NPR Radio Aging Research (Red Wine -- Not)

[Guest guest]

Hello CR ALL:

NPR Radio program (about 1 hour):

http://www.kqed.org/programs/program-archive.jsp?

progID=RD19 & ResultStart=1 & ResultCount=10 & type=radio

I listened to the Aging Research NPR radio broadcast of

Tues 16 Sep 2003. There was a good deal about resveratrol,

and cautions about red wine/alcoholic beverage consumption.

The dialogue participants were:

1) Kenyon, professor of biochemistry and biophysics

at University of California at San Francisco

2) Sinclair, professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School

3) Dale Bredesen, founding president and CEO of the Buck Institute

for Age Research

4) Philip Cohen, San Francisco bureau chief for New Scientist magazine

Here is a quick summary that I wrote up:

----------------------------------------

1) Aging is greatly affected (controlled) by genes and hormones.

A) Change 1 or 2 genes -- can double lifespan (proof: alter genes)

Hormones control rate of aging. (proof: modify hormone receptors)

C) Genes and biological function preserved through evolutionary chain.

D) Applicable to humans, since genetic operational pathways

are conserved.

E) This is exciting and cool !

2) Calorie Restriction Experiments in Humans

A) At 40% restriction, prediction is they will live longer

(No numbers given).

Resveratrol (polyphenol found in red wine) turns on enzymes

that affect genes related to aging. May possibly increase

lifespan.

C) Caution urged on wine topic (See dialogue below).

3) Typical Healthspan for Human productivity

A) Typical human healthspan = Age 20 to 65

Slowing aging increases MAX lifespan, and also increases

healthspan. That makes age retardation worthwhile.

C) Older people deteriorate at accelerating rate in latter years

of life (senility). The goal is not to get old so fast

to begin with. Ie, delay the rate of aging, so that

getting old occurs much later in years.

D) CR increases lifespan, increases healthspan, and delays senility.

4) Understanding Genes

A) If we can read genes, then we can find what diseases of aging

a person is susceptible to.

Society can figure out how to use this new resource

of healthy and productive older people.

C) Good investment opportunities exist in aging research

bio-tech firms.

D) Hopeful approach: Don't treat disease. Rejuvenate the organ.

5) Consumption of Red Wine

A) Not encouraged. Harmful effects of long-term use.

In animal experiments, effect of alcohol was harmful,

even at lower dosages.

C) Experiments show that the lowest dose animals lived the

longest. Ie, don't use alcohol.

C) Additionally, risk of alcohol habituation, excess, and

addiction is genuine serious problem in real life for humans.

D) Just because a food has good constituents does not make the

item fit for human consumption.

E) Attitude of " good constituents; therefore good consumption "

is a common fallacy.

6) Benefits of decreased hormones from CR

A) CR switches ON some genes;

CR switches OFF other genes.

C) The low-hormone gene switching combination from CR

causes numerous highly beneficial effects on longevity

for multitude of body systems.

7) Exercise and Longevity

A) Right amount of exercise reduces body fat.

Exercise fails to effect longevity much.

C) Excess exercise requires excess calorie consumption,

and can reduce lifespan.

8) Stem cells Research

A) Idea is to produce replacement tissues and organs

Goal: Repair critically damaged tissues is important.

9) When should humans begin Calorie Restriction?

A) Changing hormone output in children (or immature animals)

does not vastly increase lifespan.

The time to begin CR is post-puberty, when a dramatic

increase in lifespan can be achieved.

End of NPR radio program summary.

-- Warren