Scientists at the University of Virginia have identified a promising approach to slowing aging by detoxifying the body of glycerol and glyceraldehyde, harmful byproducts of fat that naturally accumulate over time.
The new findings come from UVA researcher Dr. Eyleen Jorgelina O’Rourke and her team. Their new research suggests a potential way to do so by reducing the health effects of glycerol and glyceraldehyde.
“The finding was unexpected. “The exciting aspect of this discovery is that the key to switching on this longevity mechanism is very well studied for its role in detoxification of ethanol.” is the activation of two enzymes that are [Ethanol is the alcohol contained in beer and bourbon]This existing knowledge greatly facilitates the search for drugs that can specifically activate this anti-aging process. “
Discovery of anti-aging
To explore the secrets of slowing aging, O’Rourke, her graduate student Abbas Ghaddar and postdoc Vinod Mony turned to microscopic nematodes called C. elegans. These soil dwellers share more than 70% of our genes with her, making them an invaluable tool for biomedical research. Two Nobel Prizes in Medicine were awarded for discoveries made using only this worm.
Previous aging studies in worm, mouse, and human cells led O’Rourke and colleagues to conclude that the key to extending lifespan is to activate autophagy, a process that renews broken old parts in cells. I doubted. But O’Rourke and his collaborators were surprised to discover that it wasn’t necessary. Scientists found that he improved the worm’s health and longevity by 50% without increasing autophagy at all.
They did this using a mechanism they discovered and named it AMAR, the Sanskrit word for immortality. He AMAR in this case stands for “alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase-mediated anti-aging response”. In short, scientists have discovered that by placing a spur on a specific gene, adh-1, they can boost the anti-aging response. As a result, the worms were able to live longer and healthier lives.
Of course, results obtained in laboratory models such as worms and mice do not always apply to humans. So the researchers took a few more steps to see if their lead was as promising as it looked. Since both fasting and calorie restriction are known to increase healthy lifespan and lifespan, we examined the genetic activity of organisms, including humans, who underwent fasting or calorie restriction. We’ve scrutinized the studies to find out. Sure enough, the scientists found elevated levels of anti-aging enzymes in all mammals tested, including humans.
Scientists suspect that glycerol and glyceraldehyde levels naturally increase over time. may also be useful.
“We hope to draw attention to the development of therapies that target AMARs,” said O’Rourke, a member of UVA’s Robert M. Berne Center for Cardiovascular Research. “Age-related diseases currently pose a significant health burden for patients, their families and the healthcare system, and targeting the aging process itself could reduce this burden and enable all to become self-reliant. It will be the most effective way to increase the number of years you can sustain a healthy life.
Original: Detoxifying the body of two fat byproducts may extend life, UVA researchers find
Than: University of Virginia
