These researches are hoping that this might imply that the consumption of Vitamin D supplements will prove to be a simple yet effective way to fight against the diseases caused due to the aging of the eyes in people. One such disease is the macular degeneration.

The group of researchers where from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London. The journal Neurobiology of Ageing has recently published the report.

The explanation given by the team leader, Professor Glen Jeffery, is as such: The retina, a layer of tissue, can be found in mammals like the mice and humans. It is positioned at the back of their eyes. The retina is very crucial in the seeing process. It is the cells of the retina that identifies light when it comes in the eyes. It then sends the brain messages and as a consequence we are able to see. This process is a very demanding one. In fact the retina consumes proportionally much more energy as compared to other tissues in the human body. Blood circulation needs therefore to be at its best there.

Nevertheless, as one age, this demand of high energy leads to a production of debris. Consequently, in animals, a gradual inflammation can be seen. While in human beings, this can produce a decline reaching 30% in the quantity of cells that are receptive to light that found in the eye when we reach out 70th birthday. As a result we have a poorer sight.

The research that was carried out showed that if there was an intake of Vitamin D for merely six weeks, the inflammation in the old mice decreased. A partial removal of the debris was also observed. Subsequently, based on tests done, there was an improvement in the vision of the mice.

In accordance to the researchers this improvement in the sight of the mice can be linked to two changes that took place. In the first instance, there was a significant reduction in the quantity of macrophages, a potentially destructive cell, in the eyes those mice which were provided the Vitamin D.

Macrophages have a crucial role to play in our immune system. Their work consists in fighting off infections. On the other hand, due to aging, they can become dangerous in their fight against threats. As such, they can become the cause of damage as well as inflammation.

The reduction in the quantity of macrophages in the mice eyes was not the sole consequence of the Vitamin D. The latter even prompted the outstanding macrophages to alter to a new configuration. Instead of causing damage to the eyes, the researchers believe that in their different configuration the macrophages have dynamically worked to decrease the inflammation and clean up the debris.

The other change that the researchers witnessed in the mice eyes which were provided with the Vitamin D was that there was a decrease in the deposit of amyloid beta. Amyloid beta is a toxic molecule that amasses as one grows old. In human beings, the inflammation and amassing of amyloid beta can contribute to an augmented threat of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is biggest reason of blindness in persons that are above 50 years old in developed countries. Based on the results of their research, the researchers are of view that the intake of Vitamin D supplements might prove to be the simplest way to help in the prevention of AMD in persons who are exposed to it.

Professor Jeffery stated that older mice that were provided with the Vitamin D, it was seen that the amyloid beta deposited less in the mice eyes. The latter also showed a related amelioration of sight. While some persons believe that amyloid beta is associated with the Alzheimer’s disease, this new research implies that Vitamin D may have an important role in the reduction in its growth in the brain. Therefore, when the researchers witnessed this impact in the eyes, they at once started to wonder where these deposits could be reduced as well.

Thus, the group of researchers led by Professor Jeffery continued to study a number of blood vessels of those mice. They discovered that the growth of amyloid beta, in the mice blood vessels as well as aorta, were considerably less in mice which were provided with the Vitamin D supplements.

Furthermore Professor Jeffery added that this discovery, that the deposits of amyloid were less in mice which were provided with the Vitamin D supplements, implies that Vitamin D may be used in the prevention of health pathologies that are related to aging, ranging from the deterioration of vision to heart diseases.

Professor Jeffery considers that this connection between a series of age-related pathologies and Vitamin D may be associated with our progressive history. For the majority of history, our predecessors have spent their lives in Africa, possibly without any piece of clothing, and were as a result exposed to strong sunshine all throughout the year.

This constant exposure might have possibly activated the production of Vitamin D in their skin. Man has since then shifted to less sun-drenched regions of the globe and quite recently accepted clothing as part of their lifestyle. As a result they may not be so well positioned to decrease their exposure to sunlight.

Moreover, developed countries have witnessed a great increase regarding life expectancy of people during the last few centuries. As a result, there is a tendency to associate the reduction of exposure to sunlight,that is Vitamin D, with a remarkably prolonged lifespan.

