If you study the biologic time clocks in the cell, known as telomeres, and you study the enzyme that lengthens them, telomerase, you are truly learning about magic. Here are a couple of amazing things I have learned: 1) Telomeres are intimately involved with just about every longevity and health pathway known to science. 2) …
Arguments continue among the best and brightest scientists concerning the question: Is aging unstoppable. If you think about it, that question has already been answered in a functional way. There are several mammalian cell lines that have been made “immortal” simply by turning on telomerase and expressing it at a higher level than normal. Most …
Ah yes, the more we know, the more we don’t know! In this country and other Western nations there seems to be an increasing trend for men to father children later in life. Now if you think about it, this is a little bit like the obesity epidemic! For both things it’s the very first …
Old Dad versus Young Dad – who should father children?! Read More »
Ever since the emergence of the so-called Type A personality some 50 years ago, scientists have struggled to understand the relationship between stress, disease, and aging. We all kinda knew there had to be a relationship, but the data did not always bear it out. All kinds of statistical machinations were needed to make things …
Many herbal and plant-derived compounds show anti-cancer activity. Sadly, until someone figures out how to make the big drug pay day by changing them just enough to patent them, no one listens. This is especially true of doctors who forget that 90% of drugs come from “refinement” of natural sources and the other 10% that …
In my most recent blog, The Monster is Not Born Immortal, I discussed in real time the results of Dr Maria Blasco’s most recent paper using both telomerase over expression and Calorie Restriction. As usual, I got a bevy of comments, many of which were nasty grams and did not get published for that reason, …
Telomere maintenance – We who are about to die Salute You Read More »
A recent German study has found an association between familial and non familial malignant melanoma and the telomerase gene. I think we should talk about this because it shows where the seemingly unending association with telomerase and cancer came/comes from. First concept: Cancer cells are not normal. They are the result not only of loss …
The monster is not born immortal: When telomerase drives cancer Read More »
It may seem strange to tie all of these seemingly dissimilar things together but bear with me and all will be revealed. As you probably know by now rats share many things in common with people. Some people more than others! There are similarities in biochemistry, structure and yes, behavior – all of which makes …
Bottom line of this whole blog: Supplemental Telomerase Activation is Required for increases in Longevity whether you calorie restrict or not. There are probably three or four studies now that show one simple irrefutable fact: you must turn on and increase telomerase expression to improve longevity. Most of them have come from Maria Blasco’s lab in …
Life without Twinkies – Calorie restriction and Telomerase Read More »
One of the most vexing problems I face as an expert on telomeres and telomerase activation is the issue of diet and telomere length. The problems come in many forms such as using vaguely related or truly unrelated studies to support an eating agenda, using poorly designed studies with inadequate measurements to claim positive results, …