telomeres Archives - Amazing Health Advances

The Most Important Medical Test You Can Have

The AHA! Team — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 05:18:40 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – I get a lot of mail from readers like you who tell me they’re scheduled to see their doctor for an annual checkup. And they want to know… What is the number-one anti-aging test they should ask their physician to order? It’s an important question. But sadly, most conventionally trained doctors will NEVER order the test I recommend… You see, with my patients, I want to know what’s going on at the cellular level. And that’s why I think it’s essential to have a test that measures your telomeres. Lengthening your telomeres is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself from the diseases we commonly associate with aging. Diseases like Alzheimer’s… heart disease… diabetes… obesity… and cancer. The minute I learned about telomeres — and activating the telomerase enzyme that maintains telomere length — I knew it would change lives. And it has. By helping my patients keep their telomeres long, they’ve seen incredible results. They’ve experienced benefits like having sharper memory, more energy, perfect blood sugar, and healthy hearts. In other words, they’ve extended their health span, so they’re living younger – longer. Yet, the medical establishment continues to look the other way. Instead of acknowledging this discovery, they’re stuck on turning telomere technology into another synthetic drug for Big Pharma. Why? Because that’s where the big money is. And that’s their primary goal…to profit from your health challenges. The First REAL Anti-Aging Solution Telomeres are the little caps on the end of each strand of your DNA that control how your cells age. When you are young, your telomeres are long. But every time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter. Over time, your telomeres get so short they can’t protect your DNA as effectively. When a cell divides, new cells are defective. You begin to develop the signs and diseases of old age. And you dramatically increase your risk of serious diseases. But regrowing telomeres has the opposite effect. Supporting your telomeres is the first REAL solution to aging itself. In fact: People with the longest telomeres have a 54% lower risk of heart disease1 Longer telomeres protect the brain from aging and dementia2 People with longer telomeres are happier and have a better outlook on life3 Those with longer telomeres have an immune age that’s 20 years younger4 Increasing telomere length helps fight against almost all diseases of aging5 Lengthening telomeres increases lifespan by an average of five years6 I believe telomeres are the biggest medical breakthrough in my lifetime. As a pioneer in telomere science, I’ve been helping my patients protect and lengthen their telomeres for decades. I do this by helping them activate telomerase naturally. When you turn telomerase on, your telomeres gradually get longer. Your body starts creating younger cells. And by activating telomerase, you can improve and support almost every organ in your body. You can recharge your sexual desire, breathe easier, look younger and feel younger. In other words, you can reverse the aging process – and eliminate your risk for the so-called diseases of aging. I think this topic is so important I used it to wrap up my Palm Beach Anti-Aging Summit at the beautiful and historic Mar-a-Lago estate. Today, I want to share that talk with you. To watch, click this link. If you’re interested in having your telomeres tested – so you can start on the path to REAL anti-aging – call my clinic at 561-784-7852. My friendly staff will be happy to answer your questions and set you up with the most important medical test you can have. 3 Simple Steps To Make Your Telomeres Biologically Younger In the meantime, there are steps you can take right now to make your telomeres biologically younger. Here’s what I tell my patients… Stop eating processed foods. A new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that three or more servings of “ultra-processed foods” doubled your risk of shortened telomeres.Typical processed foods include a vast array of convenience items, such as deli meats; instant soups and noodles; packaged bread; snack items; soda and energy drinks; sweetened yogurt; and breakfast cereals — even those marked “healthy.” Boost vitamin C intake. Studies confirm that raising the level of vitamin C in the cells slows down the shortening of telomeres by up to 62%.7,8 In another study, vitamin C slowed telomere shortening while increasing cellular lifespan.9But be forewarned. You’d be lucky to absorb more than 500 mg of standard vitamin C supplements in a single day. That’s why I recommend a liposomal-encapsulated ascorbic acid. Wrapping vitamin C in a tiny, fatty bubble more than doubles its absorption.10 This delivery method enables you to take 5,000 to 8,000 mg of vitamin C every day. Lower your homocysteine. This amino acid triples the speed at which your telomeres shorten. Here’s what I use with my patients (amounts are daily) to lower homocysteine: Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg Folic acid – 800 mcg Vitamin B6 – 25 mg Riboflavin (B2) – 25 mg TMG (Trimethylglycine) – 500 mg To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: Haycock P, et al. “Leucocyte telomere length and risk of cardiovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.” BMJ. 2014;349:g4227. Yaffe K, et al. “Telomere length and cognitive function in community-dwelling elders: findings from the Health ABC Study.” Neurobiol Aging. 2011;32(11):2055-60. Uchino B, et. al. “Social relationships and health: is feeling positive, negative, or both (ambivalent) about your social ties related to telomeres?” Health Psychol. 2012;31(6):789-96. Harley C, et al. “A natural product telomerase activator as part of a health maintenance program.” Rej Res. 2011. Gomez D, et al. “Telomere structure and telomerase in health and disease (review).” Int J Oncol. 2012;41(5):1561-9. Cawthon RM, et al. “Association between telomere length in blood and mortality in people aged 60 years or older.” Lancet. 2003; 361: 393-395. Furumoto K. et al. “Age-dependent telomere shortening is slowed down by enrichment of intracellular vitamin C via suppression of oxidative stress.” Life Science. 1998;6(11): 935-48. Shen J, et al. “Telomere length, oxidative damage, antioxidants and breast cancer risk.” Int J Cancer. 2009 Apr 1; 124(7):1637-43. Xu Q, et al. “Multivitamin use and telomere length in women.” Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;89(6):1721-2. Prantl L, et al. Enhanced resorption of liposomal packed vitamin c monitored by ultrasound.” J Clin Med. 2020 Jun; 9(6): 1616. Richards J, et al. “Homocysteine levels and leukocyte telomere length.” Atherosclerosis. 2008 Feb 14. To read the original article click here.

