Two Perspectives in the
Pursuit of YouthDirector of Nutrition Services “Rejuvenation” is a term widely used in the destination spa industry, an apt reference to the restoration of near youth-like vigor – compliments, primarily, of pleasurable recreation, nutritious foods, and beautifully hedonistic spa services. Positive changes in lifestyle (frequently jump-started at health resorts) near always result in noticeable drops in predicted biological age in statistics-based programs such as “Actual Age Assessment” and “Real Age”. However, even though we may never restore our genome to its past peak function, we can always bank on recapturing a lion’s share of youthful essence when embarking on a program of personal health management by choice.
The non-obsessive pursuit of youth, in my book, is right on. In this report, I’ve presented an overview of the scientific potential for youthful immortality, primarily the work of respected super scholar Aubrey de Grey. If Mr. de Grey is correct (and few geneticists/gerontologists can effectively debate him) we may someday look as good at 512 as we did at 189. Even though it may be a few decades before “Immortality Services” are listed in the yellow pages, feeling young – with all the excitement and gusto of self-discovery – may be as close as our bicycle. Also included in this document is a brief commentary on youthful spirit. Fun and unreserved laughter has to be at least as important as demolishing extracellular cross-links. What good is a pleasure-sedentary genome, albeit ageless, that obsesses over fears and other discomforts?
The Mechanics of Youthful Immortality
Aging and death are problems that can be “fixed”, according to Aubrey David Nicholas Jasper de Grey. De Grey, a computer scientist by training (and still his “day job” at the University of Cambridge), has been unrelenting in pursuit of immortality for over a decade. No, Aubrey is not an Indiana-Jones type, traversing the globe looking for ancient pearls from buried relics. Rather, he brings to anti-aging medicine the goal-driven mindset of an engineer, viewing cellular and physiological change as structural entities requiring support, repair, or replacement. If interest in a subject can open doors, obsession (the good type) can move mountains. De Grey publishes (frequently) in reputable journals (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, etc.) with field-leading co-authors from the University of Chicago, University of California, and other research Mecca’s. He also has been featured on “60 Minutes”. Those who know Aubrey concur on the sheer intellectual power of his pen and tongue in support of his theories. Being an applied scientist, he envisions practical applications of anti-aging molecular biology – bringing the laboratory to the bedside – a mindset apart from curiosity/discovery-focused basic science. It has been said (per theologian Geoffrey Fisher) that “until you know that life is interesting - and find it so - you haven't found your soul”. Aubrey de Grey found his in 1994. De Grey titled his 7-part program Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence, and is based upon well-documented biological changes inherent to the aging process. Could there be more than seven? Possibly, but de Grey considers that less likely since biogerontology research has not discovered any new major players in over two decades. The following is a brief overview of the de Grey program. Problem1. Loss and atrophy or degeneration of cells. AdG Solution: Introduce growth factors to stimulate cell division or periodically introduce stem cell replacements for those that have been lost.
Problem 2. Accumulation of fat cells and senescent cells. AdG Solution: Develop immune bodies that are responsive to cell receptor sites, and/or custom compounds that induce targeted cell lethality. Problem 3. Mutations in chromosomes. AdG Solution: Cellular mutations lead to cancer. Cancer cells are immortal, a phenomena related to the length of chromosome sheaths known as telomeres. Long telomeres (synthesized in part by the enzyme telomerase) contribute to the continued proliferation of cancer cells. De Grey suggests replacing a person’s stem cells every 10 years with engineered varieties void of telomerase. Problem 4. Mutations in mitochondria. AdG Solution: Not all DNA is located in the cell nucleus. Some (13-genes) is located in the mitochondria where it is much more vulnerable to mutation. De Grey offers a simple solution, i.e. Copy the DNA in the mitochondria and relocate it in the nucleus. Problem 5. Accumulation of cellular “junk”. AdG Solution: As we age, cells tend to accumulate high levels “junk” – a potpourri of compounds resulting from the breakdown of large molecules. Junk is intimately involved in the progression of atherosclerosis and dysfunction of certain cell types. Nearly all of these bi-products are stored in cytoplasmic organelles called lysosomes. Aubrey suggests impregnating lysosomes with genes from soil micro-organisms since dirt containing buried animal flesh does not accumulate cellular junk. Problem 6. Accumulation of “junk” outside the cell. AdG Solution: The surface of cells in the human body is constantly bathed with an aqueous solution containing protein fragments. Over time, they become twisted and nearly indestructible. Known as amyloids, they are the same substances that can accumulate in the memory center of the brain, putting us at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. To counter this, de Grey proposes vaccination with an as-yet undeveloped immune stimulus designed to produce cells that engulf and digest the offending material. Problem 7. Cross-links in proteins outside the cell. AdG Solution: Over years, some extracellular proteins, which had previously moved independently of each other, may bond (cross-link) rendering cellular inelasticity. Excessive cross-linking around the endothelial cells of blood vessels, for instance, causes increased thickening, reduced elasticity in response to blood flow, and subsequent hypertension. De Grey proposes to develop target-specific chemical or enzymatic processes capable of severing cross-links without injuring anything else. Assuming de Grey is correct, and we soon may be able to live on eternally, would we want to? People with an insatiable zest for living would likely be the best candidates for Maponos therapy. Other’s, well . . . Susan Ertz said it best: “Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon”. Additional online information about Aubrey de Grey, his work, and the potential for human immortality can be viewed at www.gen.cam.ac.uk/sens/index.php.
Pleasure-Coated Living: Something of the Spirit A 50 plus-year-old woman became the oldest member of a professional hockey team. A motocross club in British Columbia has over a dozen members, the youngest being 72, the oldest 84. In Arizona, a new centenarian celebrated the big 100 by bungee jumping off a 200 ft. platform. Youthful spirit is not relegated to the young. The “kids” mentioned in previous paragraph are proof. Happy people, as dozens of studies have confirmed, live longer with less debilitating morbidity. Unfortunately, we may be “aged more by culture than chromosomes”, at least according to Margaret Gullette. The cliché "You're only as old as you feel", per Guillette, could be updated to read, "You're only as old as the culture makes you feel." She may be right. The typical employee claiming age discrimination has dropped steadily in age from the 50s to the 40s. "Ageism may be an ancient prejudice, but middle-ageism is our own postmodern toxin." Some suggest that aging prejudices, current world unrest, emotional stress, lack of sleep are the key pleasure suppressors for many. They also nudge us closer to disease and the grim reaper – health issues best served by a holistic practitioner. But where can you find a doctor who will prescribe “fun” in addition to Lipitor? Well, some are. The Institute for Functional Medicine has trained thousands of (mostly) MD’s, DC’s, and a few renegade dieticians in holistic, evidence-based therapies for chronic disease, employing established tenets from clinical nutrition, psychology, biomechanics, etc. to best treat the whole person. “Patient care”, rather than “disease care”, is the focus. To find a functional medicine practitioner in your area visit IFM website, i.e. http://www.functionalmedicine.org. Enough! Let’s take Red’s advice (Morgan Freeman, Shawshank Redemption) and “get busy living”. An inherent part of any youth-restoration program is good health. We have to be proactive about healthy eating, regular exercise, stress control, adequate sleep, and avoiding substance abuse to ignite the spark. However, broccoli and treadmills, in themselves, are soulless. Massaging the spirit through the re-discovery of pleasure has to top the Rx for turning back the clock. Books and audio recordings such as “The Pleasure Principle” and “The Pleasure Prescription”, authored by Paul Pearsall in the 90’s, still provide some of the best advice for overcoming preconditioned barriers to gusto. Suggestions for unusual fun activities abound on the web, many listed below. Acting as our own holistic therapist, let’s strive to have fun often and make 2006 a genuinely “Happy” New Year. Suggestions for Fun/Pleasurable Activities • Camping out in the backyard
• Creative writing or music composing in the park or favorite outdoor location
• Evening candlelight picnic in the backyard or on the balcony. (Don’t forget the soft music)
• Joining the kids in a game of hide-and-seek or hopscotch
• A walk at dawn and enjoying our favorite morning beverage at a location to view the sunrise
• Having a fancy dinner with china, silver service, and candles at the park. Even better if there is a free concert.
• Having a caterer prepare a full meal for the family.
• Climbing the steps of the tallest building in the closest major metropolitan area
• Starting a family food fight.
• Taking a long bath in scented water with candles and romantic music
• Body painting your partner
• Playing queen or king for a day and pampering yourself
• Going to Disneyland or other amusement park
• Having your partner function as your servant for a day (and vice-versa)
• Taking "who cares'' day off from work and doing something unique
• Trying a youthful sport (rollerblading, snow boarding, etc.)
• Taking an ethnic cooking class
• Paying the toll for the person behind you on a toll bridge or on an expressway
• Hosting a roast or tribute for a family member or friend
• Learning a musical instrument
• Hosting a "no reason'' party
• Learning country line dancing
• Playing touch football or taking a family walk on holiday get-togethers
• Wading in fountains at midnight
• Drawing love notes on the sand in the evening
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