As we age, the ability of our tissues to maintain homeostasis and to repair themselves declines, eventually leading to organ degeneration and failure. Aging of muscle tissue is characterized by deficient muscle regeneration after injury and by altered muscle function and associated atrophy, known as sarcopenia. Some previous work suggests that the age-related decline inContinueContinue reading “With oxytocin, old muscles act like new”
Tag Archives: aging & lifespan
Cell communication feeds the fountain of youth
Aging can be broadly defined as a gradual decline in function over time; it is one of the most conserved features of living organisms. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of aging, but the mechanisms contributing to the disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis are not clearly understood. Now, researchers led by David Sinclair (Harvard Medical School, Boston,ContinueContinue reading “Cell communication feeds the fountain of youth”
Is caloric restriction a ‘fountain of youth’ for primates?
Since European explorers first probed the New World’s resources, humans have sought a simple but universally effective defense against aging and death. Countless experiments have evaluated the life-extending effects of myriad molecules and manipulations, be they genetic or lifestyle, in animal models. When studies in species from flies to worms to rodents suggested that reducedContinueContinue reading “Is caloric restriction a ‘fountain of youth’ for primates?”
The link between methylation and memory
Alterations in epigenetic regulation, processes that affect the availability of genes for transcription and hence their expression levels, are known to have a role in diseases such as cancer. Growing evidence suggests that epigenetic changes are also involved in aging. DNA methylation is one form of epigenetic regulation. Several studies have reported that methylation declinesContinueContinue reading “The link between methylation and memory”
Social therapy, the new anti-aging buzz?
Like many animals, honeybees (Apis mellifera) suffer from declining brain function as they age. The pace of this decline varies among individuals, partly because of variations in social behavior. Gro V. Amdam (Arizona State University, Tempe, and Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas) and colleagues recently took a closer look at the effects of socialContinueContinue reading “Social therapy, the new anti-aging buzz?”
Sirtuins under scrutiny
The protein called silent information regulator 2 (Sir2) was first discovered in budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It belongs to a highly conserved family of proteins christened sirtuins, which are found in almost all organisms and are involved in responses to stressors, such as heat and starvation. In 1999, Sir2 was reported to increase lifespan inContinueContinue reading “Sirtuins under scrutiny”
Telomerase turns back the clock
Telomeres are ‘caps’ of DNA located at the ends of chromosomes that shorten as cells divide. The loss of telomeres is associated with tissue atrophy, stem cell depletion, organ failure and impaired injury response, and this structural and functional decline accelerates with age. Scientists have wondered whether restoring telomere function could slow or even stopContinueContinue reading “Telomerase turns back the clock”
Alternate energy pathway, longer life
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is commonly used in research on longevity because of its relative simplicity and amenability to genetic manipulation. Worms carrying certain genetic mutations, called Mit mutants, have compromised energy pathways but surprisingly long lifespans. Jeffrey A. Butler (University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio) and colleagues have proposed that MitContinueContinue reading “Alternate energy pathway, longer life”
Live long and prosper
Besides the long hours, low pay and chance to wear shorts to work in December, what are the perks of being a scientist? A study in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine reports that students who focused on science, medicine or engineering as undergraduates have a lower risk of ‘all-cause mortality’ than thoseContinueContinue reading “Live long and prosper”
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