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Study Suggests Ergothioneine in Mushrooms Can Help Extend Your Lifespan

The AHA! Team — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 08:26:55 +0000

Zoey Sky via Natural News – Mushrooms are a great addition to many savory dishes. Research suggests the benefits offered by mushrooms go beyond the kitchen. Several studies have found that a compound in mushrooms can help extend the human lifespan. One recent study looked into the potential benefits of fungi-derived bioactive compounds on lifespan and health span. The study also highlighted the importance of finding interventions to minimize age-related diseases. Another study published in the Nutrition Journal investigated the health benefits of mushrooms. Researchers found that mushroom consumption is linked to a longer lifespan. They credited this benefit to mushrooms’ high content of ergothioneine, an antioxidant amino acid found in fungi and bacteria. While conducting the study, researchers reviewed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The 20-year prospective cohort study involved 15,000 participants. Results revealed that the people who included mushrooms in their diet had a 16 percent lower chance of early death. The researchers also discovered that consuming one serving of mushrooms per day instead of processed meat reduced the chances of dying prematurely from any cause by at least 35 percent. The research team explained that this benefit may be due to ergothioneine’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. They also suggested that ergothioneine’s anti-aging properties could stem from its ability to protect against telomere shortening. Research shows ergothioneine has protective effects on telomeres Telomeres are usually described as protective “caps” for chromosomes. These long strings of delicate, elaborately folded DNA act like the protective plastic tips on shoelaces that help prevent fraying and damage. Longer telomeres are associated with better cellular health and are also usually linked with longevity. But telomeres naturally shorten over time, which makes them less able to preserve the structure of chromosomes. Shorter telomeres are linked with aging and chronic degenerative disease. In a study with participants over 60, those with shorter telomeres were three times more likely to die of heart disease than those with longer telomeres. They were also at least eight times more likely to die from infections. In another preliminary study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements in 2022, a research team discovered that treating cells with ergothioneine for eight weeks alleviated telomere shortening from oxidative stress. They suggested that this can help potentially avoid mutations in DNA that could cause cancer. The researchers concluded that the results support “a potential role for ergothioneine in oxidative stress-related conditions and healthy aging.” Ergothioneine also supports longevity by helping to replenish and recycle glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant. Data also suggests that ergothioneine offers a valuable “trifecta” of anti-aging gifts: supporting longer telomeres, protecting DNA and recycling glutathione. Mushrooms can support optimal brain health In a separate study, scientists found that people over 60 were found to display lower levels of ergothioneine. They added that those over 60 with mild age-related cognitive impairment showed even sharper declines in this important amino acid. This is bad because ergothioneine, which helps protect brain cells from oxidative stress, is believed to help aging adults maintain healthy cognition and memory. Test tube and animal studies have indicated that ergothioneine may also help support memory by creating new neurons or brain cells. In a trial published in the Japanese Journal of Pharmacology, the research team gave both healthy adults and those with mild cognitive impairment a mushroom extract containing 5 mg of ergothioneine a day for 12 weeks. They found that the supplementation resulted in significant improvements in verbal memory, working memory and sustained attention for both the healthy and the mildly impaired volunteers. (Related: 6 Mushrooms you can eat to prevent cognitive impairment and reduce your dementia risk.) Aside from its anti-aging properties, ergothioneine also helps support a healthy immune system, promotes optimal cardiovascular function and supports healthy skin. Ergothioneine is even used in skincare serums and creams to reduce the appearance of fine lines and soothe redness and irritation. It is also used in products that help fight against damage and photoaging caused by ultraviolet radiation. Visit NaturalMedicine.news for more research about mushrooms and other superfoods. Watch the video below to learn about the health benefits of Organic Chaga Mushrooms. This video is from the Health Ranger Store channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: NaturalHealth365.com PubMed.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov Brighteon.com To read the original article, click here: https://www.naturalnews.com/2024-08-14-study-ergothioneine-mushrooms-help-extend-lifespan.html