Professor Jeffery further clarified that before the researchers are able to confidently say that senior people should start the intake of Vitamin D supplements, they should firstly run complete clinical trials in man. There is nonetheless growing proofs that the majority of the citizens in the West have Vitamin D deficiency and that this may have considerable health consequences.

The Chief Executive of BBSRC, Professor Douglas Kell, advanced that there are many persons in the developed countries who are currently enjoying an unparalleled extended lifespan. However, long life does not necessarily imply good health. Several times, it is noticed that many of the senior people suffer from several illnesses as many of their body parts begin to show sign of malfunctioning.

Professor Douglas Kell proceed with his statement by adding that if one day researchers wish to have some hope that they will be able to make sure that a greater number of people are able to enjoy a productive and healthy retirement, they must therefore start to learn much more regarding the changes that occur in animals as they age.

This study has shown the extent to which an in-depth study of a mere body part may lead scientist to find out new knowledge which is more generally applicable. Through the study of basic biology of a single organ, scientists and researchers may start to make connections between several illnesses with the expectation to develop more precautionary strategies.

Source: Health Canal

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In accordance to scientists, there now exist a test that can genetically predict if a person will be able to reach his 100th birthday.

Researchers of Yale University and Boston University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Boston Medical Center, IRCCS Multimedica found in Milan in Italy had undertaken this study. This research claims that, based on the age of the subject, it is able to forecast an outstanding lifespan with up to 80% of accuracy.

According to this research, centenarians are role models of aging healthily, for the start of disability in such persons is in most cases delayed till they have reached their mid-90s.

Due to the fact that an extraordinary prolonged lifespan can run powerfully in families as well as because several studies on animals have implied that strong genes have an impact on an extended lifespan, the scientists embark on their journey to establish which are those genetic variants that have a strong role to play in man survival after his 100 years.

The research discovered that subjects who had common profile of deviation for genetic markers seem to share comparable degrees of threat for different traits or illnesses linked with outstanding longevity.

Individuals sharing such genetic characteristics may look forward to enjoy longer lives. The research may moreover provide an explanation as to why living more than 100 years old seems to run in the blood.

The findings of this study are the amended version of the work that was initially published the previous year in Science. The first version was withdrawn voluntarily. The most recent version comprises of data from very old individuals, with a mean age of 107.

An associate professor of medicine, Thomas Perls, of the Boston University School of Medicine, portrayed the results of the study as being a constructive move towards significant predictive medicine as well as personal genomics.

He advanced that when researchers are able to so this type of analysis on a complete genome series for traits which have considerable genetic mechanisms, the predictive significance should be much more.

Dr Perls went on to say that more in-depth research regarding such genetic traits could provide a profound understanding of the biological and genetic sources of postponing or avoiding age-related illnesses and thus attaining an extended lifespan.

This novel methodology regarding genetic data is applicable to several other complicated inherited characteristics. Researchers are now hoping that other research teams to apply these approaches to their fact and figures.

Source: New Zealand Herald

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Human immortality is currently only a science fiction, and if you were born in the 17th century, than it would be just a fairy tale, as the average life expectancy at that time was only 35 years. Now, the average life-expectancy for a U.S citizen is 78.6 years. In two centuries, the life expectancy has increased more than 100 percent. If this happened concurrently, people would live indefinitely in the near future.

There are different groups of scientists and gerontologists who believe that there is a limit to the potential extension of human lifespan. They say that it is somewhere around 125 years. However, others see the future quite optimistic – a world where centenarians will be walking around with people who are 500 to 1,000 years old The main hinder for an indefinite human lifespan is aging diseases such as cancer, heart disease and dementia. So currently, scientists are focusing on comprehending how to stop the aging process, and how to repair the typical wear and tear occurring in our body.

Scientists have already discovered some proven methods to increase lifespan. For instance, calorie-restriction has successfully increased the lifespan of a few creatures. The calorie restricted diet, consist of lowering calorie consumption by 30 percent and thereafter increasing intake of nutrients. For humans, this diet and eating pattern seem to be very difficult to maintain. So scientists are now trying to properly comprehend the underlining reason why calorie restriction really helps to increase lifespan. Conceiving the pathways could give rise to a potential pill to mimic the effect of the calorie restricted diet.

