Innovations in longevity

More people than ever before are living past 100 -- but science could take us even farther than that. We look at the latest research and therapies on aging.

Eat a healthy diet. Exercise. Reduce Stress. Don’t smoke. We get a lot of advice about how to delay or slow the aging process, but our bodies still get the better of us in the end. True, we are living longer than our ancestors but eventual decay and illness seem to be hard wired into our genetic code. Lifestyle choices may gain us a few years — but what if science could take us ever farther?

Just a century ago living to 60 was a "ripe old age". Today, it’s not even retirement age. In 2011, the average life expectancy for Canadians is about 81 years, according to estimates from the CIA World Fact Book. Remember, that’s just an average: women can expect to live a little longer — about 84 years — while men lag behind at just under 79 years.

However, read the obituary section and you’ll realize these numbers don’t tell the whole story — more people are living well into their eighties, nineties and beyond. And when experts talk longevity, the numbers get much higher than that.

Here’s a quick look at some of the innovations that may soon extend people’s lives from a century to well beyond.

Caloric restriction

It may be hard to swallow, but caloric restriction (or CR for short) has been found to contribute to longer life spans in animal studies. Contrary to what you might think, the diet regime doesn’t simply mean eating less — adherents do consume fewer calories, but nutrition is never sacrificed. (For instance, followers eat nutrient dense foods like vegetables and lean proteins but forgo simple sugars and flours.)

While research in humans is still ongoing, some studies have found extra benefits in addition to longevity, like reduced risks for heart disease and improved memory. One recent British study even found that eating as little as 600 calories a day for a short period of time can actually reverse type 2 diabetes in some patients. In most cases, CR is a life-long commitment — and one that should only be undertaken with expert supervision.

However, more research still needs to be done. Animals have a shorter lifespan than humans, so it’s easier to see the effects of CR — but the results may not necessarily apply to people. Current research is also looking at different types of dietary restrictions, such as restricting certain kinds of protein to help fight cancer. It could be a long while yet before experts full understand the benefits — and potential pitfalls — of CR in humans.

Like to learn more? For more information, visit the CR Society website.

Gene therapy

Some people age faster than others — but why? And what can we do about it? Genes make a big difference, but we aren’t just talking about the genetic material we inherit from our family. Instead, scientists are taking a close look at the genes that affect aging — or rather, the processes that affect these genes.

Speaking at this year’s ideacity 2011 conference, researcher Stuart Kim explained that our bodies have certain proteins that regulate our genes. If we can pinpoint which genes contribute to age-related decline in our organs — and how these genes speed up or slow down the aging process — we can then find ways to "switch off" genes to extend healthy functioning. It may seem odd to some, but Kim’s research on worms is already showing success in demonstrating how individuals age differently. (His other research examines the effects of aging on the kidney.)

What about humans? Already, over 900 MicroRNAs have been identified in the human genome, according to the American Aging Association. Research is still in early stages, but genes are proving to be a useful tool in investigating the aging process.

Targeting aging with nutrition

Kim’s talk wasn’t the first glimpse we’ve had at research that targets genes. If you’re worried about gene therapy involving expensive and potentially hazardous pharmaceuticals, take note that another body of research focuses on how nutrition impacts our genes. Or, in technical terms, how food and food components act on our genes’ structure and expression.

At ideaCity 2008, researcher Michael Rose explained how nutrigenomics — the study of the relationships between nutrition and genes — could lead to better supplements that essentially stop our genome from killing us with things like heart disease or Alzheimer’s. Not only will these therapies help us live longer, they’ll also make us healthier right now, Rose said.

What’s the difference between nutrigenomics and simply picking up anti-oxidant and omega-3 fatty acid supplements off the shelf? Nutrigenomic supplements won’t be "one size fits all" – they’ll be tailored specifically to a person’s genetic make up. Why? Each individual’s genes react differently to certain nutrients. However, "popping pills" is only one aspect of nutrigenomics: diet will also play a crucial role to help fight damaging oxidation and inflammation.

How close are we to seeing these therapies? Again, the field is still new and there isn’t a whole lot in the way of products or services just yet. However, experts believe the field will be a major player in anti-aging research in the decade to come.

For more information, see our previous article, Can we stop aging?, and The NCMHD Center of Excellence for Nutritional Genomics.

Regenerative medicine

Need to replace a diseased organ or stimulate the body to repair damaged tissues? Stem cell research has been making the news a lot in the past few years, and there are big hopes for therapies to improve our health and thereby extend our lives. For instance, in the future, stem cell therapy could prompt the heart to re-grow tissue damaged by a heart attack, and pancreatic beta cells could help people with type 1 diabetes produce their own insulin. Stem cell therapies may also help battle neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, and help repair damage caused by a stroke.

However, repairing and replacing aren’t the only goals of regenerative medicine. Stem cells also help researchers study the origin of diseases — how they develop and why — to develop better treatments and focus on prevention. Stem cells can also speed up the development of new drugs because they allow researchers to test new therapies on human tissue — and quickly spot which ones are unsafe so time and money aren’t wasted.

(For more information, see The promise of stem cells.)

A question of ethics?

Sounds exciting? Unfortunately, many of these therapies are still at an relatively early stage in their development cycle, so it could be a while before they become widely available. Don’t lose hope — the immediate goal is to extend people’s lives by another 15-20 years so they can take advantage of future breakthroughs. Experts say we can expect to see medical advances coming at an increasingly rapid pace.

But will we be ready to handle them? We’re already dealing with the fact that some people can afford better health care than others — now imagine what happens when life-extending therapies hit the market. What happens when only certain people in certain countries can afford to extend their lives? If subsidies become available, who gets them and who gets to decide? What does increased longevity mean for an already over-crowded and over-extended planet?

Of course, we may not need to worry just yet. As mentioned, many of these therapies are still in their infancy. There’s still a lot that experts don’t know about aging, and specific treatments will have to depend on the age and health of the individual receiving them. Some experts believe we’ll see a revolution in aging well within this century — if we can live long enough to enjoy it.

Photo ©iStockphoto.com/ efesan

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