Life extension

MECHANISMS OF AGING AND LIFE EXTENSION

Increased life expectancy can be achieved: 1 means that prevent the development of diseases, 2 direct impact on the pace of aging. It is this second path is most promising and attractive for gerontologists. There are methods for determining the "contribution" of each of these factors in the increase in life span. Now there was also a group of special agents who are called geroprotectors (retarding aging), it is now important to study their effect not only on life expectancy, but also on the functional state of the organism, its biological age, to know what the "price" take geroprotectors for growth lifetimes.

Among the factors of the second kind of great interest is the limitation of power and volume and mainly on caloric. After the U.S. Scientists T. Osborne in 1915, and S. McKay in 1935 found that the restriction diet increases longevity in experimental animals, hundreds of researchers turned to the study of this model.

It would seem that the recipe is very simple - less is, do not bring themselves to exhaustion. There are different versions of the diet, life-prolonging, but the main thing is the following definition - food should be qualitatively high-grade, but quantitatively insufficient, ie it must contain all the necessary nutrients, but the caloric content with the normal diet.

This method gave surprising results. It turned out that the restricted diet, served by different authors, extends the life of experimental animals by 30-80 percent. At the same time than at an earlier age it began to be applied, the greater was the increase in years. In recent years, found that use it, and in the second half of life leads to the same results. It was shown that reducing not only total calories, and protein content of one causes the desired effect. Moreover, several authors proved that even a lack of food in just one amino acid - tryptophan - also leads to increased life expectancy. It is important that food restriction increases life expectancy by reducing mortality rates than earlier, namely, in the later stages of development, ie this increase comes from the containment of the aging process.

Restricted diet delays the onset time of diseases, although not a cure occurred. Thus, the tumor was observed in 60 percent of the control animals, and experienced the same age - only 10 percent of cases, cardiac disease in the control old rats were found in 92 percent, and the animals of the same age with a restricted diet only 26 percent of cases. Reducing diets favorably affect the immune system and the emergence of so-called immune deficiency diseases. It is extremely important that the restriction of supply affects the rate of age-related changes, the biological age of the animals - they have slowly evolving changes in DNA, chromatin, collagen metabolism of proteins and lipids, activates a number of endocrine glands, etc. There is reason to believe that in humans there is a connection between nutrition and life expectancy. First of all, obesity. According to several authors mast live for 10-12 years less than people of normal body condition. According to statistics, each kilogram of excess body weight reduces life expectancy by 2 percent. Order viagra plus online.

Secondly, the connection between calorie food for life and development of the pathology of the cardiovascular system in old age. It was found that older people are constantly consuming a day 2650-3000 calories, the frequency of diseases of the cardiovascular system is significantly higher than in humans, a diet containing 1600-2650 kcal. It should, however, noted that overly thin people live below the norm. Thus, the crucial task of physiologists and hygienists power is to justify the use of experimental data or to achieve that they have a positive impact on life expectancy and for disabled people. But on the other hand, there is no evidence to suggest that due to restricted diet can be achieved by the age of 140-160 years. Such a transfer of experimental results is not correct, not scientifically justified: in laboratory rats and humans different periods of life, so there is no quantifiable effect on the consistency of exchange processes and aging, occurring in animals and humans at different speeds. In the laboratory, held one of the first studies to compare the characteristics of aging animals with different types of life expectancy. It turned out that along with common fundamental mechanisms of aging, there are many species differences in the course of this process, which also can not affect the characteristics of geroprotectors.

Thus, the restricted diet is currently the most effective method of increasing life expectancy. This is due to the fact that it affects not on any one link in the complex mechanism of aging and age on the entire course of development, the multiplicity of factors of aging, the most important mechanisms of regulation. It is shown that the restricted diet is marked alteration in hormonal regulation, changes in the function of the hypothalamus, which controls all the internal environment. In addition, the restricted diet translates metabolism to a less intensive treatment.

