Category: Biology of Aging
Human Stem Cell Trial Successful Against Age-Related Frailty
December 7, 2018
Today, we want to highlight results from human trials in which stem cell transplants have been shown to reduce age-related frailty. Age-related frailty and stem cell transplants Currently, there are
A Review of Fasting and Calorie Restriction
November 28, 2018
Today, we want to discuss a review published in the journal Science, as it provides a whistle-stop tour of caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, and time-restricted feeding [1]. There is a
Too much mTOR is Linked to Diabetes and Aging
November 15, 2018
A new study takes a look at the relationship between metabolism, aging, and type 2 diabetes and in particular the mTORC1 protein complex, part of the mTOR pathway. The mTOR
Plasma NAD+ Levels Decline Significantly with Age
November 9, 2018
Today, we want to highlight a recent, small-scale study looking at NAD+ and how it declines with age in the plasma. The researchers looked at various NAD+ metabolites across age
Drug that Slows Alzheimer’s Successful
November 6, 2018
Through a new approach dubbed AMBAR, the biotechnology company Grifols has attempted to reduce the amount of harmful, Alzheimer’s disease-causing amyloid beta in the brain by collecting it with a
Protein Produced by Astrocytes Involved in Brain Plasticity
October 23, 2018
Researchers from the Salk Institute have discovered that a protein called Chrdl1, secreted by astrocytes, is responsible for driving synapse maturation and limiting brain plasticity later in life [1]. Abstract
Type of Human Monocytes Found to Undergo Senescence
October 9, 2018
Scientists from the A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network have discovered that immune cells called nonclassical monocytes undergo cellular senescence, contradicting what was previously thought of them [1]. Abstract Human primary monocytes
Scarlet Protein Might Protect Against Parkinson’s Disease
October 4, 2018
Researchers at the Department of Biological Sciences at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, discovered that a protein known as Scarlet has protective effects against the fruit fly version of Parkinson’s
Fisetin Found in Strawberries Clears Senescent Cells in Mice
October 4, 2018
Today, we want to bring your attention to a recent mouse study on fisetin, a commonly available supplement that has proven effective at destroying senescent cells. What are senescent cells?
Forcing Cancer to Put up a Broken Shield
October 3, 2018
Led by Dr. Alicja Copik, scientists at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine have discovered that it might be possible to make cancer immunotherapy work for a larger
Administering Gene Therapy Without Triggering Immune Response
September 6, 2018
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine managed to administer effective gene therapy in mice without triggering an autoimmune reaction. The research, led by Dr. Peggy Ho, Ph.D., was published
A Review of Cellular Senescence and Senolytics
September 6, 2018
Today, we want to point out a new publication that dives into the world of senolytics, which are drugs or therapies that seek and destroy harmful non-dividing cells that resist
NAD+ Repletion Shows Potential Against Aging
September 5, 2018
Science is advancing rapidly, and the field of aging research is no exception. Our understanding of aging has grown a great deal in the last decade, and we are now
DNA Replication Can Happen Without ORC1
September 4, 2018
According to a study conducted by Hollings Cancer Center scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina, DNA replication in murine cells is possible even in the absence of origin
Telomerase Gene Therapy Does Not Increase Cancer Risk
August 27, 2018
Researchers have demonstrated that telomerase gene therapy does not increase the risk of cancer, even in strains of mice that are particularly susceptible to cancer [1]. A tale of telomeres
Human Stem Cell Trial Successful Against Age-Related Frailty
December 7, 2018
Today, we want to highlight results from human trials in which stem cell transplants have been shown to reduce age-related frailty. Age-related frailty and stem cell transplants Currently, there are no specific approved therapies to address age-related frailty, which can cause elderly people to suffer potentially
A Review of Fasting and Calorie Restriction
November 28, 2018
Today, we want to discuss a review published in the journal Science, as it provides a whistle-stop tour of caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, and time-restricted feeding [1]. There is a considerable amount of data supporting the effects of caloric restriction and similar dietary approaches on both
