Is it really possible – Dog 182 years old?

We all know that one human year is equivalent to seven dog years but is it really possible to live to 182 years. Based on reasonable evaluation of gerontology research, we could estimate the real lifespan of Pusuke to have been 100 to 110 years old

for dogs, the physiological and chronological age doesn’t follow a linear relationship. Apparently, young dogs tend to age very fast, while the rate of aging does thereafter slow down in middle age. In late life, the aging process re-accelerates, as for instant:

- A Miniature Poodle is after one calendar year equivalent to 11 dog years old
- A Miniature Poodle is 42 dogs years at middle age, while 14 human years is equivalent to 67 years
- For Great Danes – with shorter lifespan – after one calendar year the dog is 27 years
- Great Danes at 7 years is equivalent to 59 dog years and at 14 years, 98 dog years.

Longevity of Dogs

For mammals such as dogs, their longevity is influenced by various factors such as body weight and breed. Small dogs tend to outlive bigger dogs. This shows that there is an inverse relation between longevity and body weight. This is something that applies uniquely for dogs, as for other mammals the contrary applies.

Researchers Forgot the Cat!

There is less research available on cat age in association to human age. But a Siamese cat is believed to have lived up to 23 years.

Related Articles:

1. Your Dog’s Lifespan Is Determined by Its Personality
2. What Can Human Beings Learn From Dogs Regarding Longevity?

Source: WEB MD

Bioscience, Gerontology

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Recently, a group of research from University of Pittsburgh confirmed that they had found the secret behind a rodent’s fountain of youth.

In the University, there is a colony of progeria mice; mice which have been infected with a rare disease, inducing them to die from old age after 21 days. Yet, when the researcher group took these progeria mice, which were just about to die and injected them with stem cells taken from younger and healthier cousins the dying mice recovered and stayed alive for an addition 2 to 4 weeks.

Dr. Laura Niedernhofer, lead research said that the size and lifespan of these progeria mice could be triple through this method.

It is more than a century that researchers have been using mice for medical experiments. The mice used nowadays are tweaked and engineered, sharing blood, livers as well as brain tissues of other groups of species. The Pittsburgh progeria mice are, however, quite different from human and will probably not provide an immediate answer on how to increase human longevity.

Even so, engineered or so called re-made rodents are increasingly becoming alike to human; the disparity between man and mouse are slowly vanishing. Not only are the differences fading but researchers do nowadays even have a deeper knowledge of rodents than human and any other creature found on earth. For research, rodents are indispensable.

Some History: Mice & Laboratory Research

Ostensibly, the first vaccination against cancer was done on a mouse. In addition, mice do already have treatments for baldness as well as capsules to save them from Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, mouse is the only animal to have been involved in hoverboard-style levitation as well, they have had their brain simulated in a computer. They were even the first non-human mammal to have had their whole genome mapped.

Everything began in 1902, when a scientist named William Castle, brought pet mice to the Harvard Genetics Laboratory, and now rodents have been the back-bone of almost all the key drug treatments as well as medical procedures used in modern medical care. According to Dr. Janet Rossant, who is the senior scientist as well as chief research at Tornoto’s SickKids Research Institute, almost all the major drugs marketed today have been the result of mouse models in developing drugs.

Statistics are surprising; in 2010, a total of 1,132,706 mice had been killed in Canadian laboratories. In any year, mice make up to 50 percent of the animals used in laboratories, and the second most commonly used animal is rats.

There are strong similarities between humans and mice. They both have immune system, circulatory systems and skeletons. In addition, mice and human can suffer from similar health predicaments such as diabetes, cancer, heart diseases, and with some minor genetic modification, mice suffer even from Alzheimer’s disease and cystic fibrosis. In laboratory terms, using mice makes sense; they are cheap, have a lifespan of 12 weeks and are easy to maintain. In other words, in the term of a single semester, several studies can be completed.

According to Dr. Michele Martin, who is a veterinary director at the University of Victoria, apparently ‘almost any disease’ you can find you will come to know that there is ‘a mouse model’ that has been used to ‘describe it’.

In 1929, the Lab Mouse Pioneer C.C. Little, Jackson Laboratory was founded, which is today’s leading supplier of so called genetically modified mice. There are more than 5,000 different strains of mice in the laboratory. The cost for a classic ‘dilute brown’ mouse, which is the oldest in the catalogue is roughly $30 a piece. It was first developed in 1909.

