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Keep Your Body Young With A Low Calorie Diet

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Scientists studying how aging affects the biological clock’s control of metabolism have discovered that a low-calorie diet helps keep these energy-regulating processes humming and the body younger.

In a study appearing Aug. 10 in the journal Cell, Paolo Sassone-Corsi, director of the Center for Epigenetics & Metabolism at the University of California, Irvine, and colleagues reveal how circadian rhythms – or the body’s – change as a result of physiological aging. The clock-controlled circuit that directly connects to the process of aging is based on efficient metabolism of energy within .

The Sassone-Corsi team tested the same group of mice at 6 months and 18 months, drawing tissue samples from the liver, the organ which operates as the interface between nutrition and energy distribution in the body. Energy is metabolized within cells under precise circadian controls.

The researchers found that the 24-hour cycle in the circadian-controlled metabolic system of older mice remained the same, but there were notable changes in the circadian mechanism that turns genes on and off based upon the cells’ energy usage. Simply put, the older cells processed energy inefficiently.

“This mechanism works great in a young animal, but it basically shuts off in an old mouse,” Sassone-Corsi said.

However, in a second group of aged mice that were fed a diet with 30 percent fewer calories for six months, energy processing within cells was more than unchanged.

“In fact, caloric restriction works by rejuvenating the biological clock in a most powerful way,” Sassone-Corsi said. “In this context, a good clock meant good aging.”

Collaborative confirmation

For a companion study detailed in Cell‘s current issue, a research team from the Barcelona Institute for Research in Biomedicine collaborated with the Sassone-Corsi team to test body clock functioning in stem cells from the skin of young and older mice. They too found that a low-calorie diet conserved most of the rhythmic functions of youth.

“The low-calorie diet greatly contributes to preventing the effects of physiological aging,” said Salvador Aznar Benitah, who co-led the Spanish study. “Keeping the rhythm of stem cells ‘young’ is important because in the end these cells serve to renew and preserve very pronounced day-night cycles in tissue. Eating less appears to prevent tissue aging and, therefore, prevent from reprogramming their circadian activities.”

According to the UCI and Barcelona researchers, these studies can help explain why a calorie-restricted diet slows down aging in mice. The implications for could be far-reaching.

The scientists said that it’s important to further examine why metabolism has such a dominant effect on the stem cell aging process and, once the link that promotes or delays aging has been identified, to develop treatments that can regulate this link.

It’s been shown in previous fruit fly studies that low-calorie diets can extend longevity, but the UCI and Barcelona research is the first to show that calorie restriction influences the body’s ‘ involvement with the aging process in cells.

“These studies also present something like a molecular holy grail, revealing the cellular pathway through which aging is controlled,” Sassone-Corsi said. “The findings provide a clear introduction on how to go about controlling these elements of aging in a pharmacological perspective.”

The circadian connection

Sassone-Corsi and his colleagues first showed the circadian rhythm-metabolism link some 10 years ago, identifying the metabolic pathways through which a circadian enzyme protein called SIRT1 works. SIRT1 senses energy levels in cells; its activity is modulated by how many nutrients a cell is consuming. In addition, it helps cells resist oxidative and radiation-induced stress. SIRT1 has also been tied to the inflammatory response, diabetes and aging.

[Source — Medicalxpress]

What’s the Number 1 Health Condition of Older People?

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That may seem like an odd question, but the answers one gets may help explain some general misinformation.

The number one answer many people give is heart disease. While heart disease is the number 1 cause of deaths for people over the age of 65, it’s not the number 1 health condition that older people endure.

The second answer one general hears is cancer, but again, that would be wrong. It’s not cancer.

The number 1 health condition facing older individuals is arthritis. According the Center for Disease Control, 49.7% of adults over the age of 65 will suffer from some form of arthritis, but that does come with a caveat.

Depending upon the source, the term arthritis can refer to between 100 to 200 forms of diseases and conditions that affect joints and the tissues associated with the joints. These are further broken down into 7 main groups:

