Are the effects of aging reversible

In simple words, aging can be described as a process in which biological mechanisms are involved, leading to a gradual deterioration of health, both cognitive (mental) and physical.

Obviously, aging is inevitable. While many of us would like to stop the clock and avoid blowing out the candles on the birthday cake, which are an opaque hint of increasing age, this is beyond the capabilities of medicine.

However, it is possible that in the foreseeable future we will have at our disposal approaches that will reduce or eliminate the effects of aging. And now we are not talking about anti-aging creams or cosmetic surgery.

In recent years, more and more research has been conducted on the development of strategies aimed at combating aging at its core. That is, with cellular processes that contribute to the development of age-related diseases and changes in the appearance of an aging person.

In this context, we will understand the biological causes of aging, analyze the strategies proposed by scientists to combat the manifestations of aging and consider ways to increase their chances of healthy aging.

The genetic theory of aging

Many researchers believe that the effects of aging are the result of the impact of many genetic and external factors that may differ for different people.

According to the genetic theory of aging, a person's life expectancy, as well as his hair color and height, is influenced by genes inherited from his parents.

This theory looks plausible, since studies have shown that children of centenarians are also likely to have a long life expectancy.

Published in 2013, the results obtained by Swedish researchers from the Karolinska Institute indicate that the aging process is influenced by mitochondrial DNA inherited by a person from his mother. In experiments on mouse models, the authors found that female mice transmit to their offspring mutations of mitochondrial DNA that accumulate throughout life under the influence of environmental factors, which reduces the lifespan of the offspring.

However, despite the convincing evidence of the genetic theory of aging, it is indisputable that healthy aging and longevity largely depend on the influence of the environment, that is, the food consumed, physical activity, habitat features, as well as the effects of various compounds, including toxins throughout life.

Oxidative stress and telomere length

As human DNA ages, it accumulates damage caused by external factors. Despite the fact that in most cases cells are capable of repairing such damage, sometimes it goes beyond their capabilities.

Most often, this is the result of oxidative stress, in which the body does not have enough antioxidants to repair damage caused by free radicals. Oxidative stress is recognized as a key mechanism of the aging process.

Another important cause of DNA damage is the shortening of telomeres – the protective end sections of chromosomes.

Telomeres naturally shorten as we age, their length decreases with each cell division. Too short telomeres lose the ability to protect chromosomes, which contributes to their damage, resulting in premature aging and the development of diseases.

The results of a recent work by British researchers at the University of Cambridge indicate that the shortening of telomeres caused by environmental factors can be transmitted to the next generations. The authors found that the young rats that experienced a lack of oxygen during intrauterine development (which in humans is often caused by a woman smoking during pregnancy) had shorter telomeres compared to the telomeres of the young animals that did not experience oxygen deficiency in intrauterine development.

Moreover, the oxygen-deficient cubs had abnormalities of blood vessels, which is a sign of accelerated aging and predisposition to the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Evidence that telomere length plays an important role in the aging process has gained so much weight that experts want to use this parameter as a biomarker of age-related diseases.

For example, last year the results of a study were published, the authors of which demonstrated how a certain profile of telomere length in blood cells can be used to predict the risk of cancer.

What will happen if researchers find a way to increase the length of telomeres to protect against age-related diseases and other manifestations of aging? What if they identify a strategy that can protect against oxidative stress?

Such approaches may not be so far from reality.

Increasing telomere length to slow down aging

Last year, The FASEB Journal published an article in which Stanford University scientists claimed that they had found a way to increase the length of human telomeres. The researchers used a modified form of ribonucleic acid (RNA) containing a coding sequence for TERT, the active component of an enzyme that increases telomere length and is known as telomerase, to increase telomere length.

Three–fold exposure of modified RNA to human cell culture allowed for a few days to increase the length of telomeres by about 1,000 nucleotides - about 10%. The authors believe that this achievement has brought us one step closer to defeating age-related diseases, including diabetes mellitus and heart disease, as well as genetic diseases such as Duchenne myodystrophy.

However, according to data obtained by other scientists, we may well be able to independently take measures to increase the length of telomeres to slow down the aging process.

In December 2014, data were published according to which the Mediterranean diet contributes to an increase in telomere length, usually including a large amount of vegetables, fruits, nuts and olive oil and very little saturated fat, dairy products, meat and poultry.

In a study involving more than 4,600 healthy middle-aged women, researchers found that a more pronounced adherence to the Mediterranean diet corresponded to a longer telomere length.