In the beginning mice were changed in the same way as dog breeders had changed wolves into Chihuahuas; selective inbreeding. However, in the 1980s, genetic engineering was available and since then it has been much easier to tweak and create customized mice.

In 2002, the first non-human animal, the rodent had its whole genome mapped. The mice had 99% of its gene shared with humans. This gave rise to a whole new agenda of scientific research.

In modern research, mice are no longer kept in wire-bottom cages; they are placed in large collective cages. This makes the mice happier and for research, it is better to have normal animals involved in research for more accurate results.

From 2000 to 2009, the number of mice euthanized in Canadian Laboratory experiments amounted to 10 million, which are equivalent to 3,000 mice per day.

Universities in China, Korea and Japan have an annual memorial day every year to serve homage to all animals that have been killed in research as well as experiments. The ceremony is a way for research communities to show their indebtedness to laboratory animals; as today almost every pill bottle sold in pharmacy across the globe are the result of thousands of mice.

In 1929, penicillin was first discovered, but it was only in 1940 that Oxford University could understand how penicillin worked, and it was thanks to research conducted on mice. Similarly, meningitis as well as polio vaccines are mainly a result of the lab mice.

According to Dr. Rossant, mice are ‘very, very powerful systems’ to comprehend the distinct pathways of severe diseases. Yet, lab mice are not perfect. There is a dozen of cures available for cancer which works on mice but not yet on humans. In addition, Thalidomide is a drug that caused defects to almost 10,000 children, noting that it had no negative effects on mice.

The degenerative disease, ALS, which Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist suffers from have various rodent-based therapies – yet – the 70 years-scientist will probably not live long enough to see the therapy available for humans.

In the 100 years that mice have been used for research, the aim has always been to change the rodent into a so called tiny human being. Nowadays, rodents have human blood, humne immune system, human organs, and they even have the bad human traits such as violence, alcoholism, drug addiction as well as gluttony.

In December 2011, the U.S Based national Institute of Health, reduced funding for additional research on chimpanzees as a progressive step to prevent research on chimpanzee. Chimps have been considered to human to have laboratory experiments justified. Several countries around the world have mirrored the widespread discontent of chimpanzee research through the so called ‘save Gabon’

Yet, mice are increasingly becoming like human, as the engineered mice aren’t really as the traditional mice.

Source: national Post

Anti Aging, Bioscience, Stem cells

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Telomeres gives DNA sequences present at the end of chromosomes a protection to sustain cell viability, and also to avoid different chromosomes to mess-up. Several studies have been carried out to comprehend the relation between typical aging and telomere decline. However, no clear evidence has been revealed on humans.

Longevity studies relying on telomere length has commonly been scrutinized only against one to two hallmarks being the lifespan itself of an individual. From University of Glasgow, in UK, ecologist Pat Monaghan and his team found that continuous evaluation of telomere length of zebra Finch’s lifespan clearly showed that the length of telomere were a strong indicator of the lifespan of the bird. The most accurate measures were revealed as per those taken on birds being only 25 days old. The study was recently published in: Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences.

At the Spanish, national Cancer Research Centre in Madrid, María Blasco says that understanding the importance of telomere length as an indicator of longevity is very important. Basco wasn’t involved in the study but as a Chief Scientific Adviser for a Madrid-based company, life length which advertises for their products; measuring telomere lengths as to find an individual’s ‘biological age’

According to Monaghan, the study doesn’t say that you should go and have your telomeres measured. It will take quite some time makes sure that it has the same effect on long-lived species such as humans.

Early Studies, have constantly linked telomere shortening to accelerated ageing as well as diseases such as Dyskeratosis Congenita. However, researchers have been unable to fully link how telomere length affects normal aging. According to Monaghan, previous studies had the weakness that samples were mainly taken from only one individual rather than periodical samples.

Monaghan selected the Zebra finch which is a small Australian bird with a lifespan in captivity of nine years. The relatively short lifespan of the bird made it possible to have astounding results within a single decade. As for human, a similar study would take decades to complete. Although that mouse has an even shorter lifespan, they aren’t really comparable to humans as species with shorter lifespan doesn’t have sophisticated body maintenance mechanisms.