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How Sex Can Improve Your Mind

The AHA! Team — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 08:23:24 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #472) and blog, I talk about relationships, communication, sex, and the mind. This is part 1 of a 3-part series. High-quality intimate relationships are good for our health—we all know this! But did you know that sexual intimacy is also good for us? I recently interviewed Dr. Elissa Epel about her work with telomeres and stress, and she mentioned that one of her most interesting and popular studies, published in 2017, was on a correlation she and her team found between longevity and safe and consensual sex. In this study, Dr. Epel and her team observed that couples that are more sexually intimate have longer telomeres, which contribute to our cellular health and longevity. Couples that are more sexually intimate have longer telomeres Other researchers have also found that the frequency of sexual intimacy for individuals in healthy relationships is linked to greater mental and physical health outcomes, such as more general happiness and greater life satisfaction (Muise et al., 2016), greater heart variability (Costa and Brody, 2012), lower daily somatic symptoms (Stadler et al., 2012), reduced daily diurnal cortisol (Ditzen et al., 2008), and a more robust immune response! Researchers have even found that the frequency of safe sexual intimacy for individuals in relationships has been linked to greater mental and physical health outcomes, such as more general happiness and greater life satisfaction (Muise et al., 2016)! But this is not just about sex. As Dr. Epel discusses in her work, our telomeres are correlated with how supported we feel in a relationship. Healthier romantic relationships tend to predict a positive stress response and better longevity. The stronger your relationship is, the better your sexual intimacy will be, which, in turn, can help improve not only your mental health but also your longevity! Of course, this is a lot easier on paper than it is in real life. In a romantic relationship, you literally imprint that person onto your brain. This means that you are connected in ways that are both emotional and physical. You really do affect each other, which can be both a good and bad thing. These kinds of relationships can be incredibly challenging at times—I don’t think you need me to tell you that! Below are some tips to help you build a healthier relationship through communication and improve your sexual intimacy and overall health: 1. Establish an open line of communication: It is important to establish an open line of communication with your partner on a regular basis by encouraging them to share what is on their mind AND sharing how you feel. Work on creating an environment where you both feel like you can talk about everything that is happening in your lives, from the small to the big things. This will help you both feel more supported in the relationship. 2. Think before you speak: Make sure you have thought about what you want to say and work on staying calm when confronting your partner or discussing an issue. If you raise your voice or become aggressive, it can quickly spiral into a fight. It takes about 60-90 seconds for emotions to pass through you, so if you feel upset, it’s critical you not do anything besides just breathe and gather awareness during this period. This is the time when most people react and then regret what they said or did. Waiting for about a minute or so before speaking gives your brain and nonconscious mind the time to dynamically self-regulate by adjusting to and organizing the incoming information. 3. Ask before you speak: Ask your partner if you can talk to them about what is bothering you, rather than just demanding that they listen to what you have to say. 4. Don’t run away from the uncomfortable: Whatever you say might be hard for your partner to hear or process in the moment, and they might react in anger or sadness. Just keep reminding yourself that they are experiencing their own emotions and may be surprised by what you are saying. Don’t try to suppress or avoid uncomfortable situations. You can tell your partner that you value what you have with them, but be assertive about your desire for something more and your need to communicate what you don’t feel happy about. 5. Learn to just “be” with each other: Yes, great sex and exciting date nights are amazing. But times of quiet, where you can just “be” with your partner, are equally important when it comes to feeling supported and loved. Just sitting quietly with your loved one, for example, has a beauty in and of itself. I call this the “live your best life” mentality: learning to notice beauty in the small things will make your time with your partner feel like a gift—something to be treasured and appreciated every day. For more on relationships, sex and the mind, listen to my podcast (episode #472). Podcast Highlights 0:37 The science behind relationships & the mind 5:48 Sex, relationships & longevity 9:10 How improving our relationships can improve our health 10:33 Why communication is so important in a relationship 11:22, 18:28 Ways to improve your communication so you feel supported in a relationship This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. We always encourage each person to make the decision that seems best for their situation with the guidance of a medical professional. To read the original article click here.

