break down: every time a cell divides the telomeres get worn a little bit more, until the cell stops dividing and dies. This, biologists agree, is probably central to the natural ageing process.

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Human Lifespan: Scientists Predict People Will Live To 130 Within This Century - Todayuknews - Todayuknews

Photo: Stockmagen/iStockPhoto

Scientists at UC San Diego and colleagues have found links between extreme heat and a heightened incidence of stillbirths and preterm births in relatively poor countries.

The study, published Oct. 6 in the journal Environment International, is believed to be the first to link the two phenomena in a global context.

We notably found that experiencing higher maximum temperatures and smaller diurnal temperature range during the last week before birth increased the risk of preterm birth and stillbirth, wrote a research team including first authorSara McElroy, who recently completed a PhD in epidemiologyin the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health. This study is the first global assessment of extreme heat events and adverse birth outcomes.

The research, coordinated by climate scientists and epidemiologists at UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, overcomes a barrier presented by the dearth of daily temperature and health information from economically developing countries. The team used gridded global meteorological data and compared it to available health survey information in 14 low- and middle-income countries compiled by the U.S Agency for International Development.

There have been data collected in relatively affluent countries to indicate links between pregnancy outcomes and environmental extremes such as heat waves, ice storms and wildfires. Other previous studies in high-income countries have established that pregnant women toward the end of the gestational period are especially vulnerable to extreme heat as it affects their ability to stay hydrated and to keep cool through sweating.

Those data, say the researchers, are not necessarily indicative of what is happening in other geographical settings. High levels of poverty in developing countries act not only to make meteorological and health data-gathering rare within their borders but also make pregnant women more vulnerable to weather extremes because they are less likely to benefit from technologies and services such as perinatal health services, air conditioning, and other social determinants of health.

The researchers linked birth-outcome data with weather data in 14 countries such as the Philippines, Nepal, South Africa, and Tajikistan. They evaluated more than 103,000 births and counted nearly 5,900 preterm births and 1,200 stillbirths among them. They found a strong correlation between extreme heat events endured by pregnant women in the last week of their pregnancy and their risk of such adverse birth outcomes.

We brought attention to new evidence on the relationship between extreme heat and adverse birth outcomes in countries where the evidence has been scarce, said McElroy. Our analyses revealed an association between acute exposure to heat and increased risk of preterm birth and stillbirth and suggests differing critical windows of susceptibility to extreme heat for preterm birth and stillbirth.

Authors advocate for improvement or establishment of early-warning weather systems to enable pregnant women and their caregivers to prepare them for extreme heat events such as heat waves.

Due to climate change, extreme heat events have become more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting in recent decadesa trend projected to accelerate in the future, the researchers conclude. Low- to middle-income countries lack the infrastructure to deal with extreme heat and so it is especially important to study how heat affects pregnancy outcomes, as pregnant women are a particularly vulnerable group of the population.

Study co-authors include Tarik Benmarhnia, who holds a joint appointment at UC San Diegos Scripps Oceanography and School of Medicine, Alexander Gershunov, and Anna Dimitrova of Scripps Oceanography, and Sindana Ilango of the University of Washington.

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First Link between Stillbirths, Birth Complications and Excessive Heat in Lower-income Countries - UC San Diego Health

Boston, with its undisputed position as the life sciences capital of the world, owes a large part of its reigning biological status to the computer startup ecosystem that came first. Long before Kendall Square began measuring lab space by the millions of square feet (and measuring lives saved by the millions as well, thanks to Modernas COVID-19 vaccine), Boston had already nurtured a virtuous cycle spanning three essential components: a multitude of world-class research universities developing new breakthroughs, a spectrum of innovative companies driving commercialization and acquisitions, and venture capital willing to take significant risks to achieve outsized rewards. These elements continue to attract and retain the most valuable resource of all: a vibrant community of talented innovators.

