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Is ageing a disease that can be cured? Neil deGrasse Tyson and cohosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly discover the field of epigenetics, the Information Theory of Aging, and curing blindness for mice with Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, David Sinclair.
What is epigenetics? Discover the difference between genetics and epigenetics. We discuss whether aging is a disease and if there have been any changes in aging throughout the centuries. David breaks down the information theory of aging and how epigenetic inheritance works. Plus, Chuck tells us about some of the studies he’s reading and how behaviors during your lifetime can be epigenetically passed onto your children.
Could we someday cure death? What does aging look like in the broader animal kingdom? We look at aging from an evolutionary standpoint, restoring vision in blind mice, and what the length of your telomeres tells you. We break down conflicting information regarding diet and how to not just live longer but live younger, longer. What are the genes that control aging?
We break down what anti-aging medicine would look like and whether it would be affordable for everyday people. Learn about the world’s oldest mice with the youngest eyes. We discuss the Yamanaka genes and how they can be utilized to turn back time on a cellular level. Is DNA destiny?
Thanks to our Patrons Jason L, Daniel Holzmann, Anne P Vance, Unknown, Myles G Blanton, Paul A. Straus, and Gregory Dees for supporting us this week.
NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free.
Meet Dave Pascoe, one of the slowest agers in the world, even slower than Bryan Johnson. He has lowered his biological age to under 38 years using the latest scientific advancements, including nutrition, exercise, lifestyle modifications and supplements. Learn about the fascinating science behind his lifespan extension protocol in this eye-opening video.
Reduce inflammation, cellular damage and oxidative stress
Antioxidants reducing the risk of free radicals
Reduce blood sugar and Weight management
27 Mar 2024
Introducing Doctor David Sinclair, a distinguished Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School renowned for his expertise in longevity. With a focus on holistic health practices, he advocates for a lifestyle that includes predominantly plant-based nutrition, intermittent fasting, and select supplements to promote longevity and vitality.
Our “Healthy Long Life” channel offers an in-depth exploration of his invaluable insights, but today, we’re delving into the top three fruits he incorporates into his diet. This focus is particularly noteworthy as Dr. Sinclair emphasizes the detrimental effects of excessive sugar intake on our overall health and aging process. While he generally prioritizes vegetables over fruits due to their lower fructose content, there are three fruits that hold a special place in his regimen.
Join us as we uncover the three fruits endorsed by Dr. Sinclair for their contributions to a healthy, prolonged life.
0:00 Start 0:40 Sugar is Bad! 0:57 Cancer Cells love Sugar 1:33 Top Fruit that Dr. David Sinclair Eats 5:24 Second Fruit that Dr. David Sinclair Eats 6:49 Third Fruit that Dr. David Sinclair Eats
►Disclaimer: Healthy Long Life does not provide medical advice and the information provided throughout our videos, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other materials, are entirely intended for informational purposes. The content of Healthy Long Life’s videos is not intended to replace the professional medical advice that you should seek from your doctor. All the information presented in these videos is for educational purposes only.
►Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for ‘fair use’ for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.
Can the aging process be reversed – or even halted, altogether? If we manage to decode this final mystery of our human biology, we might soon be able to eradicate age-related illnesses like cancer, dementia and heart problems. The race to invent the miracle pill is well underway. Today, international researchers are getting astonishingly close to realizing humanity’s dream of immortality.
The hunt for immortality gained traction with the discovery of Costa Rica’s so-called “Blue Zone,” by Luis Rosero-Bixby. In the “Blue Zone,” on the Nicoya Peninsular, he found a remarkable number of centenarians. Here, male life expectancy is the highest in the world. Their healthy lifestyle is one factor, but the promise of longevity is probably also because their telomeres – sections of DNA found at the end of chromosomes – are longer than those of the average person. It’s a field of research currently being explored by Maria Blasco in Madrid.
But this is just one of many possible factors influencing the process of aging. Senescent cells may also play a key role. Also known as “zombie cells”, these attack our body in old age and flood it with alarm signals until, at some point, we collapse under their weight. That’s a theory proposed by another researcher in Spain, Manuel Serrano. A billion-dollar industry is already knocking impatiently at the lab doors. The first to market the miracle pill is guaranteed incredible wealth.
That’s why investors are sponsoring young bio-startups in Hong Kong. Keen not be left out, US Big Tech is vying for the world’s best scientists. Alex Zhavoronkov has secured a slice of that pie, with a cash injection of more than 250 million dollars for his company’s work on aging research. Whereas some pioneers’ visions burst like bubbles, others rush to get other, rather more dubious products onto the market. But their efficacy is now measurable.
