Johnson recently died of a myocardial infarction or a heart attack; he was 68 years of age. His brother Stanley is twelve years his senior and still plays golf three times a week and walks two miles a day. Does Stanley follow the genetic pattern of his Fathers family who all lived well into their nineties or is he just doing more of the healthy things correctly in order to live longer?
What is it about some family members who seem to outlive others by many years? For that matter, why do we age at all and what can we do to live a longer life? Is it possible we will someday live to see our great – great grandchildren get married? Would we even want to live that long? People for millennia have contemplated questions such as these and the scientific – medical communities are doing their level best to answer these questions and more regarding senescence – or aging.
Investigators are deeply into genetics and the role played by genes in the aging process to find some answers. Think of genes as tiny information vessels located in every cell in our bodies. These vessels contain the instructions our bodies require in order to develop and function. For instance, they are a determining factor of whether we get our granddad’s blue eyes or our mother’s wide hips. In others, genes can decide and or affect how long they might live.
Areas Of Exploration
There have been a couple of now called “longevity genes” located within certain living organisms. Researchers observing different species of worms and fruit flies found genes that appear to regulate the life spans of these living things. By manipulating only one of these genes, scientists have increased the life expectancy of both these specimens by almost twofold. Other groups looking into the same science have displayed that the genes exhibiting control of the age progression of yeast cells, react in the same fashion in mice The same gene can also be located in humans. Very interesting work indeed, though it is quite unlikely to be tested any time soon on humans.
Genes only play a costarring role in the human life extension drama. The way that people live their lives, lifestyle choices, is proving to be far more significant. For instance if someone smokes, they reduce their longevity, same for lack of exercise. If they are besieged by stress or eat a poor diet, they will lessen their chances of a longer life span. Some age investigators believe what people consume and how much they eat can increase life expectancy. Currently caloric restriction is the only verified means of increasing life span and it is under intense scrutiny. A restricted calorie diet is one that has thirty to forty percent les calories than the average diet plan, but all the same nutritional value. Caloric restriction appears to have an impact on the longevity of each mammal species tested to date. It has been successful in tiny, one cell organisms called protozoa, fruit flies, mice and rats.
More novel trials being conducted on monkeys are currently being evaluated and are showing considerable success as well. Primates are the closest link we have to the animal kingdom. Human trials are also now being conducted in some clinical settings while some folks are doing their own personal trials. As yet there is no result data available. There are concerns that humans will not be able to live with the limitations of such a diet.
So what happens from a science perspective with a calorie restricted diet? This is not an easy answer and they just cannot say for sure. Scientists speculate that consuming lesser amounts of calories reduces body temperature and alters the metabolism, breaking down material so it can be more easily utilized by the body. This then decreases harm done to cells and impedes other activity that can damage cells. In reality, caloric restriction looks like it slows the entire progress of aging. Restricting diets in animals has shown to slow their progress in achieving adulthood in normal time spans when compared to those not on the diet.
These animals not only appear to have an increased life span, they also have less serious illnesses or display no illness at all. Even though we still do not understand how humans will react to this process, what is known is that overweight individuals will most certainly contract age associated diseases like heart and blood vessel disease, hypertension, cancer, diabetes type 2 and arthritis.
Is there a relationship with these supposed longevity genes and how our bodies utilize foodstuffs? The solitary gene found in fruit flies that was modified to increase their life expectancy is linked to the manner in which fruit flies warehouse and utilize energy, normally obtained from diet. Other investigators examining the genetics of yeast cells have noticed a substance that appears to react with a longevity gene that enhances the life term of yeast cells. The substance also has a role in the way a yeast cell expends energy.
Authorities studying aging never really believe they will one day recommend such a dietary practice to humans. Nevertheless, these trials are aiding in their understanding of senescence in humans. They also have the potential to assist the learning curve greatly concerning disease prevention or impeding the disease process that is a part of getting older. If the caloric restriction studies really impress, scientists may be able to produce some type of medicinal intervention to mimic the diets effects on aging and disease.
The Quest For A Fountain Of Youth Pill
The express hope of many is that research will eventually result in a simple pill that will delay aging or increase youthfulness In every way. The search continues for a magic pill that will slow aging and keep people young for longer periods as if it were the modern day grail. However, in order for science investigators to hit the home run on this expectation, they need to figure out the how and why of aging processes.
Scientists have been finding particular elements like hormones within the body that alter, as we get older. The quantities of some chemicals decrease as we age. It is not a stretch to see why some experts think if we can replace these elements it would not be long before we could slow or quite possibly reverse the aging process. Retailers online and off are marketing products that enhance or are somewhat similar to these substances. Nonetheless, the advertising hype by these advertisers that their wares will extend life or even make you feel renewed youthful vigor are not verified clinically.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are found naturally in the foods we eat and these substances can assist greatly in safeguarding us from illness and disease by thwarting the harmful oxidation effects of free radicals within our bodies. Oxygen free radicals are nasty little invaders formed when body cells combine with oxygen to produce energy. Free radicals can also come from external sources such as smoking, exposure to environmentally harmful sunlight and radiation, also pollutants, contaminants and toxins. As we grow older, the damage done by free radicals accumulates. Based on one age hypothesis, this amassing of contaminants harms our cellular tissues and organs.