  • Inflammatory arthritis – Inflammation is a normal part of the body’s healing process. The inflammation tends to occur as a defense against viruses and bacteria or as a response to injuries such as burns. However, with inflammatory arthritis, inflammation occurs in people for no apparent reason. Inflammatory arthritis is characterized by damaging inflammation that does not occur as a normal reaction to injury or infection. This type of inflammation is unhelpful and instead causes damage in the affected joints, resulting in pain, stiffness and swelling.
  • Degenerative or mechanical arthritis – Degenerative or mechanical arthritis refers to a group of conditions primarily involving damage to the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. The main job of the smooth, slippery cartilage is to help the joints glide and move smoothly. This type of arthritis causes the cartilage to become thinner and rougher. To compensate for the loss of cartilage and changes in joint function, the body begins to remodel the bone in an attempt to restore stability. This can cause undesirable bony growths to develop (osteophytes), or cause the joint to become misshapen. This condition is commonly called osteoarthritis.
  • Soft tissue musculoskeletal pain – Soft tissue musculoskeletal pain is felt in tissues other than the joints and bones. The pain often affects a part of the body following injury or overuse, such as tennis elbow, and originates from the muscles or soft tissues supporting the joints. Sometimes if the pain is more widespread and associated with other symptoms, it could be diagnosed as fibromyalgia.
  • Back pain – Back pain can arise from the muscles, discs, nerves, ligaments, bones or joints. Back pain may even be caused by problems with organs inside the body, and can be a result of referred pain, i.e. a problem elsewhere in the body that causes a sensation of pain in the back. Back pain may have a specific cause, such as osteoarthritis – often called spondylosis when it occurs in the spine – which may be visible on diagnostic imaging or physical examination. A “slipped” disc is another cause of back pain, as is osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). In most cases it is not possible for a doctor to identify the exact cause of back pain – this is often described as “non-specific” pain.
  • Connective tissue disease – Connective tissues are tissues that support, bind together or separate other body tissues and organs. They include tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Joint pain is a symptom of CTD, but the inflammation that characterizes CTD may also occur in other tissues including the skin, muscles, lungs and kidneys. This can result in a diverse range of symptoms besides painful joints and require consultation with a number of different specialists.
  • Infectious arthritis – A bacterium, virus or fungus entering the joint can sometimes cause inflammation. Organisms that can infect joints include:
    • Salmonella and Shigella (food poisoning or contamination)
    • Chlamydia and gonorrhea (sexually transmitted diseases)
    • Hepatitis C (a blood-to-blood infection, often through shared needles or transfusions).

In most of these cases, the joint infection can be cleared with antibiotics or other antimicrobial medication. However, the arthritis can sometimes become chronic, and/or joint damage may be irreversible if the infection has persisted for some time.

  • Metabolic arthritis – Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are found in human cells and several foods. Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys. From there, it passes out in urine. Some people have elevated levels of uric acid because they either naturally produce more than is needed or their body cannot clear the uric acid quickly enough. Uric acid builds up and accumulates in some people and forms needle-like crystals in the joint, resulting in sudden spikes of extreme joint pain or a gout attack.

Arthritis can affect younger people, but is more common as people age. It affects women and men and can make simple daily tasks difficult and even impossible. Many women like to sew, quilt, darn, knit and other hand-oriented crafts, but these activities can be greatly hindered by many forms of arthritis.

If you experience joint pain anywhere in your body, see a physician. Some forms of arthritis are curable, depending upon the cause and some are better managed with medications and location specific activities. There may be ways to help to make your pain ease off and make your life easier.

Mid-Life Memory Problems? Try Exercising!

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Image result for exercising after 40

A friend commented that when she turned 40-years-old, her kids lovingly told her that she was beginning to get a little forgetful at times. She joked and said it was raising kids, which in part may have been true.

On April 25, 2017, I shared six main reasons for memory loss. They were: chronic stress, alcohol abuse, depression, health conditions, medications and physical exhaustion.

There is no doubt that raising kids these days can be stressful and physically exhausting at times and possibly times of depression, all of which can lead to some memory loss.

By the time a mom reaches 50-years of age, she is marrying off her kids. It’s not nearly as hard on her if she has boys, but marrying off a daughter or daughters, can take quite a toll on mom. It’s definitely a stressful time to make sure all of the arrangements are made. Leading up to and the day of the wedding is often very physically exhausting. After a daughter and her new husband drive away, it’s not uncommon for mom to experience some periods of depression, as well. Again, all of these can lead to memory loss.

In the post mentioned above, it was reported that researchers found a protein in umbilical cord blood that appeared to improve and even restore memory. However, this is still in the experimental stage and may be some time before it’s approved for use. So, what can you do now to help you keep from losing more memory and even help restore some of the memory issues you may be facing at this stage in life?

Would you believe that exercise may help? Yes, the dreaded ‘E’ word – exercise. I can hear you now – I don’t have time or I can’t afford to go to a gym, but if it’s important enough, you can find the time and you don’t need to go to a gym.