The advent of new generation of anti-aging pills could help to reduce free radicals; molecules causing accumulative damage to the body. Amidst other potential solutions, resveratrol, which can be found in red wine, acts an ingredient to delay aging through a genetic pathway. Other scientists believe that telomerase, an enzyme which provides protective caps (telomere) to our DNA, holds the secret to human longevity.

There are also thousands of people injecting human growth hormones to try to counteract against the fatal aging process. A train people try their best to miss.

Yet, the challenge of realizing an anti-aging pill is enormous, an experiment that takes a few decades on mice and other animals take roughly 80 years on humans. So any drug to cure aging is decades away from now

Ray Kurzweil, doesn’t want to wait for a 100 years to live longer. According to his so called ‘Singularity’ theory humans and machine will merge together and become one by 2045. Blood and flesh aren’t the strongest material for longevity. If the singularity isn’t going to be realized than other futurists are suggesting the computer back0up system where our brain can be saved into a computer system.

There is a whole legacy of longevity theories and researches conducted, so that we can one day life forever. If we are unable to live until technology permits us to live forever, we can always freeze (cryonize) our body, for future use.

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At the same time the death rate of Americans has experienced a drop of 0.5% in one single year; from 2009 to 2010. The United States death rate has witnessed its lowest rate that it has ever known. In accordance to the recent set of information received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, there are 746.2 deaths for every 100,000 persons, which is an extremely low figure.

America has been able to see a decline in its death rate as the nation’s principal killers, cancer and heart diseases, which accounted for 47% of the country’s mortality in the year 2010, have also experienced a decrease. Death due to heart disease decreased by 2.4%, and those linked with cancer went down by 0.6%.

The report has based itself on 98% of death certificates that have been made accessible to the NCHS. Certificates were obtained from the District of Columbia as well as from fifty other states.

Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine’s acting regional chair, Dr. David McClellan, stated that all these statistic is leading to the fact the there is an improvement in the nation’s health; people’s life expectancy has increased and this is great news. However, on the other hand, age-related illnesses are beginning to become more significant.

For example, pneumonitis, also known as aspiration pneumonia usually occurs when a person becomes so old and incapacitated that they are not able to swallow. Dr. David McClellan explained that this could be a result of dementia or even the after effects usually associated with stroke.

He furthermore stated that there is still much to be done regarding the fight against the obesity, smoking epidemic and unbalanced diet as well as insufficient exercise. He is of view that if the outbreak of smoking could at least be brought under control, America death rates would drop even more.

The hematology/oncology’s chairman of Ochsner Health System, located in Baton Rouge, Brooks, is even more optimistic; in his point of view, this is excellent new. Americans are being able to have a better grip on heart diseases and cancer by bringing a decrease in smoking.

Additionally, Brooks said that statins also have a significant role to play in the reduction of mortality toll due to heart disease, whereas cancer screening is proving to be beneficial in saving lives as well.

Minor changes in the positions of other grounds of mortality have also been observed.
Pneumonitis has replaced homicide, which was positioned in the first 15 category since the year 1965.

Influenza/ pneumonia and kidney disease exchanged places. The former is ranked 9th while the latter is in the 8th position.

A serious drop has been seen in influenza and pneumonia. Winthrop University Hospital’s, located in Mineola, New York, chairman of medicine, Dr. Michael Niederman, explained that some time back, they were ranked among the top six most important causes of death.

He views this being truly encouraging as according to him America is currently dealing with an older population which comprises of patients who suffer from pneumonia regularly. However, this confirms the national precedence on vaccination; pneumococcal as well as influenza.

Parkinson’s, hypertension, liver disease, septicemia, suicide, kidney disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, accidents, stroke and chronic lower respiratory diseases are among the other principal reasons of mortality.

According to Brooks, it is noteworthy that the majority of these illnesses are directly linked to the ageing population.

That is not all, mortality rates also went down for accidents (by 1.1%), respiratory diseases (by 1.4%), stroke (by 1.5%), septicemia (by 3.6%) and pneumonia and influenza (by 8.5 %) .

