Anti-Aging Research – Top 5 Advances For 2009

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:23:55 +0000

2009 has been a great year for advances in aging research. Television, newspapers and websites have covered stories on calorie restriction, resveratrol and rapamycin. Leading biologists working in longevity research are finally grabbing the attention of other scientists (this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine is a very real example of this), the media and the general public.

Here are my TOP 5 Picks for significant breakthroughs of the year. You might want to consider these as you sip your red wine this season.

TOP 5 ANTI-AGING PICKS FOR 2009:

1. Rapamycin – for the first time a drug was shown to extend the healthy life of mice. Late onset rejuvenation holds great promise for humans. Dave Sharp originated the idea to test rapamycin and the National Institute on Aging Intervention Testing Program conducted the trials which began when the mice were about 600 days old, equivalent to 60 year old humans. Rapamycin delayed the deaths of the longest-lived male mice by 101 days and the longest-lived female mice by 151 days. That is similar to 13 human years!

2. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) – is proving to have a powerful preservative and anti-cancer function. There is a clear indication that the current Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is inadequate. I’m taking more Vitamin D and anyone can take advantage of this RIGHT NOW – the farther north one lives and stays inside (winter in NY) the more they must pay attention to this.

3. Organovo – 3D tissue printing. Dr. Gabor Forgacs, University of Missouri, leads the team that is developing blood vessels and, ultimately, organs. Regenerative medicine is fascinating and promising, holding the promise of replacing the current organ donor system and eliminating the need for donor transplants.

4. Dr. Anthony Atala – Dr. Atala heads the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and is another leader in organ replacement, he has had great success with laboratory grown bladders.

5. Continuous-Flow Ventricular Assist Devices – these tiny 3-ounce devices can be surgically attached alongside the heart. For patients waiting for a heart transplant these can be lifesaving, they quietly and effectively take over the pumping ability of the heart. In the future, they may eliminate the need for some transplants.

When you look at quality of life I would add 2 more. They may not extend life but for anyone who might be thinking, “I’m so miserable I want to die,” they sure could make it more pleasant! They are: Tooth implants in one day, replacing surgery and long recovery times and Lyric hearing aids from InSound Medical, the first hearing aid you can wear for months straight without surgical implantation.

The increase in attention and interest in research related to extending healthspan and lifespan has made this year significant. There is lots more to come in 2010 and I will be watching it closely.

By: Dave Gobel

Science research » Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol

Anti-Aging Research – Top 5 Advances For 2009