Researchers near ‘cure’ for ageing

*Discover procedure to replace specific parts of senescing cells
*Women live longer than men because male primates are genetically programmed to die early
*Rich survives 10 years longer than poor, study reveals

A landmark study has identified a new way to replace ageing cells in our body.

The research by scientists at Caltech and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), United States, could pave the way to developing nip-n-tuck style procedures that reverse and slow the ageing process.

The experiment targeted mutated Deoxy ribonucleic Acid (DNA)/genetic material inside our mitochondria – the ‘battery’ of our cells.

As we age, our DNA breaks down and mutates. But unlike other parts of the body, the mitochondria are not very good at repairing DNA.

But now, in a groundbreaking procedure, the Caltech-UCLA team has found a way to manipulate genes so that they break down and remove mutated DNA, regenerating the cells.

The operation is a twist on an already-documented natural procedure called autophagy (‘self-eating’).

Via autophagy, cells can digest dysfunctional mitochondria, clearing the way for healthy replacements.

It is a hot topic at the moment – in fact, it was research into autophagy that earned a Nobel Prize this year.

Also, a study has found that women are genetically programmed to live longer than men. It is well-known ladies tend to live longer than gentlemen.

But now scientists have discovered that this ‘male disadvantage’ is not just a human phenomenon – because of men having higher likelihoods of men dying in war, violence or exposure to industrial accidents.

A study of monkeys and apes find that males in primate species also live shorter lives.

The lifespan of the average person – both male and female – has come in leaps and bounds over the past few human generations.

Scientists from Duke University also investigated how and why this hike has occurred by comparing historic birth and death records of both humans and primates.

They found that people worldwide are living longer, healthier lives than ever before.

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analysed data from more than one million births and deaths from the 18th century to the present day.

Also, a study has warned that poor Americans will live a decade shorter than one-percenters.

Researchers devised 50 new ‘states of America’, organized by income as opposed to geography. They found the average family in the poorest of these new-fangled states would have an average income just over the poverty line. Crucially, they would have a shorter lifespan than anyone else.

The study by East Tennessee State University, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found those with the longest lifespan were women living in the nation’s richest counties, who tend to live to 83 years old.

Women in the poorest counties have an average life expectancy that is six years shorter, living to 76 years old. For men, the difference was far more stark. The richest men live to 79.3 years old – a staggering 9.5 years longer than the poorest men who have an average life expectancy of 69.8 years.

Meanwhile, vegetable compounds, carotenoids, have been found to improve cognition in old age. New research suggests some carotenoids present in vegetables and plants may boost brain power in older age.

Carotenoids are a natural plant chemical that can be found in a variety of vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and oranges.

However, some carotenoids, like lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) can also be found in dark green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and peas.

A variety of studies have shown that diets rich in L and Z help maintain visual health, improve visual acuity, and slow down some age-related eye diseases.

Other studies have suggested L and Z improve cognitive function in adults aged 98 years and over. Increased levels of the compounds were associated with better memory and higher verbal fluency.

However, the neural mechanisms responsible for the association between carotenoids and cognition remains unknown.

In an attempt to untangle these mechanisms, new research looks at carotenoid levels and brain activity in elderly adults.

The results were published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

Scientists found that higher levels of L and Z correlated with a lower signal in several areas of the brain, as measured by the level of oxygen in the participants’ blood.

This indicated lower brain activity in individuals with higher levels of L and Z during memory tasks, which means they did not have to work as hard to complete the task.