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Slowing the aging process: This could be the key

July 21, 2020

Scientists in Scotland and Germany have made a key discovery about living longer, healthier lives
They have discovered that iron levels in the blood are linked to the aging process
The researchers have identified 10 regions of the human genome that are linked to lifespan, healthspan, and longevity
The findings suggest that maintaining healthy iron levels could allow people to age better and live longer

The desire to put the brakes on aging is almost as old as the human race itself. From preventing wrinkles to avoiding serious age-related diseases like dementia, researchers have dedicated innumerable hours to finding the elixir of youth. Now, a team of scientists at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and German’s Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing believe they have discovered a previously unknown way to slow the aging process. The secret lies in a newly discovered piece of genetic code that can help us live longer, healthier lives. The scientists say there’s an association between high levels of iron in the blood and how we age. The team used genetic data from more a million individuals to understand why people age in different ways. They identified 10 regions of the human genome that are linked to lifespan (the number of years a person lives), healthspan (the number of healthy, disease-free years a person lives), and longevity (extremely long life). Looking at these three measures of aging, the researchers discovered they had something in common – genes related to iron metabolism. The findings of the study were published in Nature Communications. It appears that high blood levels of iron predispose a person to age-related diseases like Parkinson’s. High iron levels also make it harder for the body to fight infections. The scientists concluded that the key to living longer and aging better could be maintaining healthy iron levels in the blood. “We are very excited by these findings as they strongly suggest that high levels of iron in the blood reduces our healthy years of life and keeping these levels in check could prevent age-related damage,” explained Dr Paul Timmers of The University of Edinburgh. “Through ageing, our bodies slowly decline over time and eventually develop fatal diseases, including heart disease, dementia, and cancers. But the process happens at different speeds for different people.” The researchers say their findings could explain the link between certain age-associated illnesses and diet. “We speculate that our findings on iron metabolism might also start to explain why very high levels of iron-rich red meat in the diet has been linked to age-related conditions such as heart disease,” says Dr Timmers. The study results could help in the development of drugs for age-related diseases. The goal is to give people more healthy years and a bigger chance of living to old age free of disease. “Our ultimate aim is to discover how ageing is regulated and find ways to increase health during ageing,” says Dr Joris Deelen of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing. Ultimately, scientists would like to produce drugs that mimic the genes that control iron to overcome some of the effects of aging. But don’t throw out the anti-wrinkle creams just yet. There’s a lot more work that needs to be done before we can truly slow down aging and live longer, healthier lives. “The ten regions of the genome we have discovered that are linked to lifespan, healthspan and longevity are all exciting candidates for further studies,” Dr Deelen added. Another study suggests that Generation X is more likely to suffer poor health in old age compared to the Baby Boomers who are in their 60s and 70s at present. Earlier this year, scientists found that wealthy people, on average, live 8-9 healthy years longer than those who are less well to do. The study looked at how adults can live disability-free rather than simply living longer. The results, which were published in the Journal of Gerontology, showed that the biggest advantage a person can have in terms of disability-free lifespan is socioeconomic status or wealth. If you don’t have millions parked away in a bank, don’t fret. Researchers have also found that being kind can help you live longer. Columbia University’s Dr. Kelli Harding says compassion lowers our blood pressure, which boosts the immune system.

References: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/scientists-discover-slowing-down-ageing-process-104211648.html

Slowing the aging process: This could be the key

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