The results of another study published in September 2014 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine indicate that reducing the amount of time spent in a sitting position can prevent telomere shortening and increase life expectancy.

Removal of mitochondria to rejuvenate aging cells

In February of this year, Dr. João Passos from the Institute for the Study of Aging at the University of Newcastle and his colleagues proposed a new strategy that, according to them, is able to reverse the aging process. It consists in the complete removal of mitochondria from cells.

Mitochondria are known as "energy centers" that supply cells with the energy needed to sustain life, but earlier studies have also demonstrated the relationship between mitochondria and oxidative stress.

In their study, the results of which were published by The Embo Journal, scientists increased the activity of autophagy in aging human cells, a process commonly used by cells to remove damaged mitochondria. The result was the destruction of all mitochondria.

Further observations showed that the total destruction of mitochondria in aging cells triggered the rejuvenation process, which was accompanied by a decrease in the levels of markers of cellular aging to values characteristic of younger cells.

Reversing Brain Aging

When it comes to aging, one of the most important issues is its impact on cognitive function.

Most people experience cognitive decline as they age. This is due to an age-related decrease in the size of certain regions of the brain, especially those associated with learning and memory, which leads to impaired interactions between nerve cells.

Some people may develop a more severe form of cognitive decline, known as Alzheimer's disease, which affects approximately 5.1 million people aged 65 and older in the United States. However, it is believed that the development of this disease is triggered by the accumulation of protein plaques and strands in the brain tissue, and not by a decrease in the volume of its individual regions.

However, researchers are finding more and more new medical strategies that can potentially reverse the aging process of the brain. In February, The Journal of Neuroscience published the results of a study whose authors managed to do this with the brains of rats. Scientists at the University of California at Irvine gave 11 rats the drug ampakin daily for three months, while another 12 rats received a placebo.

Visualization of brain tissue demonstrated that control group rats in "middle age" had shorter and less branched dendrites – processes of neurons that promote interneuronal interaction – than in "adolescence".

At the same time, in rats taking ampakin, neither the length nor the branching of dendyrites practically decreased with age, which indicates the prospects of ampakin as a means to prevent or even eliminate the effects of brain aging.

Proper nutrition and exercise to reduce the manifestations of aging

While, apparently, medical research has already come close to developing promising strategies for reversing the aging process, most likely, a lot of time will pass before the appearance on the market of drugs that increase the length of telomeres.

However, we can, without waiting for this, use a number of recommendations to reduce the severity of the effects of aging.

The benefits of regular physical exercise for health can once again not be reminded, but the results of numerous studies indicate that they have a positive effect on the aging process.

In October last year, data were published according to which aerobic exercise, such as walking and cycling, in middle and old age are associated with better brain health, while the results of earlier work demonstrated the relationship between aerobic exercise and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Another study, the results of which were published in 2014 in PLOS One, showed that jogging several times a week can slow down the aging process of older people, contributing to maintaining better mobility and quality of life. When doing other work, it was found that daily running for 5-10 minutes can add 3 years to life expectancy.

Eating healthy food is also considered a key factor in healthy aging. In October last year, the journal Neurology published the results of a study that testified to the ability of the Mediterranean diet to protect the brain from aging.

The US National Institute for the Study of Aging recommends following a diet that includes fruits, vegetables and grains, especially whole grains, low-fat dairy products or low-fat dairy products, seafood, lean meat and poultry. The recommendations also include limiting the consumption of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, salt and refined carbohydrates.

Are you worried about wrinkles?

With regard to skin aging, including reducing the severity of wrinkles and age spots, the American Academy of Dermatology offers a number of recommendations:

• Protect the skin from the sun's rays, the ultraviolet radiation included in them eventually damages the skin fibers, which leads to a decrease in its elasticity.
• Do not smoke, smoking accelerates skin aging, promotes the appearance of wrinkles and deterioration of complexion.
• Stick to a healthy diet, as consuming large amounts of sugar and other refined carbohydrates is associated with premature skin aging.
• Limit the use of alcoholic beverages, it leads to dehydration of the skin, which eventually causes its damage.
• Use gentle cleansing methods: scrubbing treatment can accelerate skin aging, so use mild cleansers to remove cosmetics and dirt.
• Apply moisturizers daily, they will provide hydration of the skin, retaining moisture inside and providing a fresh appearance.

As the famous French fashion designer Coco Chanel once said: "Nature gives you the face you have at 20, but you deserve the face you will have at 50."

Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru according to Medical News Today: The effects of aging: can they be reversed?

16.05.2016