On the contrary, Parkinson’s disease has increased by 4.6%, cirrhosis and liver disease by 3.3%, pneumonitis by 4.1%, kidney disease by 1.3% and Alzheimer’s disease by 3.3%.
These diseases remain among the five top causes of death.

Between the year 2009 and the year 2010, a decline of 13.3% in the mortality rate of HIV/AIDS was seen. Even though the latter was not found among the fifteen principal killers, it was treated as being a considerable concern, in particular for persons aged between 15 and 64.

Infant death rate also witnessed a decline; it went down by 3.9% as from the year 2009.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that Lenox Hill Hospital’s, preventive cardiologist, Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, put in a word of caution against being too enthusiastic regarding the findings.

She expressed that while this remains good news, there is no reason to be overjoyed. The high rate in diabetes, obesity, cholesterol, blood pressure, is leading people to start getting sick much younger.

Source: Your Life USA Today

Read: Poor American Longevity Raises Questions

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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

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A group of research from University of California, San Diego found that good sex can add up to a decade of life expectancy. Satisfying sex can help people in their 80’s to enjoy a high quality of life.

From Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California, San Diego the researchers found that sexual satisfaction for elderly women was highly correlated to successful aging as well as highly quality of life.

This study was released online in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society. The report indicates that quality of life; successful aging and sexual satisfaction were strongly related even in age of 60 to 89 were women experience a decline in physical health.

In the research, 1,235 women who were involved in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was scrutinized. WHI has been a major research program sponsored by the National Institute of health since 2003, focusing on finding causes of disability, death, and levels of quality of life for above 160 thousands vigorous post-menopausal women.

In research, groups were stratified into various age groups:

- 60 to 69 years
- 70 to 79 years
- 80 to 89 years

The researchers found at the end of the study that 61 percent of the group aged 80 and above said they had a satisfied sex life.

This same study was given emphasis when published in Indian News, giving various indicators of how sexual life contributes to longevity.

A recent TNN report suggests that regular sex enhance the brain power as well as positive hormone levels of an individual. In addition, orgasm has positive effects to the immune system as well. It strengthens the infection-fighting cells by approximately 20 percent.

Surprisingly, when couple experience orgasms they should hug each other as it facilitate the excretion of oxytocin hormone, which is directly linked to life expectancy.

It is really fascinating, cuddling increase’s people’s longevity, and in addition, being in relation reduces the risk of depression and chronic diseases.

According to the research, cuddling can increase life expectancy by as much as seven years.

Besides, satisfied sex keeps you physically and mentally healthy. It enhances your heart, brain and several hormones.

Men who are involved in at least three or more times of physical relationship in a week have 50 percent less risk of stroke and heart attack.

At any age, sex induces endorphins, which make you feel good and therefore lower stress significantly.

So simply by establishing planned sex a couple can increase their longevity by 2 to more years. Generally, sex is restricted to only night hours, but this need not necessary be so. Couples should enjoy sex whenever they feel the moment is right.

In addition, healthy food is essential for an individual to be able to have an enhanced sexual performance, and therefore, healthy food is directly and indirectly linked to longevity.

If you aren’t used to practice exercise, than sex can help you to boost the blood circulation and to burn some calories. Good sex can provide the same benefit as regular exercises.

So the prescription for planned sex provides the same benefits as regular exercises; 20 minutes of active sex can augment your metabolism and burn 30 calories.

For the case, of women sex does also reduce the risk of osteoporosis problems. Apparently, middle-aged women who have sex weekly have as much as 100 percent stronger protection to bones (Oestrogen levels) in contrast to women who do not have regular sex.

So a balance diet can boost the endurance, and thereafter help to promote satisfied sex experienced, which are pleasurable and at the same time fun.

It is a great strategy to add another decade to your life expectancy; satisfied sex life.

Source: India blooms

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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.

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So does multi-vitamin really increase longevity? This is a still a debatable area and various studies produce different results.

In a review published in, ‘The New York Times’ in 2009 found after comparing various researches that supplement or vitamins did neither prevent chronic disease nor extend human lifespan.

