Fight Aging! Newsletter, May 15th 2023
In this study, we examined the average telomere length and telomerase activity, as well as the formation of telomere associated foci (TAFs) and the mRNA expression levels of the shelterin components in cultured primary cells of Spalax, a long-lived, hypoxia-tolerant, and cancer-resistant blind mole-rat species.
We showed that with cell passages, Spalax fibroblasts demonstrated significant shortening in telomere length, similar to rat cells, and in line with the processes observed earlier in tissues. We also demonstrated that the average telomere length in Spalax fibroblasts was significantly higher than the average ...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 14, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Feature of Neurodegenerative Conditions
Increasing dysfunction of mitochondria, the power plants of the cell, is a feature of aging. It is also strongly connected to neurodegenerative conditions. The brain is an energy-hungry organ, and anything that interferes with the supply of nutrients and their processing to power cellular operations is going to cause issues. In this review paper, researchers discuss the link between mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration, and go on to note a few of the efforts underway to produce pharmacological treatments capable of restoring greater mitochondrial function in aged tissues. Sadly all too few of these treatments ca...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 9, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, December 7th 2020
In this study, except for the reduction in body weight, the aging characteristics related to epidermal and muscle tissue in mice were significantly ameliorated in the CR group compared with the control group. Additional studies have indicated that not stem cells themselves but the stem cell microenvironment is the key factor mediating stem cell activation, proliferation and differentiation.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is an important factor leading to age-related muscular atrophy. Considering the dependence of skeletal muscle on ATP, loss of mitochondrial function, which can lead to a decrease in strength and enduranc...
Source: Fight Aging! - December 6, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Low Dose PPAR γ Agonist Treatment Started in Mid-Life Extends Median Lifespan by 11% in Mice
Researchers here note a modest life extension in mice resulting from long-term treatment with low doses of a PPARγ agonist drug, started in mid-life. This is thought to be an adjustment that acts to suppress inflammation and improve insulin metabolism, both strongly connected to the way in which cellular metabolism determines pace of aging. The size of the effect in mice is small enough to think that it would have little effect on life span in our species, however. Effects derived from this sort of metabolic adjustment have a much larger impact on life span in short-lived species than they do in long-lived species, as mos...
Source: Fight Aging! - November 30, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Weight loss can help head off lasting damage caused by fatty liver
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common cause of liver disease in the United States, and is estimated to affect up to a quarter of adults in the world. It is defined by excess fat accumulating in the liver and usually occurs in people with obesity, high blood sugars (diabetes), abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels, or high blood pressure. These disorders often run together and as a group are called metabolic syndrome. The “non-alcoholic” part of “non-alcoholic fatty liver disease” is important to distinguish it from alcohol-related liver disease, which can also cause excess liver fat.
How fat ca...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 30, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Irun Bhan, MD Tags: Diet and Weight Loss Digestive Disorders Source Type: blogs
Insulin Resistance: the silent killer that you can completely reverse – even if your doctor doesn ’ t know how
You may have already heard the term “insulin resistance,” as it has been widely discussed by doctors and the media. But did you know that you can reduce or reverse it in the vast majority of people?
Insulin resistance, i.e., the inability of the body’s cells, especially liver, muscle, and brain, to respond to insulin and allow blood sugar to enter cells, drives numerous abnormal health conditions including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, fatty liver, Alzheimer’s dementia, and cancer. It is therefore a driving force behind so many modern and common chronic health conditions.
