New studies revealing compounds that could help improve your health and lifespan

Scientists are conducting multiple studies to better understand aging and possibly formulate products that could help improve both healthspan and lifespan. The world’s population is aging as the percentage of elderly people increases. In 2015, only 12% of the entire global population was over 60 years old. But this is projected to shoot up to 22% (about 2 billion people) by 2050. Longevity research and advocacy are growing as scientists turn to enhanced medical research to improve health care and potentially increase longevity for the elderly. Current solutions include treating chronic diseases associated with old-age (e.g., diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease), as well as focusing on the aging process as a way to reduce the chance of developing multiple morbidities with age. There’s an increasing need within the scientific research community to treat aging as a condition that can be targeted, treated, and possibly even reversed. Already, numerous studies are helping identify specific compounds that may have potential anti-aging benefits. Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is an important chemical found in the human body that plays a role in the generation of cellular energy from food. A 2014 study found that AKG could extend the lifespan of yeast worms by more than 50%. Studies conducted on mice have shown similar benefits. The fact that AKG is generally safe has increased the hope that it could be used to improve healthspan and lifespan in human beings as well. Already, researchers at the National University of Singapore are organizing a clinical trial involving 45 to 65-year-olds to gather data in human trials. Metformin is an FDA-approved medication that has been used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes for more than 60 years. Past studies have shown that it can help suppress numerous illnesses including common cancers, cardiovascular disease, liver ailment, obesity, renal disease, and neurodegenerative illness. Additionally, metformin is considered to be a safe and well-established drug with only minor side effects. The Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) trial is a six-year-long study involving 14 leading research institutions that scientists will use to better understand the potential benefits of this medication. Researchers will engage more than 3,000 individuals aged between 65 – 79 years to measure how metformin impacts the development or progression of age-related chronic diseases. NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in every human cell that is involved in hundreds of metabolic processes. Research has shown that NAD+ levels decline with age and that boosting its quantities could protect from aging-related declines. While foods such as broccoli, avocados, tuna, salmons, and sardines are known to be good sources of NAD+, supplementation may still be needed to attain sufficient levels. There isn’t enough data yet to indicate the most effective and safe dose to be taken, as well as the long-term safety implications of supplementing with NAD+. An ongoing study at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston is testing whether oral supplementation with a version of NAD+ known as NMN is safe and assessing what dosage could be taken without substantial side effects. This investigation – which involves male and female participants aged between 55 and 80 years – will also measure how the supplement is processed in the body. Resveratrol is a plant compound that is commonly found in the skins of grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and peanuts. It has been shown to extend lifespan in yeast worms, fruit flies, and mice when fed on a high-fat diet. Some human trial data has also shown that resveratrol may help alleviate symptoms of heart disease and muscular dystrophy. However, more research is needed to establish its potential life-extending benefits in human beings, impact on cells, dosage levels, and possible long-term effects. Rapamycin is a naturally derived compound that is usually given to patients undergoing transplants to prevent rejection of new organs. Lots of scientific research data show that it has the potential to increase lifespan in several types of animals and delay the onset of aging-related conditions in mice. In existing human trials, a study completed by researchers from the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia showed that rapamycin appears to slow aging in human skin.  Scientists, however, do not know the right dosage, and excess levels of rapamycin have been shown to cause poor wound healing, mouth ulcers, and increased blood cholesterol levels. Some experts have proposed administering transient rapamycin as a solution to bypass this problem, but more research is needed to establish efficacy and safe usage. Scientists will continue to scrutinize possible anti-aging compounds and interventions as they work to get ahead of the aging process. Soon, it may be possible to have healthspan and lifespan improving drugs that could be used in clinical practice.