Great Expectations researchers also been associated with the development controls body temperature. Reduced metabolic rate leads to slower deployment of age-related changes, the prevention of damaging factors. In cold-blooded animals can decrease the temperature to increase life expectancy in the tens or hundreds of times. By reducing the body temperature drops as the intensity of energy processes, the biosynthesis of RNA and protein.

There are calculations which show that the decrease in body temperature of warm-blooded animals including humans, to 2,0-3,5 degrees can nearly double the life expectancy at a time when their performance will be maintained. Supposed to change the temperature regimes during the day and night, during sleep, which would lead also to a significant raise in their lives. By reducing the body temperature will change the ratio of the aging process and updates. According to estimates, while reducing, by several degrees in body temperature decreases in the rate of aging 2-3 times, and the updating - only 1,5 times. This change in ratio and should lead to an increase in life span. We emphasize that we are talking about reducing is a constant body temperature that is about transforming it into a lower, but also a stable level, for consistency of this index is the most important condition preserving the viability of warm-blooded animals. At the same habitat should remain the same, usual, because if the lower temperature environment, it is activates the production of heat in the body - increase metabolic rate, leading to a shortening of life.

The evolution of the formed reliable mechanisms for thermoregulation. Thus, in the hypothalamus is very sensitive thermostat, subtly responsive to the deviation in body temperature. Develop tools to manage the thermostat can open attractive prospects. In old age he becomes less sensitive, and the body slowly adapts to changes in ambient temperature. Now collects information on the chemical nature of age-related changes in the hypothalamus, and that she will find ways of effective actions on this organ. Completely justified in the lifestyle of modern man increasingly took the active motor mode, physical culture. As a powerful means of preventing diseases of the cardiovascular system, they are already through this can affect the timing of human life. In addition, developing adaptive capabilities of the organism, they make it less vulnerable to the elderly and senile age. There is indirect evidence that a certain level of physical activity also affects the pace of aging. However, we are talking about the optimal load. It is known that during strenuous physical work dramatically changes the function of physiological systems and metabolism.

Optimum should be considered as a physical exercise, after which the body has time for rest time to recover. If the fatigue is accumulated, it will inevitably lead to gross violations in the body. Furthermore, in experiments on animals showed that the optimal values of the load life expectancy increases, and at the maximum decreases. On the other hand, the restriction of motor activity also shortens life. In the clinics of our institute showed that hypokinesia especially detrimental to older people, exacerbating age-related changes. Need to break this vicious circle: the aging due to changes in the motor centers, the locomotor system inevitably arises hypokinesia, and, having arisen, it in turn exacerbates age-related disorders. That is why active motor mode is so important in old age, the more so in this age, he has a noticeable influence of coaching. Known fact that physical activity sharply increased energy expenditure. But thanks to the mechanisms of self-regulation at rest in trained subjects is decreasing ground and energy metabolism, more economical performance of the functions of organs and systems. This is what leads to an increase in life expectancy. We recommend popular order propecia to treat male pattern hair loss.

In 1889 an event occurred that brought rainbow of hope, and then a bitter disappointment - a French scholar, an endocrinologist at Brown, S. Sekar reported the rejuvenating effects of extracts from the seminal glands. After 20 years of preliminary animal experiments of Brown-Sekar made his eight shots hoods and reported an incredible surge of strength, improving efficiency, etc.

Vienna gerontologist E. Stein transplanted older animals - rats, dogs, sheep - the testes and also noted the rejuvenating effect. Finally, the French surgeon transplanted Voronov old people sex glands of goats, sheep, chimpanzees, and argued that they disappear decrepitude, returning lost functions and mental strength. Further experiments with transplanting young sex glands, sperm duct ligation, performed in different countries have not lived up to expectations. It was found that brief flash of appetite, sex drive combined with a simultaneous deterioration of memory and other mental functions, and soon progressed devastation again, as before.

