Category Archives: Longevity Medicine

Our friend, the telomere

Studies of the nutritional impact of milk, like those of other single foods, are all over the map, some showing benefits, other risks. Researchers have focused, of late, on the fat content of milk, thinking that the devilment is found in that particular fraction. This current study uses a unique biomarker, the length of ourtelomeres. Telomeres are the caps on the ends of our chromosomes, keeping them separate from one another. Over time, those telomeres shorten and lose their protective role. Telomeres are considered a biomarker of cellular as compared to chronological age. Truth be told, chronologic age is a significant factor in telomere shortening, but lifestyle, diet, and even the great villain oxidative stress play a role. [1]

Although much is understood about diet, oxidative stress, and cellular longevity, the role of cows milk consumption, particularly milk fat, remains unclear. To date, the relationship between milk fat intake and telomere length has rarely been studied.

The study

The researchers made use of our old friend, NHANES, or the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, which collected telomere lengths as part of a national sample between 1999 and 2002. That yielded roughly 7,800 DNA samples as well as information on milk and other nutritional consumption. Telomere length was measured in a scientifically objective and exacting way. Consumption of various foods was measured through self-reporting of whether participants drank milk or used it in their cereal, never, rarely (less than once a week), sometimes (once a week or more), or often (daily or more).

Additionally, they were asked about the fat content of their milk (whole, 2%, 1%, skim, nonfat). Of course, the usual covariant suspects like age, gender, ethnicity, smoking, BMI, and physical activity were also noted.

For those mathematically inclined and who like a good scare, the reduction in the base-pairs was about 69, meaning that drinking whole milk would add 4+ years to your chronologic age. So you might come away with the belief that whole milk isnt going to kill you outright, but it will age you. But wait, there is a bit more data to consider.

Fiber intake is associated with longer telomeres, as is the consumption of less dietary fats. So it is hard to implicate milk as the only nutritional factor at play here. The authors write:

Some of the dietary differences revealed among the milk fat groups were likely due to the milk composition differences that exist across the milk fat categories. However, it is possible that other dietary differences account for some of the biological aging differences among the milk fat categories. .

Apparently, if total saturated fat intake is low, the amount of milk fat consumed matters little and does not relate to biological aging. However, when total saturated fat intake is high (or moderate), milk fat consumption plays a significant role in cellular aging and telomere length.

We are left with a true, true, but not necessarily related conclusion. Whole milk consumption does reduce telomere length, whether that ages you is a different conversation. But whole milk consumption is a marker of high-fat consumption overall, so to say that milk is the underlying culprit is problematic. And that, in a nutshell, is the great difficulty of nutritional studies, we eat a variety of things, and it is the interaction and aggregation of them that may play a role. There is no one superfood, and there is no one superfood villain.

[1] Oxidative stress is related to mitochondrial leakage and subsequent oxidation and is the misunderstanding underlying the prescription of specific anti-oxidants to retard aging.

Source: Milk Intake and Telomere Length in US Women and Men: The Role of Milk Fat Fraction Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity DOI: 1155/2019.1564021

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Got Milk? Milk, Telomeres & Lifespan - American Council on Science and Health

NEW ORLEANS No question, Zion Williamson is the most popular sports figure in New Orleans -- not named Drew Brees.

Wednesday night, he didn't disappoint scoring 22 points in 18 minutes in his first game back on the basketball court since undergoing knee surgery in October to repair a torn meniscus.

Pelicans fans say they knew his play would be limited, but were surprised he came out of the game when he did.

"Very disappointed because he was on a hot streak and when players are on a hot streak, you want to keep them going," Daniel Bernard said.

"I understood why they did it, but it's just a tough decision as a coach," Ronald Fornerette Jr. said. "He's got his whole career ahead of him. You can't risk that."

Coach Alvin Gentry said it was the team medical staff's decision to pull Williamson out of the lineup.

"I ain't the brightest coach in the world, but I wasn't going to take him out in those situations unless I was told to," Gentry said.

Dr. Greg Stewart, Professor of Sports Medicine at Tulane University says when it comes to rehabbing from a meniscus tear, it's best to take it slow.

"A lot of what we're seeing with Zion is making sure that everything is healed and well," Stewart said. "The things that you worry about is the end of the bone getting rubbed raw and that can happen with this and some of the bone spurs."

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"The tissue is going to heal and get stronger," Stewart added. "But, you don't want to go and put all the stress on it all at once."

In a postgame interview, Williamson said it was hard to go back to the bench to finish the fourth quarter. He also said at 19, he's not really thinking about his longevity.

Dr. Stewart maintains the Pelicans are looking at both the team's and Williamson's best interests.

"They want Zion to be healthy and to be a Pelican for years to come, not weeks and months to come," Stewart said.

Fans are now excited to see what Williamson can do when he gets the green light to go all out.

"I believe the Pelicans are at a turning point now since Zion's back because he brings much spark to the lineup," Bernard said.

"I was at (Wednesday night's) game and it was a great experience," Fornerette said. "Best three minutes in that arena ever."

It's unclear how many minutes Williamson will get when the Pels take on the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Arena, Friday night.

RELATED: Zion stuns basketball world with 17 points in 3-minute burst in debut

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Was it the right move to pull Zion? Doctors say yes - WWLTV.com

Exercise provides innumerable health benefits, all of which coalesce to increase your life expectancy by protecting against chronic health complications.

According to Mayo Clinic, regular exercise can offer defence against a number of potentially life-threatening mechanisms, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Emerging evidence also suggests it may be a potent weapon in the fight against cancer.

Despite the palpable health benefits, knowing what exercise to do and how frequently to do it can seem overwhelming if you are a beginner.

