StemCell Therapy

AI company Lapetus Solutions has been developing analytical solutions for the insurance market that leverage biometric facial recognition with selfies to treat the face as a biomarker of human aging, writes Longevity Technology.

Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Karl Ricanek holds a PhD in computer science and has specifically focused on facial analytics. He founded Lapetus Solutions in 2015 together with Jay Olshansky, professor of gerontology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and founder of the field of biodemography.

Ricanek explained in an interview with Longevity Technology that just 10 years ago, insurance companies created life expectancy models based on blood analysis. In a meeting with life insurance companies, Ricanek heard Olshanskys presentation on people who are biologically aging slower and the indicators on the face that present themselves for long-lived individuals.

Its about understanding your origins, your genes, those things that are just innate in you, Ricanek told the publication. So, it was natural that we would look at the components of the face to understand biological age, or what were now calling in our product, our senescing rate. This is the rate at which youre aging, and it can be faster or slower, or normal. So, if you are senescing slower than normal, it basically means that you are likely to live longer than average. If youre senescing faster, then youre likely to live shorter.

Next year, Lapetus plans to release Janus, a facial analysis product that life insurance companies can integrate with their online application process. The company claims a medical selfie is all it takes for the system to accurately detect gender, age and BMI in less than two minutes. Another feature it is working on is susceptibility to chronic diseases.

After working in AI for some 30 years, Ricanek says that Only now are we getting to the point where the artificial intelligence, the hardware, and the ability to scale it up using cloud technology, has presented itself in such a way that we can solve these really challenging and, before now, just intractable problems.

Lapetus focus areas are longevity risk, life expectancy, medical underwriting and wealth management. Future plans include adding sensory analytics and saliva-based genetic testing, while researching other innovation related to aging measurement.

When you blend all of these things together, we can give you a more detailed picture of your life expectancy and your potential for chronic disease, says Ricanek. We havent done the blending part yet but thatll come next year.

With roughly eight or nine million secured, Lapetus has received support from a number of investors including SixThirtyandPlug and Play.

ageing | artificial intelligence | biometric data | biometrics | face photo | facial recognition | insurance | Lapetus Solutions

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Lapetus Solutions working on biometrics-based selfie face analytics for aging - Biometric Update

Entrepreneur Dave Aspreys end-of-life plans are quite simple, really, even if some of his ambitions sound laughably optimistic to most of us.I want to die at a time and by a method of my own choosing, and keep doing awesome things until that day, he tells me. I dont think its outrageous to believe Ill make it to 180 years old. And if I run out of energy, itll just be because I did too much cool shit for my own good.

Asprey is strolling across his lush property in British Columbia, holding up his phone and pointing out the specimens in this years garden as we chat over Zoom in the midst of the global pandemic. Hes protecting his skin from the sun with a goofy Outdoor Research hat and wearing a long string of beads that he says are each over a hundred years old, from cultures around the world.

Asprey, 48, is the founder of the Bulletproof wellness empire and a vocal champion of the movement to extend human life expectancy beyond 100 years. Hes made millions by experimenting on his own body and packaging his home-brewed discoveries into books, a podcast, consulting services and consumer products (you may have even tried his butter-laced coffee). Asprey, who was a web-security executive before he became the Bulletproof Executive, is just one of a cadre of tech elite who have begun directing their attentionand truckloads of moneytoward the problem of life extension. Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, Sergey Brin, Larry Ellisonname a Silicon Valley A-lister and he or she is likely funding longevity research, experimenting with anti-aging interventions or both. These are the masters of the universe who see no reason they cant take the tech industrys optimization obsession and apply it to the ultimate challenge: conquering death itself.

And their efforts appear to be paying off: Thanks to a recent explosion of advances in longevity medicine, Aspreys vision of living healthfully into his second century might not be so crazy. In fact, for people in middle age right now, a handful of therapies in clinical trials have the potential, for the first time in human history, to radically transform what old age looks like. If the life extensionists are right, a person whos 40 today might reasonably expect to still be downhill skiing, running a 10K or playing singles tennis at 100.

Dave AspreyDave Asprey

If you do anti-aging right, Asprey insists, youll have a level of resilience and energy to fight what comes your way. If you get Covid-19, youre less likely to become very sick. The idea is that at a cellular level, youre making yourself very hard to kill.