The epigenetic clock devised by Steve Horvath can measure our biological age, regardless of our actual age in years. With his research on the thymus gland, California’s Greg Fahy managed to not only decelerate the aging process, but reverse it. His initial study on humans showed that a particular drug cocktail took an average two-and-a-half years off their age.
Young biohackers like Nina Khera from Boston want everyone to benefit from this research. Together with friends, she’s working on the “epigenetic clock for all”. But while we’re busy trying to counter the aging process and all the illnesses it entails, fundamental questions arise: Should we be messing with nature like this? Are we about to overwhelm the planet with more and more people? Criminal biologist Mark Benecke in Cologne says that these questions are coming far too late.
Los factores de Yamanaka consisten en modificar 4 genes a las células adultas para reprogramarlas.
Estas son: Oct 4, Klf4, Sox2 y c-Myc .
El envejecimiento de nuestras células es controlado por cuatro genes principales, llamados factores de Yamanaka, podemos revertir el envejecimiento de nuestras células modificando su expresión genética, algo que dará lugar, en un futuro cercano, a un aumento de expectativa de vida muy importante.
*David Sinclair (from harvard medical school laboratory) recover a lost eye nerve in mice.
“Live neither in the past nor in the future, but let each day absorb all your interest, energy and enthusiasm. The best preparation for tomorrow is to live today superbly well.” William Osler
“It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.” Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)
Background: Ayurveda medicine started in India and other south Asian countries over 3,000 years ago. Ayurveda is from the Sanskrit words ayur (which means ‘life’) and veda (‘to know’). Other sources reveal that Ayurveda translates as “the scripture for longevity.” Ayurveda is a holistic form of medicine using therapies typically derived from natural substances combined with mind-body work that includes treatment strategies like yoga and meditation. The ultimate goal of Ayurveda medicine is to promote or correct an imbalance between the body, mind, spirit, and the environment. This blog post concerns a single herb known as Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and its overall physiological effects, primarily focused on the brain and central nervous system.
“Look to the nervous system as the key to maximum health.” Galen
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) describes the use of medical products and techniques not typically seen in the normal state of Western medical practice. Thus, Complementary medicine is nonconventional medicine when used side by side with traditional Western medicine. Alternative medicine follows the nonconventional therapeutic path and is typically derived from long-existing medical systems deep-rooted in healing practices from China, India, and Africa. Thus, the most common CAM techniques have been used for thousands of years within ancient medical practices and include methods such as acupuncture, massage, yoga, mindfulness, and botanical compounds for therapy.
“The art of healing comes from nature and not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must start from nature with an open mind.” Paracelsus
Ashwagandha: Among the plants most often used in Ayurveda are, in the descending order of importance: (i) Ashwagandha, (ii) Brahmi, (iii) Jatamansi, (iv) Jyotishmati, (v) Mandukparni, (vi) Shankhapushpi, and (vii) Vacha. More recently, numerous studies have been using rodent models of disease to explore the effectiveness of Ashwagandha and several human-based clinical trials. There are hundreds of products being sold today as Ashwagandha, and one should be careful not to exceed any recommendation doses due to potential contaminants from the plant.
Like most CAM products, the chemical composition of Ashwagandha is complex and includes alkaloids, steroidal lactones, and saponins. It is beyond the scope of this blog post to discuss the various chemical structures just mentioned. However, the take-home message is that when dealing with CAM’s like Ashwagandha, the chemical composition makes it virtually impossible to discern which substance is responsible for measuring medicinal effects. This medicinal herb is anti-inflammatory and has positive benefits working to reduce anxiety, reduce stress, and possibly boost cognition. In addition, Ashwagandha has been used in the treatment of Parkinson’s. Thus, Ashwagandha has several important medicinal uses.
“All that man needs for health and healing has been provided by God in nature, the challenge of science is to find it.” Philippus Theophrastrus Bombast that of Aureolus Paracelsus (1493-1541)
The Action of Ashwagandha in Experimental Studies: Many review articles conclude that Ashwagandha is one of the most valuable medicinal herbs. Scientific proof is slowly coming to prove this comment of the wealth of Ashwagandha to treating human disorders. However, numerous studies in animal models (mice and rats) have shown some of the medicinal uses of Ashwagandha to treat several conditions. What is lacking, and what will likely not happen quickly, are human studies to validate animal work. Some of the highlights of activity for Ashwagandha are given below and have been obtained from the references highlighted at the end. Due to the very broad actions of Ashwagandha, I have left out the biological processes/details and just briefly mentioned the actions (please search out the details from the citations given below):
•Anti-stress effects- Ashwagandha has been used in several studies to reduce stress, increase physical stamina, and prevent stress-induced ulcers (now these were in rodent scientific studies).