In the study of the Australian birds, a total of 99 zebra finches was included. The finding concluded that longer telomeres were associated with longer lifespan. Apparently, the link was the strongest for birds who were only 25 days – at 25 days a Zebra Finch is almost fully grown – but reliant on their parents for food. However, for humans, it is difficult to find the comparative age.

Monaghan’s team is now trying to determine the reason why the longest telomere at only 25 days does show a more accurate indication of longevity. Is it inheritance or environmental factors, which influence the length of the telomeres? It has been noted that stress tend to fasten the shortening of telomeres.

According to Baird, the fact that telomere length is linked to longevity doesn’t mean that telomeres are the drivers for the aging process. Telomere might simply be a marketer for cellular aging. There are other factors such as weight of the birds that need to be analyzed, to comprehend how other determinants are also influencing lifespan.

Sources: Nature, PNAS PDF and PNAS

Bioscience, Gerontology, Longevity

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Results conducted on fruit flies have been positive. However, whether these results are applicable to long lived species such as humans is still under scrutiny. Let’s first have a better understanding of the fruit flies. It is specie, which has a tremendously short lifespan; from being an egg to become an adult takes only 7 days. The short lifespan of fruit flies have made them a standard prototype of longevity research both for physiology and genetics studies.

A dedicated research team from The University of California, Los Angeles and Salk Institute for Biological studies altered the genes of the intestinal stem cells of the fruit fly (Drosophila Melanogaster). These cells are called dPGC-1, a cell structure present in human’s DNA under the name of PGC-1. The change induced the fruit flies’ intestine with slower aging, and therefore, they enjoyed a 50 percent longer lifespan.

For both mammals and flies, PGC-1 gene cells are responsible for the control of various mitochondria presents in animal’s cells. The mitochondria is considered as being the power plant, as it is where fats and sugar from food are turned into energy used for cellular performance. Earlier studies had shown that calorie-restriction provided animals with more mitochondria. So the scientists made a test to understand what would happen if PGC-1 were given an even higher excess of mitochondria.

Genetic engineering methods were used to make the Fruit flies’ PGC-1 gene alike to organisms that were under calorie restriction diets. In other words, the volume of mitochondria and energy in cells were increased. The effect after increasing the speed of the stem and progenitor cells of the fruit flies’ intestine was that the intestinal tissues experienced a better response mechanism and therefore, cells became healthier as well as the fruit flies lived longer.

In correlation to the level of genetic engineering induced to the fruit flies, their lifespan was extended by 20 to 50 percent in comparison to a normal fruit fly.

The scientists suggest that the PGC-1 can act as a potential biological tool to delay aging, and it would be possible to develop drug and therapies targeting this age-brake. According to, the team, the theory is that when dPGC-1 was boosted with mitochondria, the stem cell was stimulated to energize intestinal tissues and therefore, ensuring healthier intestines for the fruit flies.

According to Leanne Jones who is an associate professor at Salk’s laboratory of Genetics as well as the lead researcher of the project, delaying aging of crucial single organ such as for the current experiment the intestine can have significant benefits on overall longevity and health. For example, in case of disease, it might be essential to emphasis on having particular organs healthy and in this case, PGC-1 might be the pathway.

The complete research is available in November’s Cell Metabolism and at University of California, Los Angles and Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Source: Gizmag, Salk Institute, Cell Metabolism and University of California.

Bioscience, Health And Aging, Stem cells

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For instance, HSCs that are present in adult mammals’ bone marrow does produce all the blood cells in our body. So unveiling the secret of the origin of these cells provide an advance understanding in how embryonic stem cells can be better used to produce new blood cells, which can be utilized for blood therapies.

Speck does also act as an Investigator for the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute and Penn. This study was recently released in the Cell Stem Cell.

According to speck, the main aim of stem-cell therapies is to inject stem cells into particular cell lineage to either substitute dead or diseased cells present both in children and adult humans. However, to be able to make this a reality, it is essential to comprehend how cells differentiate as an embryo.

In earlier studies, it was said that HSCs was derived from a minor population of cells lining blood vessels known as endothelial cells. Yet, it has been unexplained how endothelial cells could change to blood stem cells such as HSCs.