However, successful innovation in longevity requires an extra ingredient, owing not only to the complexities of the human body and mind as they age, but also the byzantine and counterintuitive nature of almost every aspect of the care delivery and payment systems. Successful aging-market solutions require an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on expertise in software, medicine, biology, finance, policy, and beyond.

There are still barriers to cementing Bostons role as the worlds longevity innovation hub. First, awareness of the magnitude of the opportunity is still low. For example, the United States spends over $1 trillion annually nearly 5 percent of GDP to care for seniors through a system that has existed largely unchanged for decades. Furthermore, the senior population is the wealthiest in history, with a total net worth of over $40 trillion. Longevity is perhaps the last and largest undisrupted market on the planet.

Second, because so much of the longevity market is administered by federal and state governments, the longevity industry needs to include innovators in administration, regulation, and legislation in our entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem. Many fortunes have been made by using technology to outpace regulation bypassing taxi rules, for example, while enabling strangers to drive each other around for money, or sidestepping hostelry laws while permitting strangers to rent out rooms to each other. Aging, however, is so complex, and the role of government in ensuring safe products and services so all-permeating (and so necessary), that reengineering aging will require a more cooperative, regulation-sensitive approach for example, integrating the informal, family-delivered home care system with the formal system of hospitals, clinicians, and insurance companies by developing data sharing pathways so that a seniors doctor can see exactly how their patient has been eating, sleeping, moving, and managing in between visits.

I recently encountered an example of such cooperation through the state-run MassVentures Start Program. Kinto, the age-tech startup where I am CEO, was awarded major grants from the National Institutes of Health through the Small Business Innovation Research program to develop a digital therapy for families coping with Alzheimers. However, these funds could not be used for sales or marketing expenses, which presented a challenge for us in finding the money to bring our innovations to market. Fortunately, MassVentures developed a grant program specifically for SBIR winners to address this specific gap, while also providing its grantees access to mentorship and advice. As intended, weve been successfully applying those dollars to develop relationships with our local powerhouse health systems and senior care agencies.

The final missing ingredient is a commodity that is paradoxically both plentiful and scarce: money. Despite the recent record levels of venture investment in Boston, disrupting a new market such as longevity requires taking new risks and embracing long timeframes of uncertainty. For all of Bostons many advantages, we still carry the vestiges of our risk-averse puritanical past, and we tend toward conservatism in our investing even when we are bold at everything else.

The longevity market can change that. The pumps are primed and the engine is running. We still need buy-in from innovators in sectors, particularly local and federal government, which have not traditionally participated in early-venture creation. But the talent we need is readily, locally available. So is insight into the complexities of later life. The last, critical accelerant for Bostons longevity innovation hub is a Silicon Valley level of visionary capital.

Major investors must put their money where their future is. Only that will enable longevity innovators to address the challenges, and opportunities, of what is literally the market of a lifetime.

Joseph Chung is cofounder and CEO of Kinto and cofounder and managing director of Redstar Ventures.

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The barriers to innovation - The Boston Globe

Many believe longevity and genetics go hand in hand. But genes are only part of the equation for most. In fact, ageing expert Dr Thomas Perls states that research shows that genes account for less than one-third of a persons chances of surviving to the age of 85. A new study conducted on fruit flies delves into one theory of when you eat rather than what and how this impacts longevity.

The study, which was published in the journal Nature, revealed how intermittent fasting works inside cells to slow the ageing process and points to potential ways to get the health benefits of fasting without the hunger pangs.

Intermittent fasting involves time-restricted feeding which in turn limits food, but not overall calorie intake, to specific hours of the day.

Because intermittent fasting restricts the timing of eating, its been hypothesised that natural biological clocks play a role, said Dr Mimi Shirasu-Hiza, associate professor of genetics & development at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and an expert in circadian rhythms, who led the study.

READ MORE:High cholesterol: Five signs in your legs you must address

Dr Shirasu-Hizaand Dr MattUlgherait, an associate research scientist in her lab, turned to fruitflies to investigate further.