•Improvement in memory and cognition– Ashwagandha has been shown in human studies to help promote cognition and memory, especially seen following head injury, and advanced age.
•Treatment of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s– Ashwagandha has been reported to help promote repair of neurons damaged in Parkinson’s, likely due to its antioxidative activity. In animal studies, it was shown to alter glutathione levels and reverse other anti-oxidants generated in this mouse model of Parkinson’s.
•Calming Action- Ashwagandha has been found to be both a calming and an anti-depressant in animal studies.
•Anti-inflammatory agent- Ashwagandha has been found to be a potent anti-inflammatory substance, which could be due to interactions with mitochondria within the cells.
“If we doctors threw all our medicines into the sea, it would be that much better for our patients and that much worse for the fishes.” Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendel Holmes
When one has a disorder like Parkinson’s, one reads a lot and sometimes follows a CAM treatment strategy. I have always approached my treatment this way, and several years ago starting taking Ashwagandha daily*. Unfortunately, it is hard to say if it has had any beneficial effect. Still, it has several reported actions that potentially make it helpful in treating Parkinson’s (**NOTE: please read the medical disclaimer statement below).
*I take 1 capsule per day (650 mg) of the following Ashwagandha product from Amazon.com (click here).
**Medical Disclaimer:As with any advice given here, please consult your Neurologist before taking Ashwagandha. While Ashwagandha may have been used for thousands of years to treat a lot of medical disorders, that does not mean it is right for you to take for your Parkinson’s.
FRANK C. CHURCH
“Where Life Meets Parkinson’s.”
Medical school and undergraduate biology educator, professor, biomedical science researcher and part-time golfer. My diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, combined with my career in science and education, allows me the ultimate “teachable moment”. The theme of this blog is my journey with Parkinson’s. The overall goal of this blog is to give encouragement, along with information and other resources, to anybody with Parkinson’s.
References:
Mukherjee, Pulok K., Subhadip Banerjee, Sayan Biswas, Bhaskar Das, Amit Kar, and C. K. Katiyar. “Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal-Modern perspectives of an ancient Rasayana from Ayurveda.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 264 (2021): 113157.
RajaSankar, Srinivasagam, Thamilarasan Manivasagam, and Sankar Surendran. “Ashwagandha leaf extract: a potential agent in treating oxidative damage and physiological abnormalities seen in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease.” Neuroscience letters 454, no. 1 (2009): 11-15.
Ziauddin, Mohammed, Neeta Phansalkar, Pralhad Patki, Sham Diwanay, and Bhushan Patwardhan. “Studies on the immunomodulatory effects of Ashwagandha.” Journal of ethnopharmacology 50, no. 2 (1996): 69-76.
Mishra, Lakshmi-Chandra, Betsy B. Singh, and Simon Dagenais. “Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha): a review.” Alternative medicine review 5, no. 4 (2000): 334-346.
Singh, Narendra, Mohit Bhalla, Prashanti de Jager, and Marilena Gilca. “An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda.” African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines 8, no. 5S (2011).
Zahiruddin, Sultan, Parakh Basist, Abida Parveen, Rabea Parveen, Washim Khan, and Sayeed Ahmad. “Ashwagandha in brain disorders: A review of recent developments.” Journal of ethnopharmacology 257 (2020): 112876.
Atal, C. K., and A. E. Schwarting. “Ashwagandha—an ancient Indian drug.” Economic Botany 15, no. 3 (1961): 256-263.
Salve, Jaysing, Sucheta Pate, Khokan Debnath, and Deepak Langade. “Adaptogenic and anxiolytic effects of ashwagandha root extract in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study.” Cureus 11, no. 12 (2019).
Lopresti, Adrian L., Peter D. Drummond, and Stephen J. Smith. “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examining the hormonal and vitality effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in aging, overweight males.” American journal of men’s health 13, no. 2 (2019): 1557988319835985.
Lopresti, Adrian L., Stephen J. Smith, Hakeemudin Malvi, and Rahul Kodgule. “An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” Medicine 98, no. 37 (2019).
Brar, Gursimrat Kaur, and Mehak Malhotra. “Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)–a herb with versatile medicinal properties empowering human physical and mental health.” Journal of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research 15, no. 3 (2021): 129-133.
