The authors of a recent paper published in GeroScience used an alternative statistical test to reanalyze data from the Interventions Testing Program and identified additional life‑extending compounds [1]. The crucial step of data analysis A typical biological experiment can be divided into three stages: planning, executing, and results analysis. The last part can be done in multiple ways, such as by using different statistical methods to focus on different outcomes. The authors of a recent paper decided to use the data from The National Institute on Aging’s Interventions Testing Program (ITP ..read more

On the tropical island of Roatán, a bunch of people gathered in an unprecedented, longevity-themed pop-up city – and then some of them stayed, making the venture permanent. “You’re going where?” A friend invited me over, but I declined, telling him I had to travel for work again. “Where to this time?” he asked with a hint of envy, us being stuck in the middle of Seattle’s infamously gloomy winter. “Honduras,” I said. He fell silent for a second and then asked cautiously: “What exactly does Honduras have to do with aging biology?” A fair question. Last year, my work took me to another unlikely ..read more

According to a new study, cannabis consumption is associated with increased risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart attack [1]. It’s growing popular, but is it good for you? After decades of being banned and demonized, marijuana is making a huge comeback, thanks to a wave of legalization or decriminalization. Currently, weed is legal in 24 US states, almost half of the nation, and in several countries around the world. This is coinciding with an unprecedented decline in tobacco use, which is probably the best thing that has happened in public health in decades. However, there’s an ..read more

With an in-depth examination tool in hand, researchers publishing in Aging have done a preliminary examination of the muscle protein differences between younger and older people and how older people’s proteins change with exercise. The power to take a close look This paper begins with a discussion of proteomics, the science of analyzing what proteins a tissue expresses. These researchers hold that proteomics is naturally more representative of physical processes in tissues than other -omics approaches, such as genomics [1]. However, analyzing muscle tissue in this way is tricky, as common tec ..read more

Epigenetic aging measurements can vary by the time of day at which they are taken, according to a study published in Aging Cell. The circadian rhythm Living on Earth, organisms have evolved to adapt to our planet’s day/night cycle. This adaptation is known as the circadian rhythm, and it influences many aspects of biology. As these researchers [1] and others have found, this even includes the number of white blood cells circulating in the bloodstream. Because different white blood cells often have different measured epigenetic ages, measuring the total epigenetic age of white blood cells can ..read more

Tiny bubbles that cells use to communicate with each other prolonged lifespan and reversed numerous aging phenotypes when taken from young mice and injected into old ones, even though the treatment started late in life [1]. The tiny messengers For millennia, humans credited young blood with rejuvenating qualities. This belief caused legendary and historic rulers to commit atrocities to get enough of this “elixir of youth”. While these ideas were delusional and barbaric, science has confirmed that there is some truth to them. Research into heterochronic parabiosis, which involves connecting th ..read more

A study published in Aging Cell has reported that older people with better regulated autophagy in their skeletal muscles have less age-related frailty. Taking out the trash What is Autophagy? Autophagy, derived from ancient Greek, means "eating of self". Autophagy is the way cells break down misbehaving or nonfunctional organelles and proteins in the cell. This means that autophagy can consume organelles, such as mitochondria, peroxisomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum. Despite its noxious-sounding name, autophagy serves more of a protective role than a harmful one. Read More The research ..read more

SynBioBeta, the leading community of entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and biological engineers, today announced details for its flagship SynBioBeta 2024 conference. The premier annual event for the synthetic biology industry will be held May 6-9, 2024, in San Jose, gathering an estimated 2,000 attendees from around the world. “Synthetic biology is rapidly transforming nearly every sector of our economy and society in profound ways,” said John Cumbers, founder of SynBioBeta. “Our annual conference brings together the world’s preeminent minds and companies driving innovation in this space ..read more

A team of researchers has waded into a controversial and contradictory area of study, publishing information on the link between obesity and an inflammatory molecule that increases with aging. A context-dependent molecule What is Inflammaging? Chronic Inflammation and Aging One of the aging processes consists of a chronic, smoldering background of inflammation that researchers call “inflammaging”. Read More The authors point out previous research that singled out the interleukin IL-6, a key immune signaling molecule, as a major contributor to inflammaging [1]. However, its role in biology ..read more

Scientists have tested a novel method of providing cells with healthy mitochondria to fight Parkinson’s disease [1]. Replacing damaged mitochondria Parkinson’s disease is the second-most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, and it affects 10 million people worldwide. The disease is age-related, as its prevalence rises rapidly in people older than 65, although some people are diagnosed much earlier. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by both motor and mental problems: tremor, rigidity (stiffness), and slowness of movement along with memory and thinking deficits. Parkinson’s disease is cause ..read more