The science of super longevity | Dr. Morgan Levine

Recent questions

• How does aging impact disease risk and life expectancy?

  Aging impacts individuals differently, with some appearing unchanged while others age faster, affecting health and disease risk. Internally, aging starts at the cellular and molecular level, influencing disease risk and life expectancy. Epigenetics, the cell's operating system, plays a crucial role in aging, with DNA methylation changes used to predict biological age. Research suggests that epigenetic changes can be reversed, potentially impacting cell function and overall health. Intervening in the aging process could potentially prevent various diseases, offering a broader approach to healthcare than targeting individual illnesses.

• What is the role of epigenetics in aging?

  Epigenetics, the cell's operating system, plays a crucial role in the aging process. It involves changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. DNA methylation changes are used to predict biological age, providing insights into how cells age and function. Research indicates that epigenetic changes can be reversed, potentially influencing cell function and overall health. Understanding epigenetics is essential in comprehending how aging impacts disease risk and life expectancy.

• Can epigenetic changes be reversed?

  Research suggests that epigenetic changes, which play a crucial role in aging, can indeed be reversed. These changes involve modifications to gene expression that do not alter the underlying DNA sequence. By reversing epigenetic changes, it is possible to impact cell function and overall health positively. This reversal offers potential implications for preventing diseases and promoting healthier aging processes.

• How can intervening in the aging process impact healthcare?

  Intervening in the aging process could have significant implications for healthcare. By targeting the underlying mechanisms of aging, such as epigenetic changes, it may be possible to prevent various diseases and promote healthier aging. This approach offers a broader perspective on healthcare, focusing on addressing the root causes of multiple illnesses rather than targeting individual diseases. By understanding and intervening in the aging process, healthcare systems could potentially improve overall health outcomes and quality of life for individuals.

• What factors influence the rate of aging in individuals?

  The rate of aging in individuals is influenced by various factors. While some people may appear unchanged since high school, others age faster, impacting their health and disease risk. Internally, aging starts at the cellular and molecular level, with epigenetics playing a crucial role in this process. DNA methylation changes are used to predict biological age, providing insights into how cells age and function. Understanding these factors can help shed light on why individuals age at different rates and how interventions in the aging process could potentially benefit overall health and well-being.