There are various stages that the embryo undergoes in the process of transiting to blood-cells. The first stage is the provision of a source of oxygen to the embryo, and the last stage is the final development of HSCs which will be present in adult bone marrow. The first phase of creating progenitors such as induced pluripotent stem cells or embryonic stem cells has successfully been done in laboratories. However, all effort and attempt to generate hematopoietic stem cells as been fruitless.

According to Speck, it is essential to understand the origin of HSCs, in order to be able to generate hematopoietic stem cells from induced pluripotent stem cells or embryonic cells.

This current study has helped haematologist to go one step ahead. Biologists are now able to produce blood cells from typical endothelial cells. These cells can equally be controlled in the embryo. However, HSCs can only be produced from particular endothelial cells. There were unique markers used to understand the sequence of how to produce HSCs. A marker, known as Ly6a when induced to endothelial cells generated HSCs while if not used other distinct waves of blood cells were produced in the first stage.

This recent discovery will support progress in research of HSCs, and this will be important in delivering effective stem-cell therapies to patients with leukemia (patients who are unable to identify appropriate donors will be able to produce HSCs from their own cells). It would also be suitable for patients with blood cancer who could have blood cells replaced with stem-cell therapies.

The research carried out by Nancy Speck, PhD, professor’s team was funded by the National Lung, Blood and heart Institute.

Source: Science Daily

Bioscience, Stem cells

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In the Time Magazine, in May 1933, the secret of why Li was able to live long was explained in an article entitled “Tortoise-Pigeon-Dog”. The key to longevity was defined by four behaviours:

1. Maintain a quiet heart
2. Be idle like a tortoise
3. Move actively like the pigeon
4. Rest like a Dog

It was believed that Mr. Li has some uncommon habits. He abstained drinking, smoking and had his meals only on particular times. In addition, he was a vegetarian and did often drink wolfberry tea.

In his lifestyle, he did also have a regulated sleeping pattern, sleeping early and waking up early. As when time permitted him, he sat straight with closed eyes and his hands on the lap, motionless for hours.

On free-time, he played cards and lost enough money for his counterpart to buy a meal for the day. He was loved by everyone thanks to his generous behaviour.

As education, Mr. Li devoted his time to scrutinize Chinese herbs to try to reveal the secrets of longevity. It involved travelling to various Provinces in China and going even as far as to Thailand to find herbs to cure illnesses.

Of course, it is still unknown whether Mr. Li really lived as long as claimed. But what we do know about him, is that his finding matches modern research done on herbs supporting longevity.

Modern Research

In 2009, the book “ The Blue Zones” were written by Dan Buettner. The subtitle of the book was: “Lessons for Living Longer from the People, Who’ve Lived The Longest” explored condition which promoted longevity across cultures, populations, geographic location and lifestyles from all over the world.

It included groups such as: Okinawans, Costa Ricans, Sardinians, and the Californian Adventists, who actually have the highest rate of people reaching their 100th birthday. In these areas which Dan Buettner named as “blue zones” people do on average live at least 12 years more than the average.

In the research carried-out by Buettner, there were herbal similarities to all the blue-zone groups, meaning that all blue zones had a diet emphasized on legumes. For example, the Adventists in Loma Linda, California ate a high amount of greens & legumes, as stated in the Bible. The Sardinians ate whole-grain bread, special wine, and cheese produced from fresh grass-fed animals.

As a conclusion, the research suggested that low-calorie diets extend the lifespan of people in these regions. The okinawans, they do strictly follow Confucian rule of only eating until the stomach is 80 percent full.

For Mr Li, the wolfberry tea must have helped him to live to an advanced age. Specialists from France and Britain were extremely fascinated by Li’s longevity and decided to conduct elaborate research on wolfberry. Surprisingly, a new vitamin named “vitamin X” or so called “beauty vitamin” was found. Their study concluded that wolfberry stops the accumulation of fat as well as encourage the development of new liver cells, lower cholesterol and blood glucose… and the list goes on.

Wolfberry has a rejuvenation role: it boosts up endocrine glands and brain cells; improves the production of hormones; eliminate toxins that are formed in the blood, this assures that the body sustains its typical function of tissues and organs.

Meditation

In addition, to consuming tea, an exercise that usually follows is meditation. From the University of Massachusetts Medical School, neuroscientists carried out an experiment on highly stressed technology-related employees. The employees were split into two groups; one of the groups was said to meditate for eight weeks while the second group continued to work in their stress.