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Shield Your Telomeres with Omega-3

AHA Publisher — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 08:00:27 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – You may recall telomeres are the “caps” that protect the ends of your DNA strands. But with each cellular replication, telomeres grow shorter and shorter… It’s like a clock counting down to zero. The shorter they become, the faster you age and the more vulnerable you are to disease. Researchers at Ohio State University wanted to know if high doses of omega-3s could shield telomeres from the free-radical damage caused by stress. In this case, the researchers gave 138 people difficult problems to solve, then studied their bodies’ reactions. For subjects taking 2.5 grams of omega-3s daily, it was smooth sailing. They had 19% lower cortisol levels and 33% fewer inflammatory proteins than normal.1 But for those taking a placebo instead of omega-3s, oh my! They experienced a 25% drop in telomerase, the enzyme that keeps telomeres long and healthy. That’s alarming because without enough telomerase to repair your telomeres, old age and frailty are right around the corner. They also had a 20% DROP in healthy, anti-inflammatory proteins.2 The group taking omega-3s shrugged off the stress and thrived. The other group was shaken to their genetic core. My question: Which of those groups would you rather be in? Use Omega-3 to Shield Your Telomeres If you follow my work at all, you already know I recommend eating wild-caught salmon and supplementation to get enough omega-3s. The key ingredient to look for is docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. I recommend at least 500 mg of DHA and 60 mg of EPA every day! Look for a supplement powered by high-DHA calamari and krill caught in the pristine waters near the Antarctic. But I want to go beyond that advice today to talk about 3 sources of omega-3s you’ve probably never heard about. These foods that are high in omega-3s will help you and your telomeres breeze through whatever stress life sends your way: Omega-3 Surprise No. 1 – Hempseed. These seeds come from a plant in the cannabis family… but without the psychoactive THC. They offer a nearly ideal ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, estimated at between 2:1 and 3:1.3 That’s highly significant because over the last 75 years the disease-causing omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio has jumped to a stunning 20:1… mostly due to grain-fed cattle and cheap vegetable oils. To counteract this trend, use hempseed whenever you can. I sprinkle it on salads, or you can toss it in soups and stews. Omega-3 Surprise No. 2 – Sacha inchi oil. When I traveled to Peru, I discovered a delicious oil that may be the world’s best kept omega-3 secret. Most vegetable oils have only a minuscule amount of omega-3 – just 1% by volume in olive oil, for example. But sacha inchi oil (plukenetia volubilis), made from the peanut-like seeds of a plant found primarily in the Amazonian Rainforest in Peru, is absolutely one of the best fatty acid sources on the planet – a whopping 48% by volume. The indigenous Asháninka people I visited there cultivate it. It’s also high in protein and antioxidants like vitamin A and E. You’ll find it online and at some health food stores. Omega-3 Surprise No. 3 – Organ Meat. As soon as someone says “omega-3s,” you probably think of fish, not meat. Many readers remain unaware that meat is also an excellent omega-3 source. But not just any meat will do: Unless livestock is 100% grass-fed, its omega-3 content will be negligible. The best cuts are organ meat – liver, heart, and kidneys. These are also packed with other vital nutrients such as CoQ10, B vitamins, and protein. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Ohio State University (2021, April 20). Omega-3 supplements do double duty in protecting against stress. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from ScienceBlog.com website. 2. Ohio State University (2021, April 20). Omega-3 supplements do double duty in protecting against stress. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from ScienceBlog.com website. 3. Rodriguez-Leyva, D., & Pierce, G. N. (2010). The cardiac and haemostatic effects of dietary hempseed. Nutrition & Metabolism, 7(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-7-32 To read the original article click here.