But be that as it may, these works gave impetus to study the mechanisms of aging, drew attention to the use of hormones to increase lifespan. Now accumulated a large amount of factual material about the influence of different hormones on life expectancy. Thus, it appears that reducing the influence of certain pituitary hormones, the introduction of adrenal hormones, female hormone non- as increased life expectancy, and the use of thyroid hormones, testosterone - the male sex hormone, on the contrary, shortens it.

Obviously, due to the fact that the body has a complex relationship in the neuro-hormonal regulation, the introduction of a single hormone. Can not be a decisive impact on life expectancy. It is very promising comprehensive, systemic exposure with neuro-hormonal regulation. In the mechanism of aging, according to a famous Canadian explorer H. Selye, are of great importance repeated stress. He believed that under stress is being depleted so-called adaptive energy, and it shortens life spans. However, the problem was much more difficult. Stress impacts of great strength under repeated indeed shorten life, whereas moderate and regular irritation, as if constantly maintaining the tone of the mechanisms of neuro-hormonal regulation, can not be reduced, and prolong life. This is confirmed by experiments with intermittent fasting, as well as conducted study the influence of "soft" stress periods of life. These experiments were initiated rats at the age of 600 days and led to an increase in the average duration life up to 1100 days versus 938 days in control animals. The maximum is getting rid of animals from stress, do not stretch, but shortened their life. Since the time of Mechnikov is a line of research that links aging with accumulation of damaging factors, such as toxic substances. Now it is obvious that this is only one possible link in the complex mechanism of aging. It is important not only to itself an increase in the concentration toxic substances, as the sensitivity of tissues to them in their old age. These assumptions we have identified the creation of a fundamentally new method of increasing life expectancy - the use of enterosorbtion* (see note).

Its principle is as follows. It is known that the number of gastro-intestinal juice in humans is 8-9 liters per day most of it back is absorbed into the blood. Adding food sorbents - binders certain molecules, it is possible to remove the body of toxic substances. In our experiments on rats enterosorption increases life expectancy by 30-40 percent, maintaining the optimal level of protein synthesis, slowing the metabolic and structural changes, changes of lipid metabolism, delaying the onset of gross pathological changes. Conclusive evidence of the detoxifying enterosorbtion is observed in our laboratory, reduction of the liver in experimental animals cytochrome P-450, which level is usually higher, the more toxic substances in the body. Besides enterosorption raises the potential liver enzyme systems in old rats. Known. that when the organism enters alien, toxic substances, the liver activates a special enzyme system, neutralizing strangers. With age the reliability of these enzyme systems reduces, but after enterosorbtion able to activate them again increase. It is very important that the organs and tissues in old rats after enterosorbtion become "younger" They recorded only rough structural age-related changes and disease in these animals were advancing at a later date. Order SleepWell for your Good Night Dream.

One of the advantageous features of enterosorbtion as a method of life extension is that its influence is probably is most effective in the later stages of ontogeny, when due to the reduction of protective capacity of the organism intoxication becomes a real threat to life. It is currently difficult to assess the full measure of the possible range of geroprotective enterosorbtion. After all, this line of research just being born. Given the ease and accessibility of the method, the possibility of future use of more efficient and highly specific adsorbents, it is hoped that enterosorption soon become one of the most reliable and realistic methods of the indigenous intervention in the aging process. In this perspective may be other sorption methods.

Among geroprotectors purposeful action high hopes in antioxidants (antioxidants). In the U.S., American gerontologist D. Harman, and in our country Academician NM Emanuel developed a free-radical theory of aging. Its essence is that in the process of peroxidation of substances, especially unsaturated fatty acids occur free radicals - highly active chemical groups with no paired electrons. Free radicals can damage the structure of nucleic acids and proteins, disrupting cell activity. Particularly active their damaging effect is manifested in the cell membranes. But in a cage is a large group of substances - antioxidants detoxifying free radicals. With age, the concentration of free radicals in most organs are not significantly altered. However, the capacity of antioxidant systems is falling, and when the formation of free radicals increases, the cell protective mechanisms are inadequate. Hence the idea of introducing into the body of antioxidants from the outside.