The most extreme of the controversial interventions Asprey has undergone involved having stem cells extracted from his own bone marrow and fat and then injected into hundreds of locations on his body. Into every joint, between every vertebra and into my cerebrospinal fluid, face and sex organs, he tells me cheerfully. For what I spent on that, I could have bought a really nicely appointed Tesla.

He trots up a flight of stairs to his home office, which sits above a million-dollar lab filled with health gadgets, such as a cryochamber, a hypoxic trainer and an AI-enabled stationary bike. For a wealthy person, investing in your body should be a major part of your Im rich strategy, he explains. Personally, I think you should be spending at least 2 to 3 percent of your net worth on health and longevity. Get a personal chef who can cook you the right food. Its not that hard.

It might be an exaggeration to say BioViva CEO Liz Parrish believes death is optional, but for her, Aspreys goal of living to 180 shows a distinct lack of ambition. If you can reach homeostasis in the body, Parrish says, where its regenerating itself just a little bit faster than its degrading, then what do you die of? An accident or natural disaster, probably. Theres no expiration date at 90 or 100 years old.

Tall, blond and fit, Parrish cuts a strikingly youthful figure at 49one that might convince you to order whatever shes having. But, like Asprey, she has received criticism from the longevity research community for becoming patient zero in her own experimental drug trial, aimed at halting aging at the cellular level. In 2015, Parrish underwent telomerase and follistatin gene therapies in Bogota, Colombia. The procedures involved receiving around a hundred injections of a cocktail of genes and a virus modified to deliver those new genes into her bodys cells. The objective was to prevent age-related muscle loss and lengthen her telomeres: the caps at the end of our chromosomes. Scientists have identified their unraveling as not only a marker of aging but also a potential cause of age-related decline.

Liz ParrishLiz Parrish

Parrish told the media about her clandestine experiment and has published periodic updates on her condition in the five years since, and she reports that she has indeed increased her muscle mass and lengthened her telomeres. Parrishs punk-rock approach stems from her conviction that the medical-research communityboth the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and researchers who arent business-mindedis moving too slowly, with too much red tape, when it comes to advancing aging therapeutics. But gene therapy is a relatively new area of medicine that brings with it a host of new risks, including cancer, severe immune reactions and infections caused by the viral vector used to deliver the drug.

Parrish downplays such worries. There may be risks, she tells Robb Report. But the known risk is that youre 100 percent likely to die. So you have to decide for yourself if the potential benefit outweighs that.

Humans have always aspired to find the fountain of youth, so people might be skeptical about the fact that anti-aging technologies are working now, says British investor and businessman Jim Mellon. But the fact is that this is finally happening, and we need to seize the moment. Mellon cofounded Juvenescence, a three-year-old pharmaceutical company thats investing in multiple technologies simultaneously to increase the odds of bringing winning products to market.

Mellon, 63, has made his fortune betting on well-timed investment opportunities, and he predicts that a new stock-market mania for life extension is just around the corner. This is like the internet dial-up phase of longevity biotech, he enthuses. If youd invested in the internet in the very early days, youd be one of the richest people on the planet. Were at that stage now, so the opportunity for investors is huge. According to a report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, hes not wrong: The market for technologies to increase human life span is projected to grow sixfold to $610 billion in just the next five years.

When I talk to Mellon in the late spring, hes sequestered on the rugged coast of the Isle of Man, a tiny spit of land in the Irish Sea. Despite being what he describes as imprisoned there for 15 weeksand countingduring the Covid-19 shutdown, hes jovial and chatty and wants to make it clear that his interest in life extension is much more than financial. Working to extend life is an ethical cause, he says. If we can help people to live healthfully until the end of life, well transform the world completely. Well reduce a huge amount of pressure on failing health-care systems, and well have to reimagine pension and life insurance. This should be the number-one tick in anyones investment portfolio.

If youd like to get on board with this social-impact view of longevity, it helps to understand the trajectory of aging today. In Americas most affluent neighborhoods, the average life span is about 88 years. (Meanwhile, in this countrys poorest, it hovers around a meager 66 because of a raft of inequalities, such as diet, stress, smoking, pollution and health care.) For most people, health starts gradually diminishing in the last 15 years of life with the onset of chronic conditions, including arthritis, neurodegeneration and diabetes. If we could eliminate such diseases of aging, experts say, the US could save an estimated $7.1 trillion in health-care costs over the next 50 years. (Quite where all these sprightly centenarians might live on this already densely populated planet remains to be seen.)