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How to Build Your Own ‘Longevity Gene’

AHA Publisher — Wed, 26 May 2021 07:00:49 +0000

Al Sears, MD – Kane Tanaka is the oldest person on the planet. At 118, she’s defying the “experts” who insist that genes determine your lifespan. This summer, when the Olympic torch travels through her hometown of Shime, Japan, Kane will carry the flame. Imagine that, a 118-year-old torch bearer! Most doctors attribute her longevity to “good genes.” But despite thousands of studies over the past 50 years, no researcher has been able to identify a single gene explaining the longevity of supercentenarians like Kane. As a regular reader, you’ll know that I believe your genes don’t determine how long, or how well, you can live. And it looks like the geneticists are finally coming around to my point of view. As a matter of fact, many of them now agree that genes only account for about 25% of your longevity.1The remaining 75% is determined by your nutrition, activity level, and lifestyle. Despite the realization that non-genetic factors are much more important, Cornell University researchers wanted to give one unique gene a closer look… A “FOX Hunt” for Longevity… The FOX03 gene plays a key role in regulating metabolism, fighting free radicals, and calming inflammation – three major pathways to aging. Researchers wanted to know how it functions. So they flooded mice brain cells with free radicals and watched FOX03 go to work. FOX03 responded by signaling brain stem cells to halt their usual journey to becoming full-fledged neurons. Now the brain needs a constant supply of new cells to keep you sharp as you age. So the obvious question: Why did FOX03 stop the assembly line? Stem cells are extremely vulnerable as they morph into brain cells. By signaling them to suspend their development, FOX03 was conserving the brain’s limited supply.2 That’s pretty impressive. But even more significant is this: There are several ways you can activate your FOX03 gene to make it twice as powerful. In a sense, you can build your own “longevity gene.” Energize FOX03 to Hunt Free Radicals Energizing FOX03 to hunt down free radicals helps preserve the vital telomeres that protect the integrity of your DNA. Here are three ways to do it: Astaxanthin – My regular readers already know that astaxanthin, nature’s most powerful antioxidant, guards your retinas and staves off macular generation. But recent studies show it nearly doubles FOXO3 activity.3,4 I recommend wild-caught food sources such as salmon, shrimp, and crawfish. But you should also supplement with up to 50 mg of astaxanthin daily. I tell my patients to look for a supplement derived from the best natural source. That’s Haematococcus pluvialis algae. Calorie restriction/fasting – There’s growing evidence FOXO3 and various forms of fasting work to accelerate apoptosis, ridding your body of the dysfunctional cells that contribute to inflammation. Calorie restriction lowers the body’s production of insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1], and as IGF-1 declines FOX03 activity ramps up.5 EGCG – Consider it another reason to make green tea part of your health routine. Already highly regarded for its anti-inflammatory and heart-health benefits, there’s growing evidence the green tea extract EGCG activates the FOX03 gene as well. Most of the studies so far are on animals.6But EGCG-activated FOX03 inhibited the growth of human breast cancer cells.7 A cup of green tea contains about 100 mg of EGCG. I recommend you supplement with up to 1,500 mg of the extract daily. 1 Passarino, G., De Rango, F., & Montesanto, A. (2016). Human longevity: Genetics or Lifestyle? It takes two to tango. Immunity & Ageing, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12979-016-0066-z 2 Study Reveals How a Longevity Gene Protects Brain Stem Cells From Stress. (2021, February 19). Retrieved April 5, 2021, from WCM Newsroom website: https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2021/02/study-reveals-how-a-longevity-gene-protects-brain-stem-cells-from-stress 3 Research: University of Hawaii reports Astaxanthin can activate the FOX03 “Longevity Gene” in mammals. (2017, March 28). Retrieved April 5, 2021, from John A. Burns School of Medicine website: https://jabsom.hawaii.edu/research-university-of-hawaii-reports-ability-of-astaxanthin-to-significantly-activate-fox03-longevity-gene-in-mammals/ 4 Astaxanthin compound found to switch on the FOX03 “Longevity Gene” in mice. (2017, March 28). Retrieved March 26, 2021, from ScienceDaily website: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170328092428.htm 5 Komatsu, T., Park, S., Hayashi, H., Mori, R., Yamaza, H., & Shimokawa, I. (2019). Mechanisms of Calorie Restriction: A Review of Genes Required for the Life-Extending and Tumor-Inhibiting Effects of Calorie Restriction. Nutrients, 11(12), 3068. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11123068 6 Bartholome, A., Kampkötter, A., Tanner, S., Sies, H., & Klotz, L.-O. (2010). Epigallocatechin gallate-induced modulation of FoxO signaling in mammalian cells and C. elegans: FoxO stimulation is masked via PI3K/Akt activation by hydrogen peroxide formed in cell culture. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 501(1), 58–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abb.2010.05.024 7 Belguise, K., Guo, S., & Sonenshein, G. E. (2007). Activation of FOXO3a by the Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Induces Estrogen Receptor Expression Reversing Invasive Phenotype of Breast Cancer Cells. Cancer Research, 67(12), 5763–5770. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-4327 To read the original article click here. For more articles from Al Sears, MD click here.

