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How strong do you think you are?

A study combining data from 12 British studies found that men are stronger than women after adolescence, but both reach peak strength in their thirties before weakening with age. The research provides reference charts for grip strength at different ages, aiding the identification of weak grip strength and potential health risks.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 4, 2014

Blocking pain receptors found to extend lifespan in mammals

Researchers discovered that blocking pain receptors, specifically TRPV1, can extend lifespan in mice by promoting a youthful metabolism and reducing the risk of age-related diseases like diabetes. The study also found that diets rich in capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers, may help improve metabolic health and longevity.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateMay 22, 2014

Experimental drug prolongs life span in mice

A new experimental drug has been developed that inhibits the aging protein PAI-1, quadrupling the lifespan of rapidly aging mice. The drug, TM5441, also protects organs from accelerated aging and may one day be used to treat human diseases like chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 1, 2014

Love is a many-faceted thing

Researchers found that regular churchgoers, married people, and those with harmonious social ties are most satisfied with their love lives. The study also revealed that education does not impact love life satisfaction but religious involvement does, with believers having positive attitudes towards their relationships.

SourceSpringer·JournalApplied Research in Quality of Life·DateApr 9, 2014

Glucosamine promotes longevity by mimicking a low-carb diet

A recent study found that glucosamine supplementation extended the lifespan of nematode worms by 5% and ageing mice by almost 10%, promoting glucose metabolism and protection against diabetes. This effect is comparable to a low-carb diet, suggesting a potential health benefit for humans.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 8, 2014

Flies with brothers make gentler lovers

Researchers at Oxford University found that flies living with their brothers cause less harm to females during courting than those living with unrelated flies. This is because related flies are more relaxed in their mating approach and spend less time harassing females, resulting in fewer fights and reduced fecundity for females.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature·DateJan 22, 2014

Turning off the 'aging genes'

A computer algorithm developed by Tel Aviv University identifies genes that could be transformed to stop the aging process. The algorithm predicts which genes can be turned off to create the same anti-aging effect as calorie restriction, potentially leading to new treatments for aging and other metabolic disorders.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 2, 2014

Aging out of bounds

A study published in Nature has cataloged 46 species with their mortality and fertility rates, revealing extraordinary diversity in aging processes. This challenges current explanations, which predict that the probability of dying rises with age, as seen in humans, but contradicted by species like the desert tortoise and white mangrove.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateDec 9, 2013

Protein interplay in muscle tied to life span

A study at Brown University found a connection between protein quality control in muscle tissue and lifespan in fruit flies. Suppressing the activity of activin, a protein complex involved in muscle performance, increased life span by up to 20%. The researchers also discovered a potential link between this protein interplay and human a...

SourceBrown University·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateNov 14, 2013

Aging really is 'in your head'

Researchers have identified a mechanism by which Sirt1 promotes neural activity in the brain, leading to significant delays in aging and increases in longevity. The study found that mice with increased Sirt1 expression in their brains exhibited dramatic physical changes, including improved muscle structure and vigor.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCell Metabolism·DateSep 3, 2013

A lifespan-extending drug has limited effects on aging

Rapamycin treatment improved memory, reduced thyroid follicle size, and decreased cancer rates in older mice. However, its effects were age-independent, with similar benefits seen in young mice, suggesting a potential use for relieving some age-related conditions.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 25, 2013

Rapamycin: Limited anti-aging effects

Researchers investigated rapamycin's effects on aging in mice, finding that it extends lifespan but has only limited impacts on the aging process. The study assessed over 150 traits and found positive effects on memory impairments and red blood cell counts, but no significant impact on wear and tear or disease risk.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 25, 2013

Boosting 'cellular garbage disposal' can delay the aging process, UCLA biologists report

Researchers found that increasing parkin levels in fruit flies extended their life span by more than 25 percent, reducing damaged proteins and improving mitochondrial function. The study suggests that boosting cellular 'garbage disposal' could delay the onset of aging-related diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 6, 2013

Fewer children mean longer life?

Research from the University of Gothenburg found that birds with few offspring and delayed reproduction have better-protected telomeres, leading to longer lives. This study sheds light on the correlation between reproduction and aging in animals, particularly species like barnacle geese and elephants.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalBMC Evolutionary Biology·DateMar 27, 2013

Stay cool and live longer?

Researchers discovered a genetic program that promotes longevity in roundworms at cold temperatures and found it exists in humans. The study links calcium signaling to aging for the first time, suggesting exposure to cold air or stimulation of this genetic program may promote mammalian longevity.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalCell·DateFeb 14, 2013

A new treatment for kidney disease-associated heart failure?

Researchers at the University of Tübingen found that spironolactone reduces vascular calcification in klotho-hypomorphic mice, a model for chronic kidney disease. This treatment also increases the life span of these mice. The findings have implications for treating cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 9, 2013

Do palm trees hold the key to immortality?

Recent review reveals palm trees have living cells sustained throughout their lifetime, potentially holding the key to longevity and understanding cellular structure in plants. Palm trunks consist of individual cells living for centuries, unlike most long-lived trees with dead woody tissues.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateDec 18, 2012

Grandmas made humans live longer

A new study provides mathematical support for the 'grandmother hypothesis,' which proposes that humans evolved longer adult lifespans due to grandmothers' care. The simulations indicate that with only a little bit of grandmothering, animals with chimpanzee lifespans evolve into humans in less than 60,000 years.

Eunuchs outlive other men

A study of noble Korean males found castrated eunuchs lived 14-19 years longer than other men. The incidence of centenarians among Korean eunuchs is 130 times greater than in developed countries, offering clues to life extension.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 24, 2012