A ‘Copenhagen University study’ which reviewed 815 different clinical trials related to the advantages of Vitamins A, E, and C, selenium and beta-carotene found no real benefits of taking such supplements. The research revealed that consuming these vitamins tended to raise the risk of death rather than longevity.

In addition, on a site called ‘Insider-medicine’ a study of a meta-analysis of 67 randomly selected clinical trials with above 200,000 participants suggested that consuming vitamins had no conclusive benefit to longevity.

Fascinating as it is, studies that are financed by pharmaceutical companies tend to reveal only the positive side of supplements and vitamins. In other words, those studies are or only good for the readers and not the users.

The fact that several studies report the same conclusion; supplements do not necessary promote longevity, gives us a doubtful trust on vitamins. Furthermore, there is a wide range of recognised institution that claims that supplements have only a minor positive effect. This makes us confused as it is contrary to our common belief.

So Does Vitamin Only Deplete Our Bank Balance?

On general people spend $75 a month of supplements and vitamins. However, this might end up being a waste of money. So why not reduce spending to $50 and the accumulative cash saving will be as much as $22k in 25 years. Instead of having consuming vitamin to live longer, save some of the money, and you will have a nice retirement pension.

There is a general belief that poor diets can be replaced with high intake of vitamins. However, the only solution to poor diets seems to be a good diet. People should consume vegetables, lean protein, fats and fresh fruits.

Nevertheless, the fact that some studies say that vitamins and supplements aren’t good for longevity doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t consume them for medical conditions. For instance, men suffering from prostate cancer should consume various vitamins. A generalist is likely going to suggest some vitamins with some new lifestyle activities.

In America, the annual expenditure on vitamins and supplements is $23 billion.

Source: CBS News

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Ray Kurzweil, an inventor, futurist as well as author of The Singularity is Near has developed documentary film: Transcendent Man.

Ray’s film is inspirational to all ages, and will possibly help to motivate funding for development of technology that can rejuvenate our organs as well as the body.

The Transcendent Man is a derivates of Kurzweil’s famous singularity prediction. New technologies starting from the simple printing press to Google are tools, which are rapidly helping new technologies to evolve even faster. In other words, the pace of innovation is an exponential curve that accelerates.

Moore’s law has been significantly explained in Kurzweil’s prediction and applied to social connection as well as informative technology. For instance, if the trend of computer was to be extrapolated, we can see super-computers occupying full-sized room, now being reduced to the size of only a laptop.

Biology is also being transcended into an informative science with progress in genomic sequencing. Machines are not only supporting research. They are even promoting better health and enabling us to overcome body limitations. In the near future, it might be even feasible to introduce nanobots into our blood stream to fight real viruses.

According to Kurzweil, in three decades henceforth singularity will be achieved, and machines will be so intelligent that human won’t be necessary to continue to innovate. The inventions will solve all possible traceable issues associated with aging and death.

Most of us considered singularity to be a provocative prediction. However, Kurzweil has made several accurate predictions such as in 1970s he said that in 1998, computer will become the world’s most performing chess player. In the 1970s this seemed impossible.

Singularity is something highly feasible; it is in line with physics laws. So it is rather a question of when it will happen than if it will happen.

Who is Ray Kurzweil, in the 1960s he was a teenager when he made a computer which analyzed as well as composed classical music. He achieved this at MIT. After school, he produced an optical character recognition (OCR) system. innovation that followed was manifold including large-vocabulary speech recognition software as well as text-to-speech software for people who were blind.

At the age of 35 years, Ray suffered from diabetes a disease that his father died from. However, instead of sitting back waiting for his grave, he decided to comprehend the chemistry behind diabetes. After fully understanding the condition, he designed a regime of various medical supplements. Currently, he claims that he has been able starve-off the havoc of age. He has even published two books on his medical research.

The film predicts that humanity will be able to go way beyond the current biological boundaries. The aim is to one day be able to overcome death and to become immortal. So in 2 decades microscopic robots should be able to heal most of our potential health predicaments.

Anti Aging, Immortality, Longevity, Nanotechnology

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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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