In the research published in Psychology 2003 “showed a pronounced shift in activity to the left frontal lobe.” Such change in mental focus reduces the bad effects of stress, anxiety and mild depression. It was also noted that there was a lower activity level in the amygdale, a region where the brain deals with fear.

Apart from only being a stress relief, mediation improves mood and inhibits the speed at which the brain shrinks while aging.

From Buettner’s Blue Zone research, it was found that relaxation time does significantly reduce inflammation, a product of stress. As for the Adventists in California who preserved their 24-hour Sabbath day had a time to pray, reflect and to have fun within their social circles.

Longevity & Society

According to Buettner’s research, the society in which you live in does influence how long you live. For instance, Okinawans have many friends and with whom they like to share everything with. The Sardinian show great respect to elders and the Adventists are highly family oritented.

The study suggests that sense of belonging with family and healthy friends encouraging people to live healthy, actually support longevity.

The so Rosetans, which is an Italian group of people who has migrated to Bangor, Pennsylvania, has a low risk of heart diseases. This was found in a study carried out by Malcolm. Apparently, it was neither their diet nor gene that supported their remarkable healthy survival rate.

The secret of the Rosetans potential to live longer was the social structure that isolates them from the stress of the modern world. The environment and surrounding that they had created supported their health.

Buettner’s study also found that across the blue-zone, people weren’t interested in retirement. Their emphasis was on continuing to do what they were already doing.

For the Sardinians as well as Okinwans the sunset years represent the symbol of purpose of life. In these areas, centenarians were seen climbing hills and climbing. Contrary, to the western civilisation who exercise for a purpose, these centenarians simply have an active life.

Source: The Epoch Times.

Bioscience, Lifestyle, Longevity

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The elixir of youth is being developed in various labs. One of the potential secrets of the fountain of youth might be revealed from the roundworm.

An organism, as small as a comma, is being scrutinized from various angles by a bio-chemist Cynthia Kenyon and her team. They have found that a mixture of rare genes tend to delay the aging of this same organism.

The director of the Hillblom, Center for the Biology of Aging, Kenyon gave a fruitful presentation of her research on how to extend youth, at TED Global 2011 (Held in Edinburg -Scotland)

The roundworm is very popular in aging research as it gets old and wrinkled in only 10 days, while in two weeks they are already gone. However, Kenyon was able to increase the lifespan of the roundworm six-fold by altering the worm’s DNA daf-2 gene.

The mutated roundworm, (mutated of the daf-2 gene) experienced delayed aging. In the beginning, the worm aged 100 percent slower than a typical worm; in other words, it took the mutated worm 2 days to have the same aging effect that a normal worm would experience in one day.

Kenyon said to the ABC News that something that was considered impossible had been done. Worms that were supposed to be dead weeks ago are still alive. They are even moving as young worms.

In the laboratory, roundworms that were considered as being 90 human years appeared to be as vital as 30 years. According to Kenyon, this remarkable progress in engineering of mutation provides significant insight into anti-aging research.

Kenyon emphasized in her TED speech that, in the world around us; different species of animals have varied lifespan. For example, turtle specie known as Blanding turtles show the art of aging slowly. We can find turtles of the kind being 70 years and 20 years, looking the same. It is almost impossible to demarcate the 50 years of difference.

According to Kenyon’s research, the daf-2 gene might have similar effect on the longevity of humans. A research carried out showed that people living above 100 years where more likely to have a mutation of this same gene in comparison to those who die earlier. However, more research needs to be done to validate the information.

Kenyon even mentioned that in 15 years from now, a youth-boosting drug might already be released on the market.

Full Video From TED

Cynthia Kenyon: Experiments that hint of longer lives

Source: ABC News and TED

Anti Aging, Bioscience, Longevity

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Patrick Schrauwen from Maastricht University, who headed this research, which was published in the online version of the journal named Cell Metabolism. They result of the study was considered highly interesting. He said that the research team discovered several effects, and all indicated hopes of improved metabolism in humans.

Resveratrol has interested scientists since its effect on substances such as yeast, mice and fruit flies resulted in benefits similar to those of a diet; increase the life span of several different species. In order to live longer and better, some people self-impose strict restrictions on the intake of calories. However, few people can put up with such restrictions.

Mice were also reported to have experienced protective benefits from Resveratrol such as resistance against diabetes and obesity. It also increased their enduring capacity and made them less prone to being overweight, thereby inducing longevity.

