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Category: life extension – Page 2

Clearing circular RNA from cells extends lifespan, C. elegans study reveals

Cells in our bodies produce RNA based on genetic information stored in DNA, and RNA serves as a blueprint for making proteins. Researchers at KAIST have discovered a new phenomenon: Removing “circular RNA” that accumulates in cells as we age can slow down aging and extend lifespan. This study provides crucial clues for uncovering the principles of aging and developing treatment strategies for related diseases.

Professor Seung-Jae V. Lee’s research team (RNA-Mediated Healthspan and Longevity Research Center) from the Department of Biological Sciences, in collaboration with research teams led by Professors Yoon Ki Kim and Gwangrog Lee, discovered the RNASEK protein —an enzyme that degrades circular RNA—plays a vital role in slowing aging and extending lifespan. The findings are published in the journal Molecular Cell.

Until now, circular RNA was primarily known as a “marker of aging” because of its high stability, causing it to accumulate in cells without being degraded as one ages. However, the molecular mechanism for removing this RNA and its direct link to aging had not been clearly identified. The research team conducted this study to determine how the accumulation of circular RNA affects aging and whether an intracellular management system exists to regulate it.

Study suggests one common amino acid may affect how long men live

A large new study suggests that higher levels of a common amino acid called tyrosine may be linked to a shorter lifespan in men.

The research, published recently in the journal Aging, examined whether blood levels of two amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine, were connected to how long people live.

Amino acids are building blocks of protein. They are found in protein-rich foods such as milk, eggs and meat, and are also sold as dietary supplements.

How Zinc Protects Injured Arteries From Accelerated Aging

Researchers publishing in Aging Cell have discovered that the nuclei of the cells that line injured arteries quickly become misshapen and that this leads to accelerated cellular senescence. Delivering zinc to these cells partially alleviates this dysmorphism.

Two seemingly unrelated concepts

This paper begins with a discussion of two different concepts that, on the surface, appear to be unrelated. First, the researchers discuss vascular damage, particularly in the context of surgeries; even minimally invasive procedures that involve cutting, scraping, or burning arteries must cause some level of damage. This includes such procedures as catheter implantation as a treatment for heart disease [1] and the resection of cancerous tumors [2].

Exercise Triggers Memory-Related ‘Brain Ripples’, Study Finds

Exercise works wonders throughout the human body, including the brain.

Research suggests an array of neurological benefits, such as reducing the brain’s biological age, enhancing learning and memory, and protecting against dementia.

Now, a new study offers one of the clearest glimpses yet into a suspected mechanism: after a single 20-minute session of light-to-moderate cycling, people showed changes in memory-linked brain activity.

Dick Van Dyke Credits His Longevity to One Habit, And Science Supports It

Dick Van Dyke, the legendary American actor and comedian who starred in classics such as Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, turned 100 on December 13. The beloved actor credits his remarkable longevity to his positive outlook and never getting angry.

While longevity of course comes down to many factors – including genetics and lifestyle – there is some truth to Van Dyke’s claims.

Numerous studies have shown that keeping stress levels low and maintaining a positive, optimistic outlook are correlated with longevity.

Lifelong behavioral screen reveals an architecture of vertebrate aging

By tracking nearly every movement of a tiny fish’s life from adolescence to death, a new Science study reveals a hidden behavioral blueprint of aging—one that can predict a fish’s age or how long an individual will live.

Mapping behavior of individual vertebrate animals across lifespan could provide an unprecedented view into the lifelong process of aging. We created a platform for high-resolution continuous behavioral tracking of the African killifish across natural lifespan from adolescence to death. We found that animals follow distinct individual aging trajectories. The behaviors of long-lived animals differed markedly from those of short-lived animals, even relatively early in life, and were linked to organ-specific transcriptomic shifts. Machine-learning models accurately inferred age and even forecasted an individual’s future lifespan, given only behavior at a young age. Finally, we found that animals progressed through adulthood in a sequence of stable and stereotyped behavioral stages with abrupt transitions, revealing precise structure for an architecture of aging.

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