Researchers are making incredible advances in their quest to reverse aging disease. Through T cell reprogramming and stem cells research, turning back time may soon become reality.
Researchers conducted a 44-week study, finding that genetically engineered human mesenchymal progenitor cells (stem cells) could reverse biological aging clock in macaques by strengthening cognitive function, strengthening bones and revitalizing reproductive health. Their treatment also improved cognitive performance as well as strengthening bone mineral density and revitalizing reproductive health.
Diet
People tend to age at different rates. Some remain healthy well into their ninth or tenth decade, while others start showing symptoms much sooner due to molecular damage that accumulates over time, typically measured by how rapidly telomeres on DNA molecules shorten – a measurement known as biological age that ultimately determines our risk for cancer, heart disease, dementia etc.
One key way we can halt biological aging is through diet. A growing body of research indicates that certain foods can actually reverse this aging process by slowing the ticking of our “epigenetic clocks” and postponing diseases from occurring.
Foods containing anti-aging compounds have been demonstrated to increase gene regulation activity while slowing oxidation of fats and proteins. Green tea, turmeric and berries all provide natural antioxidant protection that shield cells against damage and inflammation.
Researchers conducted a recent clinical study which concluded that diet and lifestyle modifications may reverse epigenetic aging in humans. Six women between 46 and 65 participated in an eight-week program consisting of diet modifications, sleep improvement plans, relaxation exercises, probiotic supplements and phytonutrient supplements – leading them to experience an 11 year reduction in biological age compared with their chronological ages. Blood tests confirmed this finding.
Exercise
Physical exercise is an effective lifestyle intervention to slow cellular aging, increasing lifespan and healthspan in humans and serving as the only effective therapy to delay functional decline for patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD). Exercise also decreases individual hallmarks of aging such as cell cycle progression, mitochondrial dysfunction, senescence, oxidative stress and loss of muscle mass – effects which seem to occur through different molecular pathways and effectors independently regulated – but we propose that one central molecule such as AMPK integrates these effects to stop human cells and tissues from ageing-like characteristics from occurring over time.
Mayo researchers have discovered that high-intensity aerobic exercise can reverse some of the cellular aging processes associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Their study published in Cell Metabolism demonstrated this by showing both resistance training and combined interval/resistance training increased lean body mass, insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism while improving glucose metabolism – but only high-intensity aerobic exercise increased muscle satellite cell recruitment, glycolysis, mitochondrial function in skeletal muscles as well as satellite cell recruitment.
Sleep
Sleep is essential in healing our cells and tissue, while simultaneously slowing the aging process in many ways. An adequate and restful night of restful slumber has been linked to improved skin health and an overall healthier appearance as well as lower stress levels; its restorative powers have even been shown to support healthier hair, nails and skin! In turn, healthy quality restful sleep promotes physical and mental wellbeing by slowing the aging process significantly and maintaining vibrant youthful-looking skin!
Sleep problems have been linked with various chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. There is growing epidemiologic data supporting this linkage between sleep disturbances and disease development and progression; short telomere length and increased epigenetic aging being some indicators; although these associations appear compelling enough, further investigation will likely be required in order to ascertain if they are causal links or simply correlational.
Studies have demonstrated that lack of sleep can accelerate tissue senescence by altering mitochondrial bioenergetics and DNA damage processes, decreasing expression of telomerase and the p16INK4a tumor suppressor gene, and leading to inflammation response which speeds cellular senescence and epigenetic aging.
Reversing the effects of poor sleep is possible by altering your sleeping habits and adopting additional lifestyle factors, while medical treatments or customized supplements may also prove useful. If you are concerned about the impact of your sleep on your health and want to learn how to get better night’s rest, schedule a consultation with me – I can help modify your sleeping routine, incorporate other lifestyle modifications and formulate treatment and personalized supplements tailored specifically for you so you can achieve continuously healthy restful slumber.
Supplements
Researchers are investigating supplements with potential anti-aging benefits, such as sulforaphane, an active compound found in broccoli that increases your body’s natural supply of vitamin D; nicotinamide riboside and mononucleotide (NR and MNM), precursors for the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), which declines with age; and crocin, a yellow carotenoid pigment present in saffron that offers anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anti-diabetes properties.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to heart and brain health, yet often lacking from modern diets. Supplements like fish oil or krill oil provide concentrated doses of DHA and EPA that may protect against neurodegeneration as well as slow down aging by decreasing inflammation and protecting cell membranes from damage.
Although humans cannot stop or even reverse aging, supplements may help mitigate common signs of aging such as high cholesterol and blood sugar by improving diet and lifestyle habits. A well-rounded regimen including sleep, stress reduction training, strength training, cardio and more may extend life expectancies while making you healthier overall.
Cel System, an innovative combination of plant compounds, vitamins, and minerals has shown promise as a supplement. Researchers conducted a small-scale trial that demonstrated it reduced biological aging through changes to DNA methylation levels that can influence gene activity and cell function. Published in Science Advances journal this research followed 51 people for one year while tracking epigenetic clocks, muscle strength/body composition measurements, epigenetic clocks as well as other factors; results demonstrated Cel System improved both physical and mental health – but further studies on larger samples are necessary to assess whether this success.
Medical Treatments
Scientific research is progressing rapidly towards realizing its goal of slowing or even reversing aging, which would significantly decrease age-related illnesses and injuries worldwide. Every day over 150,000 people die worldwide from age-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative conditions due to cell aging – all preventable with lifestyle modifications and medical treatments.
One approach to slowing or even reversing aging lies in the study of cellular reprogramming, or “cell reprogramming”, which involves returning adult cells back into embryonic stem cell state. Scientists use four Yamanaka factors to achieve this and transform any adult cell into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can then be differentiated into any type of cell found within the body.
Hematopoietic stem cells can be used for tissue regeneration and transplantation, as well as providing blood-forming stem cells used in treating hematological disease therapies. Unfortunately, as they age they lose the ability to perform effectively and replenish themselves after injury or surgery; so increasing their lifespan might extend their life and speed recovery after transplants for patients faster.
Research team that won the 2012 Nobel Prize for Medicine has created an effective technique to rewind time in hematological stem cells by reprogramming their DNA, and has named this process Ichor; this has shown promise in making older HSCs (hematological stem cells) younger again – potentially improving survival for transplant patients who currently face shortages of younger donor cells.