Were tested dozens of substances. Some of them are quite effective, while others gave a weak effect, the third significant impact on life expectancy. According to laboratory Emanuel, the most effective were BHT and hydroxypyridine derivatives. It turned out that under the influence of dekstramina age-related changes in metabolism occur so-called free radicals are chemicals that can disrupt cell activity and thus reduce the period of life. They are opposed by other substances - antioxidants, or antioxidants. Geroprotective mechanism of action of antioxidants is far from clear. Especially noticeable effect they have on mice suffering from spontaneous tumors and, perhaps, their action due to the effect. on the development of tumors. In the laboratory it was shown that under the influence of antioxidants come significant hormonal changes - changes in the concentration of pituitary hormones, adrenal and thyroid glands. It is not excluded that some role in geroprotective antioxidant effects are these changes in neuro-hormonal regulation. Also managed to show that these drugs effectively prevents the development of cardiac arrhythmias.

The vast majority of researchers between the prime mechanisms of aging with molecular biological shifts in the genome (single kit genes of an organism). However, until very recently, very rarely attempts were made to prolong life through targeted modification of the or other functional characteristics of the genome.

Inhibitors - substances that slow down or almost ceasing synthesis of RNA and proteins, and as a result of reducing the intensity of metabolism in the body. Study their impact on life expectancy began with Drosophila. In our experiments, the addition of inhibitors of transcription in the culture medium decreased the activity of synthesis, both RNA and protein, and the lengthening of life by 20-30 percent. About the same acting inhibitors of translation and energy. In particular, when administered to rats olivomitsina (inhibitor of transcription), ranging from 20 months of age, life expectancy increased to 35.6 months vs. 30.9 months control animals, respectively, while the maximum was equal to 47.1 and 38.3 months. Extending the life of these rats was accompanied by a delay age-dependent reduction in oxygen consumption. Introduction olivomitsina lower content of total lipids and cholesterol in the blood serum of the myocardium, brain, liver and muscle oso6enno. The concentration of fatty acids decreased in all investigated tissues except liver. Interestingly, the olivomitsin provided a depressing effect on the development of atherosclerosis, warned many gross changes caused by the disease.

Outlines promising new ways to influence the lifespan. Thus, known that there is a special system of "repair" of DNA. There is evidence of connection between the activity of this system and the species life span. During aging certain changes in DNA, according to many researchers, it becomes more easily damaged. And so the activation of DNA repair should primarily affect the timing life. High hopes on genetic engineering that could repair damaged genetic blocks of genes, and delete the genes encoding the synthesis of unusual proteins, the immune-depressant, opposing errors in the immune system, and activators of protective capacity of the organism, etc. Of course, all experimental (animal) to seek ways to increase the duration of life are made with the hope of transferring them to the man. However, in Here, as in the prediction of possible outcomes, one must be cautious and restraint. Firstly, because you need to know what the price achieved increasing life expectancy. After all, it is important not only how great life, but what is its quality. However, in some cases geroprotectors extending life, can adversely affect certain body functions, for example, higher nervous activity.

Second, the majority of funds, extend life, has been tested on animals, endowed with a small period of life, and it is unclear to what extent this effect is manifested in long-lived man who has, in addition, many biological and social differences. That is why are not allowed frequent speculation in the press, when the effect obtained in laboratory animals, is transferred to the broadcast rights and is touted as tomorrow's success. It does only harm to a large and important business.

More than 80 years ago, one of the founders of Experimental Gerontology, an Austrian scientist E. Stein wrote about aging: "The numerous gaps in my work, I imagine. Alone can not solve all questions, even if he has no assistant and media. This is an interesting region requires the establishment of its research institutes, institutes of experimental and practical biological or experimental study of problems of old age. Let lay the foundation stone of this new body of science more fortunate of the city and state."

Note: *Enterosorption - cleansing the internal environment of the body of toxins - promotes increase the period of life. In particular, under the influence of old animals optimizes the metabolic processes of the liver: total lipid content decreases, trigletseridov, cholesterol increases the activity of microsomal enzymes.