Your body has its own store of antioxidant defenses that will impede much of this free radical damage but not everything. Antioxidants could safeguard against cataracts and heart disease, defend against smoking damage as well as augment your immune system to fight diseases more effectively. Certain antioxidants like the enzyme superoxide dismutase [or SOD], are only capable when generated from within the body. SOD supplements do not have any effect on the body. They get broken down during the digestive process into other elements. Some additional antioxidants derived from food are:
• Beta-carotene, found in richly colored veggies and fruits
• Selenium, particularly important for men, it is found in sea foods, meat, organ meat like liver and whole grains
• Vitamin C, found in citrus fruit, tomatoes, berries and peppers
• Vitamin E, located in wheat germ, nuts, sesame seeds and oils like canola, olive and peanut
There is a question as to how much of these antioxidants you should try and consume, some experts wonder if at all. The National Academy of Science as a group recommends what kind of nutrients you require in a balanced diet and the quantity of each. They believe there is no conclusive verification that mega doses of antioxidants will have a preventive effect on chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes or vision impairment. They have provided guidelines for the safe usage of some of these antioxidants.
• Selenium – minimum of 55 mcg each day and a maximum of 400 mcg per day.
• Vitamin C – minimum of at least 75 mg each day for females and 90 mg for males, though smokers require more. None should exceed 2000 mg daily.
• Vitamin E – minimum 15 mg each day from food sources and no more than 1000 mg daily
DHEA [Dehydroepiandrosterone]
This hormone has tailored some age related transformations in animals. When rodents receive it, it augmented portions of their immune system and assisted in thwarting certain types of cancer. A number of studies conducted on older individuals have exhibited how DHEA accelerates energy and immunity , increases muscularity, reduces body fat but the research stop short of supporting claims or displaying in any way that DHEA is non hazardous.
DHEA moves in the bloodstream as a special formulation known as DHEA sulfate. It transforms into DHEA as it moves into cells. Quantities of DHEA sulfate are elevated in young people and will reduce in amount as people get older. The body transforms DHEA into two separate powerful hormones – estrogen and testosterone. Ingesting DHE supplements has been known to adversely affect some people – causing them to over produce these two hormones. This over supply can be quite dangerous. Excessive amounts of innately produced testosterone in males and estrogen in females could play a part in prostate cancer and breast cancer respectively. The pundits cannot say if supplemental DHEA will have the same effect on the hormones cancer causing potential.
Human Growth Hormone
Comparable discussions have occurred concerning more muscle and energy with less body fat when using human growth hormone supplements or HGH. This hormone is innately produced via the pituitary gland. Kids require HGH in order to develop in an average manner. HGH also plays a role in keeping our organs and tissues healthy and fit. Once again, as we get older our bodies produce less of this hormone.
Currently the sole approved utilization of HGH is for children who receive an injection when their own bodies are not producing enough of the hormone organically. It is a prescription only drug administered by physicians only. In spite of this, some individuals will pay thousands of dollars annually to have these injections in the hope of slowing the process of aging on their bodies and many swear by its effectiveness. For those on a more frugal budget, they can purchase over the counter HGH releasers, believed to assist the body into releasing more HGH naturally, though again there is no proof.
Medical research has shown conclusively that in a small group of men and women tested using HGH injections, there was a noticeable improvement in muscularity, strength and lowering of body fat. When testosterone was added to the mix for men, it increased the beneficial effects for men. Adding estrogen did not do the same for women, who received no additional benefits. More complex studies using more participants are required to determine the true benefits of HGH in aging men and women and to do so without any major adverse reactions.
What type of damage can be done using HGH for a prolonged period? Certain medical experts believe that long term utilization of HGH can bring on type 2 diabetes, a heavy retention of fluids in the body, carpal tunnel syndrome among some others. Certain adverse reactions can be quite dangerous in aging adults. Too much production of HGH in mature patients can lead to bone over growth and other tissues growing beyond their normal dimensions. This condition is called acromegaly. Scientists cannot say for sure if too much HGH supplementation in adults can cause related difficulties.
Nutritional Supplementation
You can find dietary supplements wherever pharmaceuticals are sold and in health food stores online and offline. The public spends billions on them every year hoping these vitamins minerals, herbs and hormones will fix what ails them and prevent what has not occurred yet. We all want more energy, stronger muscles, enhanced memory, healthier immune systems and most of all, a prolonged life.
Unfortunately the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] is not applying regulatory powers over the majority of these products. This means you cannot be too sure that what the manufacturer of these supplements is claiming is true or id these things are safe for any prolonged period of time. You will not even be able to ascertain whether these products are untainted or if they remain consistent from one container to another or production processes are standardized.
There are more popular dietary supplements like gingko biloba, ginseng, saw palmetto, echinacea and St. John’s wort. These specifically have had a ton of word of mouth discussions and testimony delivered about them but yet we still do not have scientific data to prove any of them really work as claimed. Certain herbal preparations offer optimism for aging health therapies for seniors. Nevertheless, much more study on the elderly is required before scientific researchers would consider placing reputations on the line by making any recommendations. Many questions linger regarding the safety of the consumers of these products.
In Conclusion
Perhaps the more realistic question asked should be, “how Can I Continue to remain fit, independent and healthy as I increase in age?” Presently, no drugs, treatments or therapies exist that will slow or reverse age advancement or extend the life of humans. Prior to making any major changes in diet, lifestyle modification or supplementation, consult with your physician. You could be wasting your money or be making a hazardous purchase. There could also be a conflict with any medications your doctor has currently prescribed for you.
Life extension is indeed real in the sense that major studies are under way to find the magic bullet of longevity. Science is doing what it can and promises to do more in order to extend the life of humans but it will take time and considerable monetary investment. Patience is called for and in the meantime we must do certain things to aid our own cause of living longer than expected.
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Health And Aging, Longevity
Tue, Mar 2, 2010
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Health And Aging, Longevity