Rejuvalife Vitality Institute
Beverly Hills CA

Scientists discover new secrets of aging

Can we become younger?

One of the biggest puzzles in biology – how and why living cells age – continues to be a subject of investigation and research. An international team based at Newcastle University in NE England, along with researchers at the University of Ulm in Germany, has added some new evidence to the discussion.

The answer to the secret of aging is complex, and will not produce a magic anti-aging elixir in the foreseeable future. However, we can certainly expect better treatments to be created to fight age-related illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, not to mention things like wrinkle treatments, as a result of these new insights into the biochemical pathways involved in the aging process.

The research teams used a comprehensive systems biology approach, involving computer modeling, experiments using cell cultures and genetically modified mice to investigate why and how our cells age. They learned that old cells either stop dividing or self-destruct. Those cells that continue to divide, and the tissues they make up, show physical signs of deterioration, from wrinkling skin to a weakening cardiovascular system.

The research, which was recently published by the journal Molecular Systems Biology, shows that when an ageing cell discover serious damage to its DNA (caused by the wear and tear of life) the cell transmits specific distress signals that trigger the cell’s energy-producing power packs, the mitochondria, to manufacture free radical molecules, which in turn give the directions to the cell either to destroy itself or to stop dividing. The cells likely are programmed to do this to avoid allowing the damaged DNA to exist, as that causes cancer.

This study identifies additional major causative factors in addition to the role of telomeres, the protective tips on the ends of human chromosomes, which gradually become shorter as we grow older. This new information does not deny the importance of telomere shortening, but it illustrates that there are additional, vital factors, and the biology is very complicated.

These new findings indicate that we have a much better chance of making a successful attack on age-related diseases while at the same time avoiding the risk of unwanted side-effects such as cancer. We need to be very careful in researching new ways to prevent cellular aging, however, because the last thing we want to do is to help age-damaged cells to become malignant ones.

Fish Oils May Slow Genetic Aging

Now there is more good news for all of you that are taking your Fish oil, and more good reason to if you are not. Happily, a recent study, supported by grants from the American Heart Association and the Bernard and Barbro Foundation, shows that omega-3 fatty acids may slow biological aging.

Researcher Ramin Farzaneh-Far, MD, of the University of California San Francisco, and his colleagues followed 608 patients with known coronary artery disease for a period of five years. Blood tests were taken to identify their telomere lengths at the beginning and end of the study. Research has shown that the length of telomeres may be a marker of biological age; theoretically, the longer one’s telomeres, the younger one is, biologically speaking. Therefore, measuring telomere length at both the beginning and end of the study enabled the researchers to understand how rapidly their telomeres were shortening, i.e., how quickly (or slowly) each patient was biologically aging. “The results of our study underscore the recommendations of the American Heart Association, that patients with known coronary artery disease should be getting at least one gram a day of omega-3 fish oil,” Farzaneh-Far said.

Biological age differs from actual age, as it takes into account both genetics and environmental stressors that damage cells. For example, one of two 45-year-old men may have a younger biological age based on genetic factors, even though both have similar habits. It pays to have “good genes,” and not just for beauty but for longevity, as well. However, this study suggests that upping your intake of omega-3 may help you lower your biological age.

So how do omega – 3s stop telomeres from getting smaller and, therefore, prolong life?

Oxidative stress is a major driver of telomere shortening and aging. Oxidative damage causes stress on normal body functions, leading to a gradual loss of vital functions later in life. This process is commonly believed to occur as a result of the aging process. The researchers agreed that the study was limited, at it made no provision for proof of cause and effect. In other words, there was no placebo used, and there was no consideration of other lifestyle issues—perhaps those with the highest levels of omega-3’s also did other things that kept their telomeres longer. This was a complaint by some physicians.

Further, since the research focused on telomere length in leukocytes, the findings might not be the same for heart cells. I certainly very much agree that omega-3 fatty acids have a positive effect on the fats that circulate through the body, i.e., triglyceride levels. High triglyceride levels are a risk factor for heart disease. They also have a potent positive impact on lipids that circulate in the blood stream and damage the heart. The effects of omega-3 fatty acids on lipids are still the best advertisement for their use to prevent heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids lower triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol, and stabilize cell membranes — all of which may reduce risk for coronary artery disease and sudden cardiac death.

So remember to take your fish oil daily!

DOES EXERCISE REALLY DELAY AGING… and WHAT ARE “TELOMERE’S ANYWAY?”

Exercise is not always a fun activity and often it’s hard to find the time to do it on a regular, ongoing basis – believe me, I know. But I have really great news. We now have direct evidence of the anti-aging benefits of physical exercise. Recent research has proven that exercise does in fact have anti-aging effects at the cellular level, more specifically, on our telomere shortening mechanism which is regarded as our “biological clock.”

“WHAT’S A TELOMERE” YOU ASK…?
Telomeres are “caps” at the end of our chromosomes. These caps buffer against DNA damage which includes cell division, oxidation, inflammation, etc. Telomere dynamics serve as the index of our biological age. As we age, telomeres shorten, fray and degrade. When it becomes too short the cell dies. Exercise activates the critical telomerase enzyme which stabilizes the telomere. This slows down the shortening process, which lengthens the life of body cells, which lengthens our life and the quality of it. Yes, ladies & gentlemen! Exercise really could prevent cardiovascular aging!

RESULTS CONFIRMED – EXERCISE REALLY DOES WORK!
All this good news comes from a team of German scientists who studied professional runners (average age 20) and the effects of intense exercise over a given period of time; results were compared with middle-aged athletes (average age 51) and finally against same aged, untrained, healthy non-smoking athletes who did not exercise regularly. Guess what the results were… The fitness level of the trained athletes was superior. Clearly, age-related telomere loss was significantly lower in those endurance athletes, regardless of age. Ulrich Laufs, MD of Saarland University, Hamburg, Germany was the lead researcher in this study.

I’ve always believed in the virtues of physical activity and continue to practice what I preach to my patients by strongly encouraging everyone to get into a regular fitness program. I’ll be glad to discuss it with you and help you make good choices.

I appreciate the researchers who stayed by the bits and pieces to bring us this good news. There are more studies, with equal results, and which show that our bodies can act and look 10+ years younger than our actual age – if we will do the work!

Let me know how you’re doing in this area and what other questions you may have.

At Rejuvalife Vitality Institute, we work with you from the inside out!

Here’s to your longevity!

Dr. Berger