Scientists from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine have researched a scientific question that addresses the effects of caloric intake as it relates to lifespan, the aging process, and the onset of diseases. Specifically, they studied the effects of reducing caloric intake as a method to protect against the signs of aging, and in contrast, how overeating can speed up the effects of diseases caused by aging.
To address these questions, a research paper was published recently in the journal PloS Biology by a professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Charles Mobbs, PhD, who studies Neuroscience, and Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. The focus of the research was to determine how the body’s chemical reactions react to caloric restriction and a diet that is high in calories.
The research team studied the molecular reactions when caloric intake was reduced or increased. They found that in some instances, a diet that is low in calories decreased the speed of the onset of certain illnesses caused by aging, for example Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and neurological disorders; and the overall process of aging was slowed. The way that the calories were reduced did not alter the results, whether it was decreasing fats, proteins, or carbohydrates. The results of this study showed that restriction of the diet affected the glucose metabolism, which affects oxidative stress. It was also found that a diet that was high in calories increased the aging process by increasing oxidative stress.
When the diet is restricted, CREB-binding protein, which is a transcription factor that regulates the functions of cells and genes, is brought about and encouraged. If scientists can develop drugs that produce similar results to dietary restriction and bring on the positive effects of CREB-binding protein (CBP), then the lifespan in humans can be increased and they will be able to fight the effects of diseases caused by the aging process.
In their research, the doctors found that CBP is responsible for eighty percent of the variance in the length of time that an animal lives. However, they also reported that a balance is required, for if calories are too greatly restricted then starvation will result, but if calories are only reduced by a small amount then lifespan will only be minimally increased.
The researchers discovered that when the calories in the diet were decreased by thirty percent, then lifespan increased by fifty percent and the onset of age-related diseases were slowed.
The research study consisted of two parts. The first part of the research concentrated on a type of roundworm, C. elegans. The genes of these worms were altered to create symptoms similar to those found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Their food, which consisted of bacteria, was then diluted so their caloric content was restricted. These roundworms release human beta amyloid peptide in their muscles, which adds to the build up of plaque in Alzheimer’s disease. During the aging process, the muscle becomes paralyzed.
Using these ringworms in their study, the scientists discovered that restriction of diet during their adult life led to an increase in lifespan of sixty-five percent, and the paralysis resulting from Alzheimer’s disease was reduced by half.
When the amount of dietary intake was reduced in the roundworm study, the CBP was induced. When CBP production was stopped, then all the positive effects were also stopped. This result showed that production of CBP is an integral part of the anti-aging process. CBP acts to protect against age-related illnesses and improves the chances for a longer and healthier life.
The next part of the study looked at the effects of a diet that is rich in calories on mice, and the production of CBP. In particular, the research team focused on the effect of diabetes, a disease that impairs the metabolic function of glucose. They found that diabetes inhibits the activation of CBP, so a diet that is high in calories and causes diabetes would speed up the aging process.
When diet is restricted, then CBP is induced and the glucose function is blocked, which causes oxidative stress. Oxidative stress causes injury to cellular tissue and also results in the growth of cancer. When the diet is restricted, then CBP production increases during this time. However, when a regular diet is resumed, then the anti-aging effects of CBP decrease. It only takes a few hours for CBP to react to glucose level changes, which shows that change in the diet lead to a fast response in the human body.
Further research is required to determine the effects of CBP and its ability to interact with and slow the aging process. When these interactions are better understood, then more effective drugs can be produced to imitate the results of CBP on the human body.
Thu, Dec 31, 2009
Anti Aging, Health And Aging, Lifestyle, Longevity