Gupta, Girdhari Lal, and A. C. Rana. “Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha): a review.” Pharmacognosy Reviews 1, no. 1 (2007).
In a city on the Italian island of Sardinia, people have lived longer than in the rest of the world since Roman times. Naturally, Niklas wants to find out what makes this mythical place so special.
In this food and lifestyle documentary series, internationally renowned chef Niklas Ekstedt explores the secret of living past the age of 100. He’s travelling to six of the world’s ‘blue zones’ – regions such as Sardinia, Costa Rica, and Okinawa in Japan, where unusually high numbers of people reach an advanced age – in a quest to find the recipe for a long and healthy life.
Along the way, he befriends locals and gets to know them, joining in with their daily routines and discussing their approaches to life, food, and ageing. He also reveals different ways of living. For example, in Ikaria, Greece, he discovers a town which keeps the stress levels down by not keeping track of time.
And, as you would expect from a leading chef, he also can’t resist sampling some of the local specialties in every place he visits.
Okinawa is known to be the place in the world where people live the longest. Niklas tries to find out how much the food has to do with this, and learns basic techniques in the island’s national sport, Karate. In this food and lifestyle documentary series, internationally renowned chef Niklas Ekstedt explores the secret of living past the age of 100.
He’s travelling to six of the world’s ‘blue zones’ – regions such as Sardinia, Costa Rica, and Okinawa in Japan, where unusually high numbers of people reach an advanced age – in a quest to find the recipe for a long and healthy life. Along the way, he befriends locals and gets to know them, joining in with their daily routines and discussing their approaches to life, food, and ageing.
He also reveals different ways of living. For example, in Ikaria, Greece, he discovers a town which keeps the stress levels down by not keeping track of time. And, as you would expect from a leading chef, he also can’t resist sampling some of the local specialties in every place he visits.
The foods that people living to 100+ — in Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece and Loma Linda, CA. (aka Blue Zones) — eat.
Okinawa is the largest of the Ryukyu Islands located off the coast of Japan between the East China and Philippine Seas.
Okinawa belongs to one of five regions of the world known as blue zones. People who reside in blue zones live exceptionally long, healthy lives compared to the rest of the world’s population.
The lifespans enjoyed by Okinawans may be explained by several genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. That said, experts believe that one of the strongest influences is diet.
This article explores the Okinawa diet, including its primary foods, health benefits, and possible drawbacks.
What is the Okinawa diet?.
In the purest sense, the Okinawa diet refers to the traditional eating patterns of the people living on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Their unique diet and lifestyle are credited with giving them some of the longest lifespans on the planet.
The traditional Okinawa diet is low in calories and fat while high in carbs. It emphasizes vegetables and soy products alongside occasional — and small — amounts of noodles, rice, pork, and fish.
In recent years, the modernization of food production and dietary habits has led to a shift in the macronutrient content of the Okinawa diet. Although still low-calorie and primarily carb-based, it now contains more protein and fat.
The macronutrient breakdown of the Okinawa diet is outlined in this table :
Additionally, Okinawan culture treats food as medicine and utilizes many practices from traditional Chinese medicine. As such, the diet includes herbs and spices known for having health benefits, such as turmeric and mugwort.
Okinawan lifestyle also emphasizes daily physical activity and mindful eating practices.
The health benefits associated with the traditional Okinawan diet have given rise to a mainstream version intended to promote weight loss. While it encourages intake of nutrient-dense foods, this offshoot is heavily influenced by the Western diet.
Foods to eat.
Many of the Okinawa diet’s benefits may be attributed to its rich supply of whole, nutrient-dense, high-antioxidant foods.
Essential nutrients are important for the proper function of your body, while antioxidants protect your body against cellular damage.
Unlike other Japanese, Okinawans consume very little rice. Instead, their main source of calories is the sweet potato, followed by whole grains, legumes, and fiber-rich vegetables.
The staple foods in a traditional Okinawan diet are:
Vegetables (58–60%): sweet potato (orange and purple), seaweed, kelp, bamboo shoots, daikon radish, bitter melon, cabbage, carrots, Chinese okra, pumpkin, and green papaya.
Grains (33%): millet, wheat, rice, and noodles.
Soy foods (5%): tofu, miso, natto, and edamame.
Meat and seafood (1–2%): mostly white fish, seafood, and occasional pork all cuts, including organs.
Other (1%): alcohol, tea, spices, and dashi (broth).
What’s more, jasmine tea is consumed liberally on this diet, and antioxidant-rich spices like turmeric are common.
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