Genes Associated with Aging

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‘A great deal of genes are involved in the process of aging’

The above statement might seem simplistic, but it is essentially true.  A large number of genes play a role in modulating the metabolic processes which are involved in the eventual degradation of DNA and cellular structures.  Some of these genes are involved with the processes of DNA repair, some with managing the levels of free radicals and some with regulating the speed of metabolism itself.  Together the varying rates at which these genes are expressed, results in an overall affect of the longevity of the organism itself.

Below is a list of the currently confirmed genes that have been associated through experimentation with cellular longevity.  They all have there own mechanisms of action and several of them will be discussed in detail in this section of the site.  Some particularly have been found to play extremely important roles in the speed of aging and therefore the eventual lifespan of the organism.  

Lifespan and general vigour have been increased in a number of species.  From the nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans, the fruit fly Drosophila Melanogaster and the mouse Mus musculus, by the modulation of certain of these genes.  In some cases longevity has been increased by a substantial degree!

Confirmed Longevity Genes

 

Podospora

Saccharomyces

Caenorhabditis

Drosophila

Mouse

grisea

LAG1

daf-2

sod1

Prop-1

 

LAC1

age-1/daf-23

cat1

p66shc

 

RAS1

daf-18

mth

 

 

RAS2

akt-1/akt-2

 

 

 

PHB1

daf-16

 

 

 

PHB2

daf-12

 

 

 

CDC7

ctl-1

 

 

 

BUD1

old-1

 

 

 

RTG2

spe-26

 

 

 

RPD3

clk-1

 

 

 

HDA1

mev-1

 

 

 

SIR2

 

 

 

 

SIR4-42

 

 

 

 

UTH4

 

 

 

 

YGL023

 

 

 

 

SGS1

 

 

 

 

RAD52

 

 

 

 

FOB1

 

 

 

The major genetic model organisms used in aging research are the filamentous fungus ('Podospora anserina'), bakers' yeast ('Saccharomyces cerevisiae'), the soil roundworm ('Caenorhabditis elegans'), the fruit fly ('Drosophila melanogaster'), and the mouse ('Mus musculus').  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longevity_genes

Articles

  • What is Gerontology

    I think it might be worth defining on this site (just so there is no confusion) what exactly the science of Gerontology is.

    The subject known as Gerontology is the study of the process of aging throughout the lifespan of an individual. This multi-disciplinary subject analyses a variety of aspects of aging, including the physical, mental and social changes in individuals as they grow older. Professionals from a variety of diverse, but interconnected fields are known collectively as gerontologists.

    Gerontology covers such varied subjects as the effects of our aging population on society, including the financial effects of pensions, health insurance and retirement planning. How society itself views the elderly is also encompassed in this field.

    Gerontology distinguishes itself from geriatrics, the branch of medicine that studies the diseases of the old.

    12:18 10 October 2007
  • Research into Aging

    There are several other ways that are being looked into that may offer may anti-aging/life extension benefits that have not been mentioned as yet. IGF-1 has shown to be extraordinarily effective in reversing the aging process (up to 10X more effective than HGH). Resveratrol (found in red grape skins and hence red wine) has shown much promise in many studies; to the extent that several MIT researches doing one of the studies started supplimenting with it. Folate and B12 taken daily over a few months has been shown to drastically reduce the damage/mutation that can occur to DNA.

    With regard to calorie restriction Many studies suggest that it is not infact the calorie restriction as previously thought but rather maintaining low insulin levels, which happens to be a by product. So it is as much about what you eat as how much you eat. You could still each 3000 calories a day as long as they were from foods that didnt spike your insulin levels and mess with your insulin sensetivity ie not eating many simple carbohydrates etc

    There is also the energetic side of body or life force or call it what you will that when boosted has been shown to reverse chronic illness and aging with no form of supplements etc. Most of the centurian populations like the hunza etc incorporated some sort of meditation or practice that maintained their life force either knowingly or otherwise along with a good diet, exercise, sun etc and low stress.

    On a final note the human body is so remarkable and truely an amazing creation and we are still only so limited in our understanding of it and how it really works that rather than mess with it and start trying to fix or add this or that or think we can make part of it better we should instead address the cause of most of these problems. We drive ourselves and our bodies into the ground eat rubbish etc and program ourselve with mindless entertainment and wonder why we are falling apart and expect to be able to take a few pills and make it all better.

    We are creating and living in a society that is becoming void of any real sustanance whether it be nutritional, emotional or intellecutal. I am not pretending that i have all the answers but i know that if we keep heading in this direction i wouldnt want to live forever even if it were possible. What you do with your life is probably more important than how long it is. In any case given the right environment the body will flourish and the fact that it is still doing as well as it is despite what it is now subjected to is nothing more than a testement to how great it actually is.

    Rhonda Watson

    12:07 17 September 2007

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