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June 2021 Longevity Review

Posted by Chris Pollyanna , 06 July 2021 · 1,242 views

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The biggest news of the past month was the resounding success of the PEARL crowdfunding campaign, which not only blew past the original goal, but also the second stretch goal. In the end, the 409 backers donated over $182,000, which means that even more tests can be performed and the effectiveness of Rapamycin further elucidated. If you were one of the backers, then a massive thank you! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - this will be the most important longevity trial launched this year.

Regardless of whether or not you backed the trial, if you are an American resident, then you will be able to take part in it. Here is the PEARL trial website and PEARL trial participant interest form if you are keen to become involved.

Something to look forward to in August: Lifespan.io will be holding their fourth annual Ending Age Related Diseases conference, which will once again be virtual and will run from 19th - 22nd. As ever, there will be a stellar lineup of speakers presenting the latest cutting edge research. Tickets can be purchased here, but there is also a free option which allows you to watch the four keynote speakers.

Finally, now that COVID restrictions are starting to loosen in Toronto, I’m going to be bringing the Toronto Longevity Association Meetup Group out of hibernation soon. If you are in the area, sign up and come along!

Follow me on Twitter @ChrisPollyanna1 for the latest updates.

For previous updates, you can find them on the Canadian Longevity Association Facebook group, which I hope you will also join.
A reminder that you can show your support via my Patreon account, which includes bonus material for members.
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Round-Up:

CRISPR gene editing has revolutionised the genetic field since its discovery in 2011. Here are the first results of it being used in humans to potentially cure a deadly disease. Because of its ease of use, there will be an explosion in similar studies over the coming decade.
*Intellia Shows CRISPR Gene Editing in Humans Has Arrived Abstract
He Inherited A Devastating Disease. A CRISPR Gene-Editing Breakthrough Stopped It

Only available in the USA at the moment, but the release of this cancer detecting blood test marks a major advance against this deadly disease. The earlier that cancer can be detected, the greater likelihood of it being curable. In the future, a whole raft of other diseases will be diagnosed before symptoms manifest, hopefully leading to their prevention.
*First Multi-Cancer Blood Test Available Now Press Release Abstract

This basic biology paper shows that there is a rejuvenation event shortly after conception which removes the initial damage inherited from our parents. This demonstrates that we have the in-built ability to rejuvenate our cells, and science is quickly closing in on how to achieve this in adults.
Embryos appear to reverse their biological clock early in development Full Text
Dr. Vadim Gladyshev on a Rejuvenation Event in Early Life - Video

The removal of senescent cells has featured prominently in previous Round-Ups, but here, instead of some pharmacological intervention, I wanted to highlight a paper showing how exercise can reduce the negative molecules released by senescent cells.
*Exercise Decreases Circulating Senescence Proteins Full Text

Sticking with exercise, this last paper shows how a readily available supplement, Astaxanthin, can improve exercise efficiency and muscle function in the elderly when combined with aerobic exercise.
*Astaxanthin supplementation enhances metabolic adaptation with aerobic training in the elderly Full Text

Covid-19 Longevity Related Papers:
*Covid-19 patients recover faster with metabolic activator treatment, study shows Full Text
Plant-based and/or fish diets may help lessen severity of COVID-19 infection Full Text
Melatonin in Early Treatment for COVID-19: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Possible Efficacy Full Text

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Podcast to listen to:

Not only does lifespan.io produce a Rejuvenation Roundup at the end of every month, but they also produce an audio version for you to listen to instead. Full disclosure: I provide a lot of the material covered.
Rejuvenation Roundup June 2021

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2021 Supplemental Information

***Disclaimer 1 – As should be self-evident to anyone receiving these emails, I am NOT a doctor or indeed a scientist. All the information pertained within is for information purposes only; use at your own risk. Please consult with a healthcare practitioner if needing medical advice.***

**Disclaimer 2 – In no way should supplements be a replacement for an unhealthy diet or lifestyle. A varied, plant dominant dietary pattern is the cornerstone for health. Try to eat the rainbow – the greater the variety, the greater the benefit. Even though I might take a supplement derived from a plant source, I still eat the plant in question. Also, make sure you move as much as possible – that is what we evolved to do.**

*Also bear in mind that most of the studies mentioned below are in rodents, not humans. Rodents, needless to say, do not always react the same way to drugs as humans do – witness the countless times cancer or another disease has been cured in rodents only to subsequently fail human trials. I have *bolded any human trials.*
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Lifestyle

Fasting/Dietary Restriction – certainly the cheapest & also one of the most effective anti-ageing interventions currently available. It comes in many flavours, but I fast for at least 12 hours every day.
*Effects of short-term dietary restriction on plasma metabolites and the subcutaneous fat area according to metabolic status in obese individuals: a case-control study Full Text
*Time-restricted feeding is associated with mental health in elderly Italian adults
*Effect of 2-year caloric restriction on organ and tissue size in nonobese 21- to 50-year-old adults in a randomized clinical trial: the CALERIE study

Diet – let food be thy medicine…
*Green tea consumption is associated with annual changes in hippocampal volumes: A longitudinal study in community-dwelling middle-aged and older Japanese individuals Full Text
*Adherence to a Mediterranean diet and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional analysis of overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus Full Text
*Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between adherence to Mediterranean diet with physical performance and cognitive function in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Exercise – if you could bottle the benefits of exercise, it would be the biggest blockbuster drug of all time.
*Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity modifies the relationship between sedentary time and sarcopenia: the Tromsø Study 2015–2016 Full Text
*Acute exercise improves glucose and triglyceride metabolism in young and older adults following high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal intake Full Text

Non-prescription Supplements (in alphabetical order)
*Due to concerns about engendering homeostasis, I’ve begun varying my intake of supplements so that I’m not taking all of them every day. Haven’t worked out a rota so far.

Astaxanthin – which is behind the pink colour of salmon & shrimp. Considered the most powerful carotenoid, it has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, neuro-protective and skin-protective qualities. I take 4 or 8 mg intermittently.
The cardioprotective effect of astaxanthin against isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in rats: involvement of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway Full Text
Therapeutic potential of astaxanthin and superoxide dismutase in Alzheimer's disease Full Text

Curcumin – the spice which gives curries their yellow colour. Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective. I take 1 gram intermittently. Needs to be taken with black pepper (piperine) to improve bioavailability.
*Short Term, Oral Supplementation with Optimized Curcumin Does Not Impair Performance Improvements Associated with High Intensity Interval Training
*Curcumin's Effect on Inflammatory Response following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Adult Patients with Stable Coronary Heart Disease
Turmeric and its bioactive constituents trigger cell signaling mechanisms that protect against diabetes and cardiovascular diseases Full Text