Some scientists felt that the fact that French people lead a long life in spite of eating heavy fats, also known as the “French Paradox,” might be explained by the effects of Resveratrol found in red wine.

Resveratrol, which is a commonly available drug in pharmacies and groceries, is being consumed regularly by some people. However, its expected benefits to humans were never established formally. Scientists haven’t really comprehended if there is any risk associated in consuming high dosage of resveratrol. Researchers even doubted the validity of early research on Resveratrol.

The healthy but obese men were given a placebo or Resveratrol dose of 150 mg for a month by Schrauwen in the latest study. He then moved those on Resveratrol to placebo and vice-versa, for the next 30 days. At the time of every change, the effect on their metabolism was examined by a series of elaborate tests.

Effects similar to those observed in animals, such as, reducing the rate of metabolism, stopping the fat from accumulating in the liver, reduced levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, inflammation and triglycerides, and improving muscle efficiency were observed in humans treated with Resveratrol. There were no specific side effects reported.

National Institute of Aging scientist Rafael de Cabo, who has been experimenting with effect of Resveratrol in apes, finds this to convey immense promise and significant development.

It was observed by the experts that the amount of Resveratrol used in the ape trials was less than that what consumed by most people daily. To equal the effect, a minimum of two gallons of red wine was given to the apes.

Other experts who are also conducting studies on Resveratrol as well as another protein enhancing compounds known as Sirtuins, have appreciated the findings of this study.

David A. Sinclair from Harvard Medical School said that this study has emerged at a time when diabetes and obesity have reached an alarming level and are still growing. Sirtuins seem to be a promising intervention to people who are obese and practices no physical activities.

Leonard P. Guarante, a researcher studying the phenomenon of aging at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stressed the importance of this research on Sirtuins, which strongly endeavors to establish the scope of Sirtuins as the latest way to combat human ailments.

However, Schrauwen and other scientists warned that, in order to confirm Resveratrol’s long-term health benefits to people who are not obese is real more research need to be conducted. The study needs to be followed with more subjects and wider sample studies.

Stephen Helfand from Brown University said that it may seem a bit early now; a day will soon come when the human race will be looking back at the stage when Resveratrol was just discovered. To see the astounding progress in medical science, especially on anti-aging medicine, that grape medicine has. People will consider it as a significant point in the history of anti-aging research.

Helfand said that this discovery of molecules, which are creating such powerful benefits towards disorders of aging and increasing longevity, are crucial for aging research. This may also be regarded as significant as the advent of antibiotics as means to cure infectious diseases. Helfand considered it to be extraordinary to be a part of the aging biology research.

Source: Washington Post

Anti Aging, Bioscience

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A group of researchers from National Taiwan University & Johns Hopkins have managed to alter the lifespan of typical single-celled yeast organisms. This was achieved by comprehending how to restore and remove protein associated with the aging of yeast.

The biologist found that whenever the age-related enzyme variant was removed the lifespan of the organism was significantly reduced. However, restoring the same protein led to a radical extension to the lifespan.

Jef Boeke, Director of the Hit Center & Technology Center for Network & Pathways, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine said for yeast, the study unveiled that a particular molecular component associated to the aging pathway appeared similar to the pathway that regulates the lifespan and longevity of humans.

According to Boeke, this is the first research that found a particular bio-chemical pathway of youth and aging, which is totally unrelated to diets.

Boeke says that a particular chemical type called acetylation forming part of the acetyl group of molecules goes on and off. It is similar to another enzyme Sip2, which works in the same way as decoration. It goes on and off.

Besides, acetylation is a necessary protein to enable organisms as well as systems to better and faster adapt to environments.

The researchers found that acetylation of the enzyme Sip2 influenced longevity in a particular way. It dictated how frequently the yeast cell could divide thus influencing the replicative life span.

In general, the replicative lifespan of yeast is 25 years. However, when the yeast was genetically modified to be able to restore the chemical alteration the lifespan of the yeast increased to 38, which is a rise of approximately 50 percent.

The scientists did manipulate the lifespan of the yeast by mutating various chemical residues, to create a similar effect to the acetylated and de-acetylated type of the enzyme Sip2.