Yo...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - March 12, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Open can belly fat can insulin resistance be reversed lose weight reduce belly fat reverse inflammation visceral fat wheat belly Source Type: blogs
Prescription Drugs That Block Weight Loss
A number of drugs prescribed to treat common conditions, such as hypertension, allergies, depression, inflammation, and diabetes, block your ability to lose weight. Several of these drugs actually cause weight gain, and most doctors fail to inform their patients of such side effects. Among the drugs that block weight loss are:
Beta-blockers: metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol, and propranolol
Antidepressants: amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), doxepin, paroxetine (Paxil), trazodone, and others
Steroids: prednisone and hydrocortisone (but not inhaled or nasal steroids for allergies)
Antihistamines: diphenhydr...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - May 7, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates blood sugar drugs failed weight loss fatigue weight loss hypertension insulin prescription drugs undoctored wheat belly Wheat Belly Total Health Source Type: blogs
The Dysfunctional Immune Response in the Development of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease progresses from the slow accumulation of amyloid-β plaques, that appear to cause comparatively mild dysfunction, to the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles composed of altered tau protein, which cause major dysfunction and cell death in the later stages of the condition. Along the way chronic inflammation in brain tissue arises, along with dysfunctional behavior on the part of immune cells in the brain. As is the case in the open access review paper here, one can take these facts and suggest that amyloid-β deposition causes immune cell dysfunction, which in turn causes tau deposition. There is cer...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 12, 2019 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Fatty liver disease: What it is and what to do about it
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition of extra fat buildup in the liver, is on the rise — it now affects roughly 20% to 40% of the US population. It usually doesn’t cause any symptoms, and is often first detected by accident when an imaging study (such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI) is requested for another reason. A fatty liver may also be identified on an imaging test as a part of investigating abnormal liver blood tests. NAFLD is intimately related to conditions like diabetes and obesity. It’s also linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Understanding NAFLD and its cau...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 10, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Wynne Armand, MD Tags: Digestive Disorders Health Source Type: blogs
ZERO tolerance for hypoglycemia
As more and more type 2 diabetics discover the Wheat Belly and other low-carb lifestyles, they are also discovering how rapidly and easily blood sugars drop.
As diabetics become less diabetic–a process that can occur VERY quickly, often within 24 hours of removing all wheat/grains from their diet–but they are taking insulin or certain diabetes drugs, there is potential for hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Low blood sugar from diabetes drugs can be dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. (Imagine if a non-diabetic started administering insulin or blood sugar-reducing drugs–it would result in life-threate...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - December 23, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates blood sugar diabetes undoctored wheat belly Source Type: blogs
Pioglitazone use improves NASH and associated fibrosis
(Source: Notes from Dr. RW)
Source: Notes from Dr. RW - December 21, 2018 Category: Internal Medicine Tags: endocrinology gastroenterology pharmacology Source Type: blogs
Pioglitazone and secondary stroke prevention
(Source: Notes from Dr. RW)
Source: Notes from Dr. RW - December 19, 2018 Category: Internal Medicine Tags: cardiovascular endocrinology neurology pharmacology Source Type: blogs
Pioglitazone may help prevent atrial fibrillation in diabetic patients
(Source: Notes from Dr. RW)
Source: Notes from Dr. RW - December 19, 2018 Category: Internal Medicine Tags: cardiovascular endocrinology Source Type: blogs
Worst Health Care Revolving Door Case So Far, Version 2.0? - From President of Lilly USA to US Secretary of Health and Human Services?
DiscussionLast week we noted that Mr Trump famously promised to " drain the swamp " in Washington. Last week, despite his previous pledges to not appoint lobbyists to powerful positions, he appointed a lobbyist to be acting DHHS Secretary. This week he is apparently strongly considering Mr Alex Azar, a pharmaceutical executive to be permanent DHHS Secretary, even though the FDA, part of DHHS, has direct regulatory authority over the pharmaceutical industry, and many other DHHS policies strongly affect the pharmaceutical industry. (By the way, Mr Azar was also in charge of one lobbying effort.) So sho...
Source: Health Care Renewal - October 19, 2017 Category: Health Management Tags: crime deception DHHS Donald Trump Eli Lilly legal settlements marketing regulatory capture revolving doors Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, June 12th 2017
In this study, we focused on two pathways of cardiomyocytes or heart cells: the Hippo pathway, which is involved in stopping renewal of adult cardiomyocytes, and the dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC) pathway, essential for cardiomyocyte normal functions."
Previous work had hinted that components of the DGC pathway may somehow interact with members of the Hippo pathway. The researchers genetically engineered mice to lack genes involved in one or both pathways, and then determined the ability of the heart to repair an injury. These studies showed for the first time that dystroglycan 1, a component of the DGC pathw...
Source: Fight Aging! - June 11, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