Jim MellonEric Verdin

One of Mellons bets is on a class of drugs called senolytics, which destroy senescent cells: the so-called zombie cells that, for complex reasons, stop dividing as we age. Senescent cells harm the body by secreting compounds that cause inflammation in surrounding tissues. Many age-related conditionsarthritis, diabetes, Alzheimers, cancerhave an inflammatory component, and studies suggest that a buildup of senescent cells is a large part of the problem.

A number of biotech start-ups are devel- oping drugs that target cell senescence, but the furthest along is Unity Biotechnology, a company in South San Francisco that has three drugs in clinical trials to address aging conditions, starting with osteoar- thritis of the knee. Unity raised more than $200 million from such big names as Thiel and Bezos, who chipped in through their investment firms, before going public in 2018. Since then, Mellon has also bought a small stake.

The holy grail of senolytics will be the development of a preventive therapy to wipe out senescent cells in the body before they cause conditions of aging, theoretically extending life span. In June, a team from Sloan Kettering published new breakthrough research showing that CAR T cellstypically used for precision cancer therapycan also be used to target and kill senescent cells. Prescription senolytics for anti-aging therapy are still years away, but unsurprisingly, theres an audience of longevity enthusiasts who want to access such anti-aging miracles yesterdayand no shortage of FDA-unapproved ways to chase after them. For instance, after a few studies examined the senolytic effects of a chemotherapy drug called dasatinib, the website FightAging.org published a step-by-step guide to senolytic self-experimentation using chemotherapeutics.

It doesnt take a Ph.D. in biochemistry to guess that taking off-label chemo drugs might come with harmful side effects, but that hasnt stopped a zealous group of body-hackers from trying it themselves and chronicling their efforts online. The internet is littered with novice longevity adviceand sketchy anti-aging companies eager to separate the hopeful and desperate from their money, like the company that charges $8,000 for transfusions of plasma from the blood of teenagers and early-twentysomethings (yes, just like Gavin Belson on HBOs Silicon Valley). Many of these are at best ineffective and at worst deadly, since the same cellular systems that fuel growth in young people might cause cancer when tipped into overdrive. Imagine the tragic irony of paying tens of thousands for a therapy that promises to help you live longer but actually causes the cancer that kills you.

Adobe

Beyond the obvious red flags of repurposed chemo drugs and the bloodletting of teens, it can be difficult for a layperson to separate the world-changing longevity breakthroughs from the terrible ideas. Enter one of the worlds leading experts on longevity to help make sense of things.

Eric Verdin, 63, is president and CEO of the Buck Institute, a globally renowned center for aging research just outside San Francisco in Marin County. Verdin is bullish on the promise of living healthfully to at least 100. Today. But 180? Dont count on it. My prediction, based on everything we know today, is that getting to 120 is about the best we can do for the foreseeable future. Ill bet my house were not going to see anyone live to 180 for another 200 years, if ever, he says. But making everyone a healthy centenarian, this is something we can do today. And thats something to be excited about.

Verdins own lab at the Buck Institute studies the aging immune system and how its affected by lifestyle factors, such as nutrition and exercise. Informed by this research, Verdin follows a time-restricted diet in which he eats all of his meals in an eight-to-nine-hour window (similar to the Buchinger Wilhelmi process) and gets plenty of exercise mountain biking in Marins steep hills. The good news is that over 90 percent of what causes diseases of aging is environmental, and that means its within your control, he says.

But he emphasizes that responsible management of your health comes with limits, like avoiding experimental therapies. A group of people have decided to try some expensive and dangerous interventions, but there is zero evidence that any of these are going to help them live longer, he says. The problem, according to Verdin, is that the results of aging interventions in mouse trials can look very promising but rarely translate to success in humans. Theres a huge delta between the health of a stressed lab mouse and an optimally healthy mouse, Verdin says. So when you treat lab mice with longevity therapeutics, you see an outsized result that doesnt at all guarantee the same result in humans.