A recent study published in the British Journal of Medicine suggests that the life-extending benefits of exercise can be achieved without getting bogged down in technical details, however.

The results of a pooled analysis found that running, a low-maintenance exercise that can be easily incorporated into your day, significantly lowered risk of death from any cause.

To gather their findings, researchers analysed swathes of data from relevant published research, conference presentations, and doctoral theses and dissertations in a broad range of academic databases.

READ MORE:How to live longer: This simple activity may increase your life expectancy

They looked for studies on the association between running/jogging and the risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

When the study data were pooled, any amount of running was associated with a 27 percent lower risk of death from all causes for both sexes, compared with no running.

And it was associated with a 30 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and a 23 percent lower risk of death from cancer.

Crucially, even in small doses running had an outsized effect, for example, once weekly or less, lasting less than 50 minutes each time, and at a speed below six miles (8 km) an hour, still seemed to be associated with significant health/longevity benefits.

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This suggests that running for 25 minutes less than the recommended weekly duration of vigorous physical activity could reduce the risk of death.

Increasing the frequency and duration of running wasn't associated with a further lowering of the risk of death from any cause, however, the analysis showed.

In their concluding remarks, the researchers said: "Increased rates of participation in running, regardless of its dose, would probably lead to substantial improvements in population health and longevity."

If you have not been active for a while, you may want to ease into running, gradually increasing your fitness levels by walking first, says the NHS.

Once you develop more confidence, it is advisable to get a good pair of running shoes that suit your foot type may help improve comfort, explains the health site.

There are many types of trainers on the market, so get advice from a specialist running retailer, who'll assess your foot and find the right shoe for you, explains the health body.

To get into a running routine, it is also wise to plan your runs and work out when and where you're going to run and put it in your diary.

The NHS also recommends increase your pace and distance gradually over several outings to avoid injury and keep the experience enjoyable if you are starting out.

Start each run with a gentle warm-up of at least five minutes. This can include quick walking, marching on the spot, knee lifts, side stepping and climbing stairs, advises the health body.

As the health site points out, regular running for beginners means getting out at least twice a week.

Your running will improve as your body adapts to the consistent training stimulus, says the health body.

It's better to run twice a week, every week, than to run six times one week and then do no running for the next three weeks, it adds.

Read the original:
How to live longer: Doing this exercise just once a week can increase your life expectancy - Express.co.uk

#This excerpt was reprinted with permission. The full articlecan be readon theIssues and Insights site.

Much of the progress in medicine during the past half-century has involved expensive, high-tech diagnostic tests and therapies. The trend in this direction worries health economists and politicians because it has the potential to send already high health care costs into the stratosphere. Health care spending in 2017 reached $3.5 trillion, or a whopping 17.9% of the nation's gross domestic product, according togovernment statistics.

However, there is an important role as well for ingenious, low-tech, less-expensive approaches to improved health and increased longevity. The question is, how do we make them financially attractive?

The high-tech miracles will continue to garner headlines, but to control health care costs we will also need simpler and relatively inexpensive innovations. That has policy implications. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger wrote (in a different context): "We must continue to seek the affordable and plentiful at the expense of the exquisite and few." That applies to health care as well.

More:
High-Tech Gets The Headlines But Low-Tech Can Cut Health Care Costs And Save Lives - American Council on Science and Health

There has been confusion for several years over link between carbohydrate restriction and mortality. Some studies said that low-carb diet leads to premature death risks; while the others stated the opposite. Did you too get confused with these controversies? If yes, then here's something that might help you to breathe a sigh of relief. A new study has stated that there is no link between overall carb or fat restriction and longevity. It is rather associated with what you eat. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine journal, said that low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets may be associated with mortality, depending on the "quality and food sources of macronutrients".

This study included a total of 37,233 adults from the United States. During the years of follow-up, a total of 4866 deaths occurred. The researchers found that mortality rates remained similar between people who followed low-fat, low-carb diet and who did not. This concluded that there is no such association between low-carb, low-fat diet and mortality. It was rather found in the study that unhealthy low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets lead to high mortality; whereas healthy low-carb and low-fat diet decreases the mortality rate.

Through this study, it can be understood that we must keep a check on what we eat, even if we are going on a low-carb diet.

Now, keeping all your worries and confusion aside, add goodness to your low-carb or low-fat diet and lead a healthy life.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

Read more:
Theres No Link Between Low Carb, Low Fat Diet And Mortality, Reveals Study - NDTV Food

The Graf Center for Integrative Medicine at Englewood Health and the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades of Tenafly are offering a new session of the Wellness and Longevity Heart Health Program, aimed at people who either have heart disease or have risk factors for it. The structured five-week program, led by medical and fitness experts, aims to lead participants into a well-rounded, healthy life style. Physician clearance is required.

The first class will meet on Thursday, January 9, at 6 p.m., at the Graf Center for Integrative Medicine at Englewood Health. The first private group workout at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades will be on Monday, January 13, at 6 p.m. Classes will be led by certified trainers at the JCCs fitness center on Mondays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. The class will be tailored to the participants individual needs.

The program demands a time commitment of 60 minutes twice a week for five weeks, for 10 sessions in total. Participants will have access to the JCC gym at no additional charge. Fitness staff will be available to help with personal workouts at the JCC.

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A final wrap-up session will be held on Thursday, February 6, from 6 to 7 p.m., at the Graf Center for Integrative Medicine at Englewood Health. Baselines will be taken if requested.

The cost for the entire program is $100. For more information or to register, call (201) 608-2377 or go to EnglewoodHealth.org/HHP.

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Englewood Health, Kaplen JCC, team up for wellness program - The Jewish Standard