What is Science Doing? What is Science Doing? Studying populations - PDF document

AGING: KEEPING YOUR MORTALITY AT BAY Richard E Ya Deau M.D. FACS, FACHE (HON) What is Science Doing? What is Science Doing? Studying populations without either cancer or diabetes. But: The search for proteins that improve memory These genetic predeterminants also led to one “IGF-II” which improves produce profound dwarfism! “declarative memory.” Ecuadoreans with “Laron Syndrome” will inform When blocked, memory was destroyed. us about both the genetics of these problems and the need for caution to avoid unintended Cristina Alberini consequences. Mount Sinai School of Medicine Valter Longo, University of Southern California Nature, January 2011 Online journal “Science Translational Medicine” February 17,2011 What is Science Doing? An Immune Aid for Aging or “Increasing health span versus lifespan” Lenalidomide: Lenalidomide:  Increases T cells and their ability to migrate.  Increases T cells and their ability to migrate. (IL-2 and IFN-gamma a cytokine) (IL-2 and IFN-gamma a cytokine)  The levels of the active cytokines in treated  The levels of the active cytokines in treated adults equals those of young adults adults equals those of young adults Edward Goetzi Edward Goetzi University of California, San Francisco. University of California, San Francisco. Clinical Immunology, January 2011 Clinical Immunology, January 2011

The cost of sequencing is now on par with The West Family: Totally Sequenced diagnostic tests that analyze just a few genes. For Predictive Testing ” those suspected of having inherited disorders, it now makes economic sense to sequence the Father: Blood clots, emboli, genetic defect entire genome rather than just suspect genes. “Factor V Leiden.” "Even if these highly predictive and actionable Daughter Anne: Same defect, refused birth- [variations] are considered rare" collectively, control hormones for acne. "everyone is at risk and should be just as willing Mother Judy: Risk-marker for carotid stenosis. to spend on this as on fire insurance and other unlikely contingencies." Evan Ashley, Stanford University PLOS Genetics September 16 2011 George Church, geneticist at Harvard www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/38612 / Genetics alone cannot project how Diet and Exercise long you will live.  Together they attenuate the loss of lean body mass and bone mineral density.  Ameliorates frailty more then either The key is “Epigenetics”: the science of what you do with your life modality alone.  A program of weight loss and exercise and how it effects the genetic expression provide the greatest improvement in of the genes you were born with. physical function. Dennis T. Villareal M.D. Washington University of Medicine, St. Louis NEJM 2011:364:1218-29 Foods linked to Longevity Mediterranean Diet  High Fiber Diets:  High in mono-saturated fats, whole grains, fruit, Whole Grains and Beans vegetables and fish (low on animal fat) Nuts and fruits  50 studies with 500,000 patients Vegetables  Reduced waist circumference, blood pressure,  High Fiber equals: 30 grams male, 20 female blood sugar, triglycerides and increased HDL  Reduces cardiovascular disease, infections &  The Nurses Health Study, Harvard Medical respiratory disease. School supports these findings in US Populations  22% decrease in death rate over 9 years Elizabeth Jackson M.D. University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor 388,000 people in the NIH-AARP diet and health study March 7, online Journal of the American College of Cardiology Archives of Internal Medicine, June 14 2011

Whole Diet Changes & Alzheimer’s Whole Diet Changes & Alzheimer’s Healthy People: People with aMCI: Diet low in saturated fat and simple (Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment) carbohydrates decreases Alzheimer’s Improved visual-recall memory tests. biomarkers in cerebral spinal fluid. Did not change cerebral spinal fluid markers. Requires wholesale diet changes. Works The differences suggest that dietary changes are either on risk factors (weight, B/P, lipids) not as effective in the late stages of aMCI. or on Alzheimer’s gene expression. Jennifer L. Bayer-Carter, Ms Jennifer L. Bayer-Carter, Ms Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care Archives of Neurology, on line June 2011 Archives of Neurology, on line June 2011 Alzheimer’s disease Exercise • Early diagnosis is Modest aerobic exercise reverses normal cost effective and brain shrinkage and neuro-cognitive decline. limits disability In controls, a 1-2% per year shrinkage in the • 8,000 veterans, hippocampal volume, but for those with <70 screened exercise a gain of 2%. (Hippocampal volume relates to memory) Riley McCarten MD, Minneapolis VA Med Center “Exercise training increases the size of the hippocampus and improves memory” Department of Veterans Affairs Kirk Erickson et al., Salk Institute, San Diego Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , February 2011 International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease Health Behaviors Study: 10 year study of 20,000 people, age 45-79 Results: all + factors with all – factors:  74 year olds = the life expectancy of a 60 y.o. Measures:  Non-smoker  Moderate alcohol use (1-7 glass/wine/week)  5 or more servings fruit & vegetables/day  Exercise Professor K. T. Khaw, University of Cambridge Published on line “Public Library of Sciencemedicine”, January 14, 2008

Never Stop Learning Bottom line Learning causes structural changes in brain cells. #1. Weight The brain area enhanced is specific to the task. #2. Diet Tasks become “hard wired” in the brain, tasks being recalled even after some time. #3. Exercise Structural change is necessary to learn different #4. Never Stop Learning tasks; math or language modify different unique areas of the brain. “Structural Plasticity…motor learning in the adult brain” Mark H. Tusunski M.D. PhD. University of California, San Diego Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, January 21, 2011 Never Stop Learning The consequences of Aging Self identified Liberals tend to have a larger - The fastest growing segment of our population - The fastest growing segment of our population anterior cingulate cortex. This results in a greater is the very old. Expect 6 million centenarians is the very old. Expect 6 million centenarians ability to cope with conflicting information. by 2050. by 2050. Self identified Conservatives have a larger - All economic premises of aging are null. - All economic premises of aging are null. amygdala. This results in a greater ability to - The meaning of age has become elusive. - The meaning of age has become elusive. recognize threat. - Age-appropriate behavior has little meaning - Age-appropriate behavior has little meaning - Death has disappeared in a sea of people - Death has disappeared in a sea of people “It is very unlikely that political orientation is exercising, dieting and getting plastic surgery. exercising, dieting and getting plastic surgery. directly encoded into these brain regions.” “Political Orientations Are Correlated with Brain Structure in Young Adults” Ryota Kanai et al, University College of London Current Biology, April 7 2011, on-line addition The consequences of Aging The consequences of Aging A shark that stops moving dies. (Woody Allen) Retirement isn’t an appealing proposition unless All options remain open from youth to old age. life after work is busier and better than before. The multi-tiered society was destroyed by the Genes don’t make us ageless, socialization does, danger of being marginalized by age in the and authority cedes dominance to a digital culture. very youth culture we created. All of this is inherent in extending the health-span, Age disappears in direct proportion to the not the life-span of those who are aging. vitality of your ideas. Live Long, Stay Healthy www.guardian.co.uk, The Observer, Sunday May 1 2011

The Dalai Lama Transferring the responsibility When asked what surprised him most about for successful aging to each and humanity he answered “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. every member of society may Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his be the best cost-saving strategy health. And then he is so anxious about the health care will uncover. future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as he is never going to die and then dies having never really lived.” Eat Chocolate