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Breakthrough Study Shows Hyperbaric Oxygen Can Reverse Aging

AHA Publisher — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 08:00:48 +0000

Abigail Klein Leichman via Israel21c – Hyperbaric oxygen treatments can stop the aging of blood cells and even reverse the aging process in healthy aging adults, according to a recently published study from scientists at Tel Aviv University (TAU) and Shamir Medical Center. The researchers found that a unique protocol of high-pressure oxygen treatments in a pressure chamber can reverse two major processes associated with aging: the shortening of telomeres (protective regions at both ends of every chromosome) and the accumulation of old, malfunctioning (senescent) cells. “For many years, our team has been engaged in hyperbaric research and therapy — treatments based on protocols of exposure to high-pressure oxygen at various concentrations inside a pressure chamber,” explained Prof. Shai Efrati of the Sackler School of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience at TAU and founder and director of the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research at Shamir Medical Center. “Our achievements included the improvement of brain functions damaged by age, stroke or brain injury,” Efrati said. In 2017, ISRAEL21c reported on another Tel Aviv University study that revealed that hyperbaric oxygen treatments helped ameliorate symptoms experienced by people with Alzheimer’s. “In the current study we wished to examine the impact of HBOT on healthy and independent aging adults, and to discover whether such treatments can slow down, stop or even reverse the normal aging process at the cellular level,” said Efrati. The researchers exposed 35 healthy adults aged 64 or over to a series of 60 hyperbaric sessions over a period of 90 days. Each participant provided blood samples before, during and at the end of the treatments as well as a week or two after the series of treatments concluded. They then analyzed immune cells in participants’ blood and discovered a lengthening of up to 38 percent in the telomeres. “Today, telomere shortening is considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of the biology of aging,” Efrati says. “Researchers around the world are trying to develop pharmacological and environmental interventions that enable telomere elongation. Our HBOT protocol was able to achieve this, proving that the aging process can in fact be reversed at the basic cellular-molecular level.” More effective than lifestyle modifications Dr. Amir Hadanny, chief medical research officer of the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, said that until now, interventions such as lifestyle modifications and intense exercise were shown to have some inhibiting effect on telomere shortening. “But in our study, only three months of HBOT were able to elongate telomeres at rates far beyond any currently available interventions or lifestyle modifications,” Hadanny said. “With this pioneering study, we have opened a door for further research on the cellular impact of HBOT and its potential for reversing the aging process.” In their paper published in the journal Aging on November 18, they also report that the treated study participants also had a decrease of up to 37% in nonfunctioning senescent cells. Multiplace chambers The unique HBOT therapy featured in this study was done at the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research in Be’er Ya’akov using a multi-seat hyperbaric chamber – not the one-person tanks many people are familiar with. This protocol is available to the public at Sagol and in the United States at Aviv Clinics in The Villages, Florida. Efrati is chairman of the medical advisory board of Aviv Scientific, owner of Aviv Clinics. Hadanny, a neurosurgeon, is the company’s chief researcher and head of international clinical operations. Efrati and Hadanny have done many other studies on the benefits of HBOT. A previous randomized controlled clinical trial led by Efrati and Hadanny, published in Aging last June, found that HBOT in healthy people 60 and older caused cognitive enhancements in attention, information processing speed and executive functions, compared to the control group. In March 2019, ISRAEL21c reported on another study by Efrati and Hadanny suggesting that HBOT was helpful for survivors of childhood sexual abuse who developed fibromyalgia (a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue and cognitive issues) as a result of their post-traumatic distress. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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Telomeres: What You Need to Know to Slow the Aging of Your Cells