Too much mTOR is Linked to Diabetes and Aging
November 15, 2018
A new study takes a look at the relationship between metabolism, aging, and type 2 diabetes and in particular the mTORC1 protein complex, part of the mTOR pathway. The mTOR pathway The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a major part of metabolism and is
Plasma NAD+ Levels Decline Significantly with Age
November 9, 2018
Today, we want to highlight a recent, small-scale study looking at NAD+ and how it declines with age in the plasma. The researchers looked at various NAD+ metabolites across age groups and found that the amounts of some of them, particularly NAD+ itself, are significantly smaller
Drug that Slows Alzheimer’s Successful
November 6, 2018
Through a new approach dubbed AMBAR, the biotechnology company Grifols has attempted to reduce the amount of harmful, Alzheimer’s disease-causing amyloid beta in the brain by collecting it with a blood protein called albumin and draining it out of the bloodstream. This approach differs from the
Protein Produced by Astrocytes Involved in Brain Plasticity
October 23, 2018
Researchers from the Salk Institute have discovered that a protein called Chrdl1, secreted by astrocytes, is responsible for driving synapse maturation and limiting brain plasticity later in life [1]. Abstract In the developing brain, immature synapses contain calcium-permeable AMPA glutamate receptors (AMPARs) that are subsequently replaced
Type of Human Monocytes Found to Undergo Senescence
October 9, 2018
Scientists from the A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network have discovered that immune cells called nonclassical monocytes undergo cellular senescence, contradicting what was previously thought of them [1]. Abstract Human primary monocytes comprise a heterogeneous population that can be classified into three subsets based on CD14 and CD16
Scarlet Protein Might Protect Against Parkinson’s Disease
October 4, 2018
Researchers at the Department of Biological Sciences at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, discovered that a protein known as Scarlet has protective effects against the fruit fly version of Parkinson’s disease [1]. Abstract Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons, resulting in
Fisetin Found in Strawberries Clears Senescent Cells in Mice
October 4, 2018
Today, we want to bring your attention to a recent mouse study on fisetin, a commonly available supplement that has proven effective at destroying senescent cells. What are senescent cells? As we age, increasing amounts of our cells enter into a state known as senescence. Normally,
Forcing Cancer to Put up a Broken Shield
October 3, 2018
Led by Dr. Alicja Copik, scientists at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine have discovered that it might be possible to make cancer immunotherapy work for a larger portion of patients by employing PM21-activated natural killer (PM21-NK) cells [1]. Study abstract Anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 therapies have
Administering Gene Therapy Without Triggering Immune Response
September 6, 2018
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine managed to administer effective gene therapy in mice without triggering an autoimmune reaction. The research, led by Dr. Peggy Ho, Ph.D., was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences [1]. Study abstract In gene therapy for
A Review of Cellular Senescence and Senolytics
September 6, 2018
Today, we want to point out a new publication that dives into the world of senolytics, which are drugs or therapies that seek and destroy harmful non-dividing cells that resist the programmed cell death known as apoptosis. These cells linger in the body, and, as we
NAD+ Repletion Shows Potential Against Aging
September 5, 2018
Science is advancing rapidly, and the field of aging research is no exception. Our understanding of aging has grown a great deal in the last decade, and we are now reaching the point at which the first therapies that target aging are starting to arrive. Unlike
DNA Replication Can Happen Without ORC1
September 4, 2018
According to a study conducted by Hollings Cancer Center scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina, DNA replication in murine cells is possible even in the absence of origin recognition complex 1 (ORC1), a protein encoded by the homonymous gene that was previously thought to
Telomerase Gene Therapy Does Not Increase Cancer Risk
August 27, 2018
Researchers have demonstrated that telomerase gene therapy does not increase the risk of cancer, even in strains of mice that are particularly susceptible to cancer [1]. A tale of telomeres Short telomeres trigger cellular senescence and are thought to be one of the primary hallmarks of