Researchers Working With DNA And Medicine Hope To Add Years Of Health To Your Life

Health & Medical Blog

If you're a twin, you've got longevity hardwired in your DNA, since you're statistically destined to live longer than non-twins do. If you're a singleton, there's still hope for you when it comes to aging. Researchers continue to unlock the mysteries behind why our bodies break down when they do, and how we can delay or stop the damage to live the longest lives possible.

Fine tuning the biological clock

Researchers have created a biological DNA "clock" they say can calculate a person's biological age in relation to people of similar age. Using the clock, researchers believe they've discovered why Hispanic people outlive people of other ethnic groups.

Scientists and medical doctors have been puzzled over why people in the U.S. of Hispanic descent live an average of three years longer than people of Caucasian descent. Now they believe that there is an anti-aging factor at play in some Hispanic DNA which seems to protect the cells from breaking down. This protective factor causes cells to age at a slower pace than the same factor found in the DNA of other ethnic groups.

Researchers are fine-tuning the biological clock to help them learn more about how DNA protects cells from breaking down. This new information about the DNA connection to Hispanic longevity may help discover environmental causes of cell aging and lead to innovative treatments for conditions caused by rapid cell damage.

Studying promising anti-aging treatments

Drugs approved in the U.S. to treat diabetes and other conditions have shown promise as anti-aging treatments, but more extensive research is needed. Some medicinal studies using mice and other lab subjects have shown promise in delaying cancer-cell division, reducing inflammation and increasing lifespan.

Three such drugs are:

• Rapamycin. This is a drug used to help people after they receive organ transplants. It's considered a safer alternative to other anti-rejection medicines. Trials with mammals have shown promise in increasing health and longevity, but there are serious side effects as well.
• Resveratrol. This is a substance found in dark chocolate and red wine which helped unhealthy lab mice feel better and live longer. There is currently no solid proof that it works as well for people who have let their arteries get hard, but more studies are definitely warranted.
• Metformin. Patients with Type 2 diabetes may be familiar with this medication used to control blood sugar. An interesting side effect noted in patients taking metformin was their lower cancer rates. Lab results have been mixed, but metformin does show promise in protecting cells from cancer and providing other anti-aging properties. 

It's nice to think that you may someday simply take a pill or have your genetics tweaked to ensure good health and longevity. While you wait for that glorious day, remember to have a healthy living program in place in your daily routine to boost those future developments in medicine.

When you commit to a disease prevention program, you can add years to your life on your own terms. For more information, contact local professionals like Longevity Medical Clinic.

Share

22 August 2016