AHA Publisher — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 07:00:05 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Have you heard of telomeres? While they are not a part of most everyday conversations, they are at the heart of a subject that often is: health and aging. Telomeres are vital to healthy aging, the aging of your cells, and disease prevention. Yet, they are damaged and shortened in your body every day. Is there anything you can do to save your telomeres and slow the aging of your cells? What Are Telomeres? Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. Chromosomes are the structures that hold your DNA within the nuclei of every cell in your body. When the cells in your body divide, the chromosomes replicate, and the telomeres become slightly damaged and shorter. This is a part of the normal living and aging process. However, some things in our modern environment may be speeding up the shortening of telomeres and thereby speeding up the aging of your cells. Telomeres and the Aging of Your Cells Telomere length is literally regarded as a marker for the biological age of a person. This age is not directly correlated to their years of life or chronological age. Some people are much younger “chromosomally” than others. When compared, a person with the same chronological age as another but with shorter telomeres has an increased risk of developing age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer, and a shorter life expectancy. In fact, one 2003 study found a connection between shorter telomeres and increased risk of death from infectious disease and heart disease (1). Other studies and analyses have found a link between shorter telomeres and coronary heart disease, cancer, brain health, and mortality (2, 3). What Accelerates Telomere Aging? If we want to know how to save our telomeres and slow expedited damage and aging of our cells, we must first know what speeds it up. Genetics and an unhealthy lifestyle are important contributors to telomere shortening. Chronic stress and stress hormones likely play a role. Additionally, many experts believe oxidative stress contributes to quickly shortened telomeres. Oxidative stress is the accumulation of DNA-damaging free radicals in the body. Free radicals are produced with almost every natural biochemical reaction. This is a part of life. However, free radicals and oxidative stress are increased with environmental pollutants, smoking, UV damage, alcohol intake, and more. On the other hand, a healthy diet loaded with antioxidants decreases free radicals. Luckily, recent studies suggest that telomeres can change (for better or worse) faster than previously thought. You may even be able to change the speed at which your telomeres shorten in just 1-6 months with a healthier lifestyle. Telomere research, lengthening, and aging reversal (with telomere elongation) are all emerging parts of science. What’s more, researchers aren’t sure that telomere lengthening directly implies an improvement in overall health and aging trajectory…but it does make sense that it would, at least hypothetically. How Can You Take Care of Your Telomeres and Slow the Aging of Your Cells? There are 3 lifestyle areas on which to focus for better telomere health: diet, exercise, and stress management. In fact, one small study in 2013 studied the telomere length of 10 men with low-risk prostate cancer. During the study, they make lifestyle changes and started: eating health exercising regularly managing stress through yoga and support groups They were then compared to 25 participants with low-risk prostate cancer who didn’t make these lifestyle changes. The 10 who made the changes had longer telomeres five years later. This was a very small study, only involving men, but a good start that shows more research is warranted (4). Here are some details of the 3 keys areas: 1. Diet A diet that is focused on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods such as the Keto Zone Diet, may play a role in determining the length of your telomeres. By increasing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods like extra-virgin olive oil, avocados, vegetables, fermented vegetable powders, and other healthy foods, it’s postulated that you can improve telomere health and the aging of your brain. Next, a 2018 study found that eating more fiber was correlated with longer telomere lengths! It likely has to do with fiber’s role beyond digestion: improved blood glucose, cholesterol, hormone balance, immune support, and more. This study involved 5000 adults (5). 2. Exercise Exercise can improve overall health, help you control weight, reduce inflammation, and reduce oxidative stress. A 2017 study looked at the association between exercise and telomere length in thousands of men and women in the United States. Those who participated in high levels of activity had significantly longer telomeres than those who did no, low level, or medium levels of activity. Interestingly, the low and medium levels of activity were about the same in terms of telomere length (6). Another study found that young adults who engage in high levels of aerobic activities and had more muscle endurance had longer telomeres than those who didn’t (7). 3. Stress Management Your stress hormones can actually increase oxidative stress. When this is a chronic issue, it can result in DNA-damage and possibly shorter telomeres. One study of women who cared for a chronically ill-child found that they had shorter telomeres, reduced telomerase activity, and more oxidative stress than those caring for healthy children (8). The researchers categorized these women as having chronically high-stress levels. Another recent study found that men and women who were exposed to stressors AND responded with increased cortisol had more telomere shortening in the years that followed than those who didn’t (9). One other study by the ReSource Project evaluated telomere length, brain structure, and cerebral thickness in the brain. The researchers found that the aging of our cells and our biological age appears to change more quickly than previously thought. They can vary within just three months. What’s more, if the telomeres changed in length, this was associated with structural changes in the brain. If telomeres lengthened, the cerebral cortex thickened; if they shortened, the brain’s gray matter was reduced in size. Therefore, short-term telomere changes can have effects on brain structure and reflect the fluctuations in the body’s health and aging status (10). Stress Reduction and Sleep So, how can you reduce stress within a stressful world? There are many ways! In this post, 9 Ways to Reduce Cortisol Naturally, we cover how you can incorporate simple lifestyle habits to reduce your cortisol stress reaction. One of the most potent habits is sleep. One 2019 study of just over 400 people found that insufficient sleep was associated with premature telomere shortening (11). While more research needs to be done, all signs point to a healthy lifestyle with a high-antioxidant diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep are important to slow the aging of our cells and support overall health. Bottom Line All this data is actually very good news. What you’re already doing in trying to improve your health with healthy eating, exercise, and stress management can actually slow the aging of your cells! So, don’t stop! Keep working toward a healthy lifestyle, and keep taking care of your one and only body. And, if you need help getting started with the Keto Zone Diet, try our FREE Keto Zone 21-Day-Challenge today! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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Cellular Aging is Linked to Structural Changes in the Brain