Fruit flies have similar biological clocks to humans, staying active during daylight and sleeping at night, while also sharing roughly 70 percent of human disease-related genes.

Fruit flies are anexcellent model for ageing,Dr Shirasu-Hizaaddedbecause fruitflies and humans age in similarways, butsincefruit flies only live for two months, ageing experimentsaremore technically feasible.

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For the researchers, therole of time was a big clue to howfastingis linked tolongevity.

Theyfound thatacell-cleaning processkicks in after fasting, but only when fasting occursduring the night.

Scientists call the cell-cleaning process autophagy, andthe process isknown to slow ageing bycleaning up and recycling damaged components of the cell.

Human cells use the same cell-cleaning processes,sothe findings raise the possibility that behaviouralchangesor drugsthat stimulate the cleaning processcouldprovide people with similar health benefits, delayingage-related diseases and extendingthe lifespan.

Intermittent fasting is thought to improve insulin resistance, which can stabilise blood sugar levels.

Findings from a study found that three men all with type 2 diabetes were able to stop taking insulin after losing weight from intermittent fasting.

The diet could also help improve memory as another study showed the switch of eating can increase resistance to stress by optimising brain function and neuroplasticity, or the brains ability to adapt to develop throughout ones life.

Adults who were put on the restricted-calorie diet showed improved verbal memory compared to others who did not follow the restricted-calorie diet.

For an added health benefit, intermittent fasting with high-protein meals and exercise can help to shed unwanted weight further boosting longevity.

Being overweight is linked to many health problems, and shedding some pounds is often presented as the best way to avoid them, no matter your age.

Obese or even merely overweight people who can shed just three percent of their weight and keep it off for the long-term will see significant health benefits from lowering their risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as some cancers.

Men who are obese are estimated to be around five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and 2.5 times more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Women who are obese are estimated to be around 13 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and four times more likely to develop high blood pressure than women who are not.

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How to live longer: Way of eating shown to boost cell-cleaning process impacting longevity - Express

As we transition into fall, I often think about the changes that are occurring not just around us in nature, but also the changes happening inside our bodies physically and mentally. Fall is a time of death, decay, and eventually rebirth, and our bodies go through similar transitions with the season.

We tend to feel more tired, wanting to retreat to our dark rooms and beds for rest. We tend to crave heavier foods and nutrients to get us through the cold winter months. And we tend to seek warmth and safety within ourselves and in our environment.

So how can the ancient medicine of Ayurveda help us with this beautiful transition into fall? I turned to herbalist, Ayurvedic wellness counselor, permaculturist, and former northern Kentucky native Jenny Griffith to show us the way.

Jenny Griffith (From her website)

Q: What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a system of healing that is derived from ancient India. It is said to be the oldest healing system in the world. Ayuh means life and Veda means knowledge. It is a medicinal science and its purpose is to maintain the quality and longevity of life. It consists of a daily regimen that has evolved from practical, philosophical, and spiritual illumination. Ayurveda explains that everyone has their own unique constitution, mind, and consciousness that is the foundation of our health and happiness. There is no concept of specialization. Ayurveda treats the whole person, not just the organ or system involved.Q: How is Ayurveda helpful to our health?

Ayurveda is helpful to understand because it shows a different perspective than we are used to here in the west. Ayurveda is comprised of 5 elements that make up all of existence, including human life. The five elements are; water, space, air, fire, and earth. Through a test or Ayurvedic consultation, you can find out how much of each element we have within our bodies. These elements are paired into three constitutions, called doshas. The word doshas actually mean fault or impurity. Air and space is the Vata dosha. Water and fire is Pitta. Lastly, water and earth is the Kapha dosha. When we find out which dosha we are, we can begin to add the opposing elements into our life. For example, if you are primarily the Vata dosha, you would want to reduce air + space by eliminating something like crunchy/dry chips from your diet and adding the opposite element like earth. So you would add more moist and wet foods like avocado and ghee into your diet to ground.

Q: How can we invite Ayurveda into our daily lives?

