Aging is a complex system that, until recently, was a mystery to many professionals in the medical field. But as the ‘age-old’ saying goes; where there is a will, there is a way. A recent study carried out by stem cell biologist and professor from the Department of Development and Regeneration; Hugo Vankelecom—together with his

What if we could alter our DNA in minutes by simply getting a jab or taking a pill? It might sound like something right out of a science-fiction novel, but recent discoveries have shown that scientists have made some serious headway in the field of genome editing. And these discoveries could potentially revolutionize the field

Ever heard of a process called hormesis? Well, it’s a biological phenomenon whereby a harmful stress-causing stimulus is triggered in small doses to have a beneficial effect on the body. One particular hormesis effect that’s been commercialized is the heat shock response. Everything from saunas to steam baths relies on this process to trigger positive

A recent study published in Journals of the American College of Cardiology has shown that a highly popular DASH diet greatly minimizes the effects of stress and damage to the heart. DASH—an acronym that stands for “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension”—is a dietary program that encourages the consumption of foods such as whole grains, fish,

A new study has investigated how far the human body can push the limits of longevity. The research was published in Nature Communications on May 25. Aging is a progressive functional decline that leads to chronic age-related diseases and disease-specific mortality. Over the last few decades, researchers from around the world have intensified efforts to

Let’s start by dispelling a myth that you’ve heard time and time again; there’s no such thing as dying of old age. The truth is, we all die of something. The ‘curse’ of aging is something that we all have to endure, and it’s the main reason why we fall ill and eventually die.  Aging

Scientists have turned to naked mole rats as they search for interventions that could help increase human healthspan and lifespan.  Aging results in deterioration of cellular function that culminates in chronic illnesses and eventually death. This decline happens due to DNA damage, cellular senescence, inflammation, breakdown of cellular communication, mitochondria dysfunction, and other factors that

Intensifying research in the field of longevity and gerontology aims to debunk the aging process and potentially yield interventions that could result in improved healthspan and lifespan.  Previous research has identified genomic instability, epigenetic alternations, telomere shortening, deregulated nutrient sensing, proteostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, stem cell exhaustion, cellular senescence, and altered intercellular communication as among the

Aging is a natural process and an essential part of our lives. But as we age, our regular body functions gradually begin to slow down. Ideally, there are nine markers that constitute aging. But the most common out of all these nine is that our cells weaken and moderately lose their ability to generate new

Life on earth is truly unique in that it has evolved on a cycle of hot and cold—light and dark. In fact, did you know that the cells in our body adhere to a 24-hour biological cycle known as the circadian clock? What’s even more interesting is that once you disrupt this cycle—for example, working