It’s not just any exercise, but a combination of exercises and they have to be done on a routine basis. Check this out:

“Can a new exercise regimen boost your brain health if you’re over 50?”

“Possibly, suggests a new research review that found middle-age folks can improve their thinking and memory skills by adopting regular moderate-to-vigorous routines involving aerobic and resistance exercise.”

“‘When we combined the available data from [39 previous] studies, we were able to show that undertaking physical exercise was able to improve the brain function of people aged 50 and over,’ said study lead author Joseph Northey. He’s a doctoral candidate and teaching fellow at the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise in Australia.”

In the studies, participants did their exercises under supervision. The type, duration of time and intensity of the exercises were noted and then compared. Afterwards, the participants took tests that measured brain function, also associated with memory.

Interestingly, tai chi and aerobic exercises seemed to enhance overall brain function. Resistance exercises seemed to improve memory. Northey commented:

“…being able to show that resistance training — such as lifting weights or using body weight — was similarly beneficial is a very novel and important finding.”

“Combining both aerobic and resistance training is ideal.”

“In addition to improving your brain function as our review shows, you should expect to see improvements in cardio-respiratory fitness and muscle strength, which are important for maintaining general health and being able to undertake day-to-day tasks.”

The researchers also said that the more physically active you are, the better the benefits for brain function. So, as you reach that 40-year mark and especially the 50-year mark, it’s important not only for your physical health to stay active or exercise regularly (aerobic and resistance), but it’s also important for maintaining brain function and reducing memory loss.

Ageing & Sleep: The Good, Bad and Ugly

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Human, Woman, Old, Person, Individually

Have you noticed any changes in your sleep habits as you move past 40-years of age and older? Some of the those changes are perfectly normal and non-harmful, but other changes in sleep habits with age, can be detrimental to physical and mental health.

How many times have you heard older people say ‘early to bed and early to rise’? For many of us past the age of 40, that has become so true. We tend to go to bed earlier and get up earlier and there is nothing wrong with that as long as you get a good restorative sleep.

What about finding out that the older you get, the less sleep you seem to need? There may be a perfectly natural explanation of that and again, this is normal and not necessarily harmful.

As we go about our waking activities, the brain builds up amyloid-beta proteins. If these proteins are not cleaned up or eliminated, they can create conditions like dementia. Over years of research, it has been found that a good sound (restorative) sleep helps to clear the amyloid-beta proteins, keeping the brain healthier. In this way, you can think of a deep sleep as acting like the night janitor for your brain, cleaning up and getting rid of the day’s waste.

However, when a person does not get a good restorative sleep for whatever reason, the amyloid-beta proteins tend to build up. A person who wakes frequently or a number of times throughout the night generally never gets into a long enough deep sleep to allow the cleaning of the amyloid-beta proteins, thus making them more susceptible to conditions like dementia. Reading this caused me some concern as I wake frequently at night due to being in constant pain. I hate think how much amyloid-beta sludge has been building up in my brain.

A recent study revealed that as some of us get older, we lose the ability to get a good sound or restorative sleep. Sometimes that failure to get a good sleep is due to a vicious and harmful cycle. According to the report:

“Sleep ‘fragmentation’ has been linked to a number of medical conditions, including depression and dementia, Mander said. People with fragmented sleep wake up multiple times during the night, and miss out on the deep stages of sleep.”

“It is true that medical conditions, or the treatments for them, can cause sleep problems, according to Mander. But poor sleep can also contribute to disease, he added.”

‘Take dementia, for example. Research suggests there is a ‘bi-directional’ link between sleep disruptions and the dementia process, said Joe Winer, another Berkeley researcher who worked on the review.”

“That is, dementia often causes sleep problems; poor sleep, in turn, may speed declines in memory and other mental skills. According to Winer, animal research suggests that deep sleep helps ‘clear’ the brain of the amyloid-beta proteins that build up in people with dementia.”

“So, there may be a ‘vicious cycle,’ Winer said, where dementia and poor sleep feed each other.”

“Similar vicious cycles may be at work with other diseases, too, Mander said.”

If you find that you are having more trouble getting a good sound (restorative) night’s sleep, see your doctor. Perhaps there is a simple solution to help, like sleep medication and possible, it could be a sign of something more sinister, that can be addressed or at least more controlled or the affects lessened. Don’t hit the snooze button and put off seeking help, as the longer you put it off, the worse or uglier it can get. No one wants to become senile or suffer from dementia and now that they have linked it to lack of good sleep, by taking action, you may put off the ugly and stay good longer.

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