Category: Research
Our Immune Cells Damage Our Brains During Aging
March 6, 2020
New research suggests that the very immune cells that protect our brain can eventually start attacking it due to chronic systemic inflammation, something that is typically present in older people.
Towards a Possible Solution to Diabetes
March 4, 2020
A team of researchers led by Dr. Jeffrey Millman at Washington University may be a step closer to a potential solution to diabetes, according to the results of a new
Automating Drug Testing With Human Organ Chips
March 3, 2020
Researchers from the Universities of Harvard and Tel Aviv have succeeded in linking up to 10 “organs-on-a-chip” via an analog of human vasculature. The invention allows for in vitro testing
What Do Smiley Faces Have to Do With Cancer Research?
February 12, 2020
DNA origami, a nano-scale technique used to make very tiny smiley faces out of DNA, is becoming increasingly valuable for drug delivery and other applications, paving the way for true
Macrophages Become Scars in the Heart
February 6, 2020
A paper published in Nature Communications reveals that, rather than just summoning fibroblasts, inflammatory macrophages themselves form fibrous tissue that is the basis of scars. The dual role of macrophages
Results From a Human Trial for Skin Aging
February 2, 2020
The January edition of Journal Club, hosted by Dr. Oliver Medvedik, took a look at the results of a recent human trial in which the drug rapamycin was used to
Mitochondria Found Independently Living in Blood
January 27, 2020
The mitochondria are well known as being the powerhouses of the cell, as they convert nutrients into the energy that our cells need in order to function and remain alive.
Three Groundbreaking Longevity Startups
January 9, 2020
There are lots of exciting companies working in the aging field, and it’s a great time to tell you about three of the more interesting ones. Most of these companies
Revel Pharma to Develop Glucosepane Breakers
January 8, 2020
Some pleasant news has recently arrived: Revel Pharmaceuticals has successfully completed a seed round in order to begin developing therapeutics that target glucosepane crosslinks, which are a proposed reason why
Treating Glaucoma with Senolytics
January 6, 2020
New research suggests that senolytic drugs, which remove harmful senescent cells that accumulate during aging, may be an effective therapy for glaucoma, a common age-related condition that leads to loss
Looking Back at 2019 – and Forward to 2020
January 3, 2020
2019 is quite a milestone for LEAF; this will be our fourth year of bringing you the latest industry news, organizing online events, hosting our annual conference in New York,
Anti-Aging Drug Rejuvenates Oral Health
December 19, 2019
A new study shows that short-term treatment with the common organ rejection drug rapamycin reverses periodontal bone loss, attenuates inflammation, and makes the oral microbiome revert to a more youthful
Tryptophan as a Therapeutic Target for Inflammaging
December 9, 2019
A new open access paper takes a look at tryptophan and the role that it plays in the dysfunction of the immune system in the context of the age-related changes
DNA Testing Company Veritas Genetics Suspends U.S. Operations
December 6, 2019
After experiencing financial issues, DNA testing company Veritas Genetics has announced the suspension of its U.S. operations in an unexpected announcement on December 4th 2019. The company is perhaps best
Age-Related Gut Microbiome Changes Happen Early in Life
December 3, 2019
A new study suggests that harmful changes to the population and diversity of our gut bacteria may occur when we are as young as our mid 30s, which can have
Our Immune Cells Damage Our Brains During Aging
March 6, 2020
New research suggests that the very immune cells that protect our brain can eventually start attacking it due to chronic systemic inflammation, something that is typically present in older people. The blood-brain barrier The blood-brain barrier (BBB) surrounds most of the blood vessels in the brain
Towards a Possible Solution to Diabetes
March 4, 2020
A team of researchers led by Dr. Jeffrey Millman at Washington University may be a step closer to a potential solution to diabetes, according to the results of a new study in which replacement beta cells were given to mice. What is diabetes? Diabetes is a
Automating Drug Testing With Human Organ Chips
March 3, 2020
Researchers from the Universities of Harvard and Tel Aviv have succeeded in linking up to 10 “organs-on-a-chip” via an analog of human vasculature. The invention allows for in vitro testing of drug toxicity and action, taking us one step closer to automated clinical trials and the
What Do Smiley Faces Have to Do With Cancer Research?
February 12, 2020
DNA origami, a nano-scale technique used to make very tiny smiley faces out of DNA, is becoming increasingly valuable for drug delivery and other applications, paving the way for true nanomedicine. What is DNA origami? Ever since Richard Feynman famously proclaimed in his seminal 1959 talk
Macrophages Become Scars in the Heart
February 6, 2020
A paper published in Nature Communications reveals that, rather than just summoning fibroblasts, inflammatory macrophages themselves form fibrous tissue that is the basis of scars. The dual role of macrophages Macrophages perform two critical roles in the immune system. After an injury, M1 macrophages spur local
Results From a Human Trial for Skin Aging
February 2, 2020
The January edition of Journal Club, hosted by Dr. Oliver Medvedik, took a look at the results of a recent human trial in which the drug rapamycin was used to treat skin aging with some promising results.
Mitochondria Found Independently Living in Blood
January 27, 2020
The mitochondria are well known as being the powerhouses of the cell, as they convert nutrients into the energy that our cells need in order to function and remain alive. Until recently, it was believed that they remain within our cells all their lives, but a
Three Groundbreaking Longevity Startups
January 9, 2020
There are lots of exciting companies working in the aging field, and it’s a great time to tell you about three of the more interesting ones. Most of these companies are a while away from human trials yet, but their innovations could possibly be truly game
Revel Pharma to Develop Glucosepane Breakers
January 8, 2020
Some pleasant news has recently arrived: Revel Pharmaceuticals has successfully completed a seed round in order to begin developing therapeutics that target glucosepane crosslinks, which are a proposed reason why we age, develop diseases such as diabetes, and suffer from stiffened arteries and hypertension. In the
Treating Glaucoma with Senolytics
January 6, 2020
New research suggests that senolytic drugs, which remove harmful senescent cells that accumulate during aging, may be an effective therapy for glaucoma, a common age-related condition that leads to loss of vision. In the short term, inflammation serves a useful purpose, as it helps to spur
Looking Back at 2019 – and Forward to 2020
January 3, 2020
2019 is quite a milestone for LEAF; this will be our fourth year of bringing you the latest industry news, organizing online events, hosting our annual conference in New York, and crowdsourcing important research projects over at lifespan.io. We have been incredibly busy and, as has
Anti-Aging Drug Rejuvenates Oral Health
December 19, 2019
A new study shows that short-term treatment with the common organ rejection drug rapamycin reverses periodontal bone loss, attenuates inflammation, and makes the oral microbiome revert to a more youthful state in old mice. What is rapamycin? Rapamycin (also known as sirolimus) is a macrolide, a
Tryptophan as a Therapeutic Target for Inflammaging
December 9, 2019
A new open access paper takes a look at tryptophan and the role that it plays in the dysfunction of the immune system in the context of the age-related changes that occur in the microbiome [1]. The microbiome The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of
DNA Testing Company Veritas Genetics Suspends U.S. Operations
December 6, 2019
After experiencing financial issues, DNA testing company Veritas Genetics has announced the suspension of its U.S. operations in an unexpected announcement on December 4th 2019. The company is perhaps best known for being co-founded by renowned Harvard University geneticist George Church and has been working towards
Age-Related Gut Microbiome Changes Happen Early in Life
December 3, 2019
A new study suggests that harmful changes to the population and diversity of our gut bacteria may occur when we are as young as our mid 30s, which can have serious implications for health and longevity. The microbiome The gut microbiome is a complex and ever-changing