The Art of Aging Well
Harvard Medical School・2 minutes read
The Longwood Seminar at Harvard Medical School, now in its 18th year, shares faculty knowledge with a global audience through livestreaming, focusing on topics like aging, pain management, and obesity. Research on aging, including the potential of molecules like NMN, aims to extend healthy lifespan by preventing age-related diseases and improving overall health, with studies on SuperAgers shedding light on cognitive abilities in older individuals.
Insights
- The Longwood Seminar, led by Gina Vild, showcases Harvard Medical School faculty knowledge on diverse topics like aging, pain management, and obesity, catering to a global audience through livestreaming and alumni-driven topic selection.
- Dr. David Sinclair's research on aging highlights the potential for NMN and related molecules to enhance cellular repair mechanisms, potentially extending health span and offering insights into longevity and well-being.
- SuperAgers, individuals in their 60s and 70s, exhibit remarkable cognitive abilities akin to young adults, showcasing preserved brain structure, youthful brain activity, and enhanced connectivity crucial for memory performance, shedding light on successful aging and cognitive resilience.
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Recent questions
What is the Longwood Seminar?
A series sharing Harvard Medical School faculty knowledge.
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Summary
00:00
"Harvard's Longwood Seminar: Aging Well Insights"
- Gina Vild, Associate Dean for Communications at Harvard Medical School, introduces the Longwood Seminar, celebrating its 18th year.
- The Longwood Seminar was created to share Harvard Medical School faculty knowledge with the community, now reaching a global audience through livestreaming.
- Topics for the Longwood Seminars are selected based on alumni preferences, with four topics chosen for the current year.
- The current seminar focuses on "The Art of Aging Well," with upcoming topics including "The Science of Pain Management," "Bridging East and West - New Frontiers in Medicine," and "Weighing the Facts of Obesity."
- Additional resources on aging well can be found on the Harvard Health publishing website, with a program called Living Better, Living Longer also available.
- Certificates of completion and professional development points for teachers can be obtained, with resources available on the Longwood Seminars website.
- Questions for the speakers can be submitted on index cards for in-person attendees or through livestream comments for online viewers.
- Dr. David Sinclair, a Professor of Genetics, will share new discoveries on aging during the seminar.
- Scientific progress in aging research is advancing rapidly, with potential breakthroughs that could significantly impact human longevity and health.
- The pursuit of extending healthy lifespan aims to ensure that individuals can maintain vitality and well-being into their later years.
15:12
"Extending Lifespan: Research on Aging and Health"
- Research aims to extend human lifespan by preventing age-related diseases like cancer, heart disease, and strokes.
- Breakthroughs in understanding aging reveal bodies are complex and capable of repair, unlike simple machines.
- Genes control body health, and activating them through exercise, diet, and specific molecules like NMN can enhance repair mechanisms.
- NMN boosts NAD levels, crucial for cellular functions and disease defense, declining with age.
- Administering NMN to old mice increases endurance and builds new blood vessels, potentially offering exercise benefits without physical activity.
- NMN and related molecules show promise in protecting against various age-related diseases and improving overall health.
- Clinical trials at Harvard and Brigham and Women's Hospital explore the effects of NMN on humans, aiming to translate animal research findings.
- Economic benefits of prolonging health span are significant, potentially reducing healthcare costs and boosting GDP.
- Personal anecdote of the speaker's father, who improved his quality of life and remained active in his late 70s after taking natural molecules discovered in research.
- The speaker emphasizes the potential of research findings to revolutionize aging and health outcomes, highlighting the positive impact on individuals and society.
28:21
"SuperAgers: Youthful Minds Defying Aging Norms"
- The future aims to provide a life free of pain and sorrow for individuals in their 70s and beyond, allowing for new opportunities and optimism.
- An experiment using Inside Tracker's algorithm estimated the biological age of a 46-year-old to be 10 years older, prompting lifestyle changes and the use of NMN molecules.
- Following adjustments in diet and weight loss, the individual's biological age was reduced to 31.4 years, showcasing the potential for extending life.
- SuperAgers, individuals in their 60s and 70s, exhibit cognitive abilities comparable to young adults, resisting typical age-related memory decline.
- SuperAgers perform memory tasks as well as individuals four to five decades younger, with some recalling all 16 words in a memory test.
- MRI scans of SuperAgers reveal thicker brain regions crucial for attention and memory, resembling those of young adults.
- Stronger brain connectivity is observed in SuperAgers compared to typical older adults, with networks comparable to young adults.
- Enhanced connectivity in brain regions like the hippocampus correlates with better memory performance in SuperAgers.
- SuperAgers demonstrate not only preserved brain structure but also youthful brain activity, showcasing their exceptional cognitive abilities.
- Study three delves into brain activity during memory tasks, revealing the regions that light up and activate in response to cognitive challenges.
46:43
"SuperAgers: Motivation and Memory in Aging"
- fMRI allows noninvasive study of the brain by identifying hotspots of brain activation in response to tasks.
- SuperAgers and typical older adults showed similar activation in memory regions during a memory task.
- The difference between SuperAgers and typical older adults lies in the mid-cingulate cortex, a region associated with motivation.
- SuperAgers approach problems with more motivation and tenacity, leading to better memory performance.
- Activation of the mid-cingulate cortex correlates with improved memory performance.
- SuperAgers maintain youthful memory abilities and avoid cognitive decline.
- Understanding SuperAgers is crucial for comprehending successful aging.
- Life expectancy has increased over the years, with women generally living longer than men.
- The goal in geriatric medicine is to extend lifespan while reducing disability.
- Alzheimer's disease is a prevalent issue, with research focusing on targeting toxic proteins like amyloid and tau in the brain.
01:02:18
Preventing Alzheimer's: Drugs, Exercise, and Lifestyle
- Drugs like Aricept, Exelon, and Reminyl can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by affecting acetylcholine in the brain.
- Memantine is another drug that can prevent brain damage.
- Reducing cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes can help prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias.
- Engaging in mental and physical exercises, like brain tests, can lower the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.
- Volunteering and staying active throughout life can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and other dementias.
- Resistance training can improve muscle strength and size in older individuals.
- Multitasking can lead to falls, and interventions like brain stimulation can improve balance.
- Vibratory shoe insoles can enhance gait and balance in older people.
- Research on neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's focuses on early prevention rather than late-stage treatment.
- SuperAgers, aged 62 to 80, show cognitive improvements through exercise and an active lifestyle.
01:16:50
Molecules boost NAD levels, slow aging
- Introducing molecules into the diet can raise NAD levels, as seen in mice, with no serious downsides observed in mouse studies.
- Studies at Washington University in St. Louis fed mice NR and NMN molecules for a year, resulting in slower aging with no physical downsides.
- Genetic studies have not linked specific genes to SuperAgers, with ongoing research exploring various genes related to cholesterol metabolism and lifestyle influences on longevity.
- Excess weight accelerates aging in both human and mouse studies, leading to increased inflammation and chronic diseases.
- Mitochondrial damage is associated with aging and may be a driver of aging, impacting individuals' aging aspects and functions.
- Brain activity can influence brain plasticity, with studies showing changes in brain connectivity after performing tasks.
- Alzheimer's disease is a challenge in preventing brain aging, with ongoing research focusing on improving brain health and connections to combat degeneration.
