Introduction to Anti-Aging and Longevity Research
Slowing the structural breakdown of skin and thwarting the development of age-related disease are areas of scientific interest that have broad impacts on human health and medicine. Researchers have been studying the inhabitants of Campodimele, Italy, who are known for their longevity, to understand the secrets behind their longer life span. The majority of anti-aging research has focused on understanding and finding ways to manipulate the metabolic pathways that are implicated in the progressive decline of biological function associated with senescence.
Calorie Restriction and Longevity
Calorie restriction, the reduction of calorie intake to create a significant energy deficit while attempting to simultaneously maintain a balanced diet, has been shown to increase life span in mammals. This area of research has revealed important information about diseases and aging. In certain rodents, a diet reduced by 30–40 percent of normal calorie consumption was found to increase life span by as much as 40 percent. A study in rhesus monkeys demonstrated that, over the course of the animals’ lifetime, reducing calorie intake by 30 percent translated to visible delays in aging and gains in longevity.
Sirtuins and Their Role in Anti-Aging
Calorie restriction can activate genes known as sirtuins, which have been found to function as anti-aging genes in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila. In yeast, Sir2 regulates genes across large segments of chromosomes, and studies have shown that in organisms maintained on fewer calories than normal, Sir2 suppresses the activity of those genes, in effect reducing the likelihood of the genes’ acquisition of mutations that contribute to aging. Similar effects of sirtuin occur in mammals, and the development of drugs aimed at mimicking the effects of calorie restriction on the sirtuin gene in humans has been pursued for the treatment of age-related diseases.
Stem Cells and Their Role in Aging
Stem cells have a longer life span than other cells and retain a capacity to proliferate and differentiate, enabling them to defend against the shortening of telomeres and to prevent the accumulation of mutations. Adult stem cells play an important role in organ homeostasis and regeneration, and these functions can be impaired by aging. The aging of stem cells can lead to their transformation, rendering them carcinogenic. Research has suggested that the transplantation of embryonic stem cells may have beneficial effects in treating aging-associated conditions such as Parkinson disease.
Longevity Genes and Anti-Aging Drug Targets
In the search for anti-aging drug targets and longevity genes, many studies have focused on Caenorhabditis elegans, since this model organism has a relatively small genome amenable to basic genetic research. More than 25 genes influencing life span have been identified in C. elegans, and some 15 of those genes were found to be analogous to genes occurring in humans. These human analogs represent targets for the testing and development of drugs capable of staving off age-related diseases and extending life span in humans.
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