AHA Publisher — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 07:00:38 +0000

Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences via EurekAlert – One key to staying younger longer therefore seems to be related to the question: How do we slow down, stop, or even reverse the shortening of telomeres? Genetics and unhealthy lifestyle are important contributors to telomere shortening, along with psychological stress. Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that become shorter with each cell division. If they become so short that the genes they protect could be damaged, the cell stops dividing and renewing. Consequently, the cell is increasingly unable to perform its functions. This mechanism is one of the ways in which we age. Telomere length is therefore regarded as a marker for the biological age of a person — in contrast to their chronological age. For two people of the same chronological age, the person with shorter telomeres has an increased risk of developing age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s or cancer, and even a shorter life expectancy. Telomere Lengthening One key to staying younger longer therefore seems to be related to the question: How do we slow down, stop, or even reverse the shortening of telomeres? Genetics and unhealthy lifestyle are important contributors to telomere shortening, along with psychological stress. Based on this knowledge, researchers have examined how much lifestyle can influence telomere length. Recent studies suggest that telomeres can change faster than previously thought, possibly taking just one to six months of mental or physical training to elongate. The exciting premise is that telomere lengthening may represent a reversal of biological aging processes. However, it remains unclear if telomere elongation actually reflects any improvement in a person’s overall health and aging trajectory. “To explore whether a short-term change in telomere length, after only a few months, might actually be associated with changes in a person’s biological age, we linked it to another biomarker of aging and health: brain structure,” explains Lara Puhlmann, now a member of the Research Group ‘Social Stress and Family Health’ led by Veronika Engert at the Leipzig Max Planck Institute. The project had been initiated by Tania Singer as part of the ReSource Project. Participants of the researchers’ study underwent four MRI examinations, each spaced three months apart, and provided blood samples on the same dates. Using the DNA of leukocytes from the blood, the scientists were able to determine telomere length using a polymerase chain reaction. The MRI scans were used to calculate the thickness of the cerebral cortex of each participant. This outer layer of grey matter becomes thinner with age. It is also known that some neurological and age-related diseases are associated with faster cortical thinning in certain brain regions. Fast Changes in Biological Aging The result: “Across systems, our biological aging appears to change more quickly than we thought. Indices of aging can vary together significantly in just three months,” says Puhlmann. If the telomeres changed in length, this was associated with structural changes in the brain. In a period when participants’ telomeres lengthened during the study, it was also more likely that their cortex had thickened at the same time. On the other hand, telomere shortening was associated with reductions of grey matter. This association occurred specifically in a brain region called the precuneus, which is a central metabolic and connectional hub. The above results suggest that even short-term changes in telomere length over just three months might reflect general fluctuations in the body’s health- and aging status. Many other questions, however, remain open. “We do not know, for example, which biological mechanism underlies the short-term changes in telomere length”, explains the scientist, “or whether the short-term changes really have a longer-term effect on health.” Mental Training At the same time, the team of researchers investigated whether telomere length could be altered by nine months of mindfulness- and empathy-based mental training, and whether such systematic change in telomere length would also be reflected in cortical thickening or thinning. Previous data from the ReSource Project, which was supported by the European Research Council (ERC), had already shown that certain regions of the cortex can be thickened by training, depending on the respective mental training contents of three distinct modules, each lasting for three months. The physiological stress response could also be reduced by mental training with social aspects. In contrast to their earlier work and previous findings from other groups, the team did not find any training effects on telomeres. Future studies will need to continue to address the question of which measures or behaviors most effectively stop or even reverse telomere shortening, and the biological aging process. To read the original article click here.

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