This study was published in the Cell, September, 16. According to Jin-Ying Lu, M.D., PH.D., from National Taiwain University, the next step is now to test whether the same is true for other mammalian cells.

Source: Times of India

Anti Aging, Bioscience, Lifestyle

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One such experiment, which slowed the aging process in mice, used a process of either flushing all the old and dead cells out of the organism.

The huge amount of caution needs to be exercised in case of experiments in mice applies. In spite of this, this study is the first of its kind, which has manually affected cell aging – whose significance has been a debatable topic among biologists for several decades – thereby introducing the scope to determine its effect in aging in humans.

The results are definitely visible, even though only a single strain of mice genes was modified. These mice were already treated in such a way that their heart would eventually be affected, hence died as pre-determined. But they definitely had much better health.

Mayo Clinic’s Darren Baker, who is a specialist in gerontology, said that the mice were healthy right until the moment of their death.

On 2nd November, the journal ‘Nature’ published the experiment of Baker and his colleague, which killed those mouse cells which produced a protein known as p16Ink4a or p16 in short.
All by itself, p16 is not the entire story. It restrains tumor. But a more important fact is that it is termed as a biomarker which indicates more to it. If a cell is found to be containing p16, there is a probability that it has attained its limit of replication, and saturation point in the process of aging.

This process of slowing down is a normal occurrence in the life cycles of cells was first brought to light by biologists Paul Moorhead and Leonard Hayflick. Incessant division of cells is tantamount to Cancer. It was suggested that cellular senescence had its own limitations by scientists in the 1990.

The cells, whose functioning was slowed down, refused to die out. If they died, they would be flushed out by tissues. On the contrary, they would just remain there, while cell-polluting substances and inflammatory proteins would ooze out of them. Abnormality in the functioning of tissues that is a result of cell-aging is believed by many researchers to lead to heart disease, cancer and other age-related disorders.

Although this hypothetical phenomenon looks apparently credible in cell cultures and samples of tissues from cadavers, living aging animals have not been tested with it.

Director of the Division of Aging Biology of the National Institute on Aging Division (which provided funds for this research), Felipe Sierra, said that ultimately what matters is the result of increasing or decreasing cellular aging in an animal. It is here that the hypothesis features, thereby making it very important.

Baker, along with Jan van Deursen, a gerontologist at the Mayo Clinic, led their team who initiated this experiment by giving rise to an unnaturally aging mice strain. Inactivation of p16 and other genes linked to cell aging in mice at the embryonic stage, led to the normal aging process.

It indicated the significance of cell-aging alright, but would have been more convincing if the treatment were given to mice who had gone through cellular aging for the majority of their lives. To demonstrate such a desired effect, a mouse strain that would age faster was designed by van Deursen and Baker. This new mouse strain could dispense cells producing p16 from eyes, fatty tissues and muscles, when treated with the drug.

After the drug was administered, the mice’s muscles ceased to release waste. There was no growth of cataracts. They were in very good health right until the time their hearts stopped functioning. These organs were not affected by the cell-aging stoppage breakthrough.

Sierra spoke about the apparent relevancy of senescence by acknowledging the part it essays in disorders brought on with age.

However, Baker and Sierra both recommended to treat with caution. Applying this phenomenon to diseased mice kept in a germ-free environment is much easier than applying it to mice that are healthy. It could give rise to hitherto unexpected effects. It was termed as ‘Proof of Principle’ by Baker and ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’ by Sierra.

University of Texas’s gerontology expert Steven Austad, who did not play any part in the research, supported these warnings. He shed light on the fact that many experiments which succeed when performed on mice turn out to be more complex than initially thought to be. In very recent times, a lifespan increasing drug, which was much touted, faced a loss of credibility when newer findings did not prove the drug to live up to its promise.

Austad said that the proof about the existence of a technology that could be used to kill cell-aging in specific tissues is the most interesting thing even more interesting in than the effect of the animal itself. He said that the way to do this has been uncovered with great difficulty, and it paves the way for much bigger developments ahead in time. This carries the rise of an ever-present query for experts – what role does cell-aging play in aging of the entire animal?

According to Sierra, results are a bit difficult to obtain as the aging process differs across different cell cultures and tissue types. For example, cells of the brain are already being tested.

Sierra said that this study of senescence has been evolving for the past five decades and the excitement is unlimited.

Source: Wired

Anti Aging, Bioscience

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