There are many practices that you can incorporate into your daily life. One of my favorites lately is practicing an oil treatment called abhyanga. Every morning I self massage my face with a medicinal oil to wake myself up, reduce any sleepy/puffy swelling, and bring moisture into all of my facial orifices like nostrils and eyes. I also recommend buying a tongue scraper to remove excess toxins from the tongue each day and night. Lastly, Ayurveda recommends living in unison with the sun and the moon. This means to wake when the sun rises and begin bedtime when the sun is setting. You will feel so much better if you live in conjunction with natures rhythms.

Natalie Deering

Q: What do you recommend for people as they transition into fall?

Fall is a time of heightened Vata dosha. This means we may experience more dry skin, anxiety, insomnia, bloating, gas, spasms, etc. It is best if we begin incorporating more warming and wet into our lifestyle. Examples of this could be reducing cold and dry foods and adding more warm/hot foods with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. Warm and slower physical activity is best as well; try a warm yin yoga class or Qi gong in nature to stay grounded. Many people tend to get antsy and overwhelmed during the fall. Make a point to meditate often and take periods of silence throughout the day away from the screen to stay present and calm.

Jenny currently works in addiction recovery at Villa Kali Ma Womens Treatment Center in Carlsbad, CA. She also works with 1:1 with clients, guides groups online, and provides in-person programs about regenerative living and health. She is also in the midst of launching an herbal product line with slow and hand-harvested medicine that she grows herself.To learn more and connect with Jenny, find her on Instagram @jennygracegriffith and on her website http://www.jennygriffith.com.

Natalie Deering is a mental health therapist and owner of ND Wellness Psychological Services in Northern Kentucky.See her website.

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Natalie Deering: What is the ancient medicine of Ayurveda and how can it help with transition to fall? - User-generated content

It's an issue in science that never seems to go away: the idea of extending the duration of human life is a subject that continues to fascinate scientists around the world. Now some significant progress in this field may result from a most unexpected source: the trending technology that is blockchain.

Blockchain could be used to help increase our life expectancy? Yes, you read that right! At least, that's the project of the Longevity Science Foundation, a Swiss non-profit organization. Launched by a consortium of clinicians, several research institutions and biotech specialists, this organization envisions spending more than $1 billion over the next ten years. Its goal? To find a way to extend the human lifespan to 120 years.

The foundation is setting out to fund research, projects and institutions related to blockchain, but also other technologies in the aim of opening up new horizons in the domain. As for how the technology can help healthcare research, Garri Zmudze, associate director of LongeVC, explained to Cointelegraph that "if paired with AI, blockchain can unlock hundreds of terabytes of unstructured hospital data for further analysis."

Ethical and financial questions persist

First developed in 2008, blockchain is in essence a technology for storing and transmitting information. It offers high standards of transparency and security because it operates without any central governing body. More concretely, it allows its users to share data without going through an external intermediary.

Blockchain could allow for significant improvements in certain areas deemed "critical" by the foundation, in the hope of extending life expectancy. For example, it could improve predictive diagnostics to treat diseases as early as possible and thereby avoid complications. The data and statistics gathered could allow for a better understanding of certain diseases and how best to treat them even when they have been present for a long period of time. And personalized medicine would also progress by comparing the data of another human similar in terms of biological makeup in order to come up with treatments that are more adapted to a particular need.

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On its website, the foundation states that such projects could result in significant achievements when it comes to human life expectancy within five years' time. To contribute to the research, the foundation is accepting donations, including in cryptocurrencies. Contributors will be able to vote on the selection of projects.

While this kind of initiative raises ethical questions -- do we really want to live to 120 and under what conditions? -- it also raises financial questions, as the sums announced are astronomical and the project remains somewhat mysterious. But there is no doubt that we will be hearing more about this foundation in the future. Meanwhile blockchain technology continues to find its way into a myriad of fields.

Axel Barre

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Will blockchain help us achieve a life expectancy of 120 years? - Yahoo Singapore News