On the other hand, Verdin tells Robb Report, there are definitely new protocols worth getting excited about. Take, for instance, rapalogs, a class of drugs that interact with a protein called mTOR, which serves as a linchpin for multiple critical biological processes, including cell growth and metabolism. Rapalog drugs tamp down mTOR, possibly preventing age-related diseases such as diabetes, stroke and some cancers. The drug rapamycin, the most heavily studied formula, was approved in the US in 1999 to help prevent organ-transplant rejection. Last year the medical journal Aging published a rapturous opinion piece by oncologist Mikhail Blagosklonny in which he made the case that rapamycinin small or intermittent dosesis effective as a preventive treatment to ward off diseases of aging, and that, in the elderly, not taking rapamycin may be even more dangerous than smoking.

Eric VerdinJim Hughes Photography

Later this year, a biotech firm called resTORbio, which was spun out of the Swiss-based Big Pharma company Novartis in 2017, is expected to seek FDA approval for its rapalog RTB101, which clinical trials have shown to slow age-related decline of the immune system and improve immune response in elderly people by more than 20 percent, a key factor in protecting vulnerable aging populations from disease. (It is currently in trials on elderly patients with Covid-19.) This is the furthest-along program of anything in the aging field, Joan Mannick, cofounder and chief medical officer of resTORbio, told MIT Technology Review last year. If health authorities approve this drug well have a product for people to prevent age-related diseases. Not just in our lifetime, but in, you know, a few years.

One of the many effects of rapamycin is that it mimics the mechanisms of calorie restriction. As Verdins lab and others have shown, fasting provides a number of anti-aging benefits, including insulin regulation, reduced inflammation and, to put it colloquially, clearing out the gunky by-products of metabolismpart of the reason Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and other tech titans eat just a few meals per week. For lesser mortals, fasting is extremely hard to commit to and not much fun, hence the huge interest in calorie-restriction mimetics like rapamycin, which provide all the benefits without the downer not-eating part.

Of all the calorie-restriction mimetics, the one sparking the most excitement among longevity researchers is already on the market: metformin, a decades-old diabetes drug. Metformin became a part of the Silicon Valley health regimen several years ago after an epidemiological study showed that Type 2 diabetics who took the drug lived longer than non-diabetics who didnt. Just about everyone in the longevity industry takes metformin, Verdin tells me. He takes it himself, and nearly everybody I interviewed is taking or has taken it, too.

In April, Nir Barzilai, the renowned endocrinologist who spearheaded research on the anti-aging properties of metformin, announced in an opinion piece he co-authored in the journal Cell Metabolism that his lab is launching a large clinical trial to investigate the anti-aging effects of the drug on non-diabetic populations. Barzilais goal is to prove to the FDA that aging itselfrather than conditions associated with it, like Alzheimers and arthritiscan be targeted as a disease. If Barzilai is successful and the FDA approves aging as a treatment indication, the process of bringing longevity therapies to market would accelerate rapidly.

Just as the FDA was able to move faster to bring Covid-19 therapies to market this year, we will reach a tipping point when public opinion pushes the FDA to approve aging as an indication, and the longevity-research field will make leaps as a result, Mellon says. He has contributed funding to Barzilais metformin research, which he believes will be instrumental in proving that there are compounds that can extend human life across the board.

The fact of the matter is that the US has the best regulatory system for new drug development in the world, Mellon says. Were in the first era ever when humans can be bioengineered to live longer. And in 10 years, well have solutions that are even better than today. Just wait, its coming.

Liz Parrish

Jim Mellon

Diet:Vegetarian.Mindfulness practice:Nightly meditation.

Exercise regimen:30 minutes of cardio and 10 minutes of weights,five days a week.

Anti-aging Rx:Regenerative gene therapies. Im certain most peoplewill take them in the next couple decades.

180th-birthday wish:Solving another critical issue.

Sleep routine:7.5 hours plus a 30-minute nap; in bed by 9 p.m.

Vitamins/supplements/ prescription meds:Vitamins D and B12, metformin.

Exercise regimen:Walk or run minimum 10,000 steps a day;weights three times week.

Anti-aging Rx:Green tea.

100th-birthday wish:Another 25 years.

Dave Asprey

Jim Hughes Photography

180th-birthday wish:Either a cruise to Mars or a 1970 Mustang Fastback,which by then will be 210 years old!

Sleep Routine:Avoid: coffee after 2 p.m., heavy workouts after 6 p.m.,alcohol during the week and heavy eating in the evening.

Vitamins/supplements:Vitamin D, omega fatty acids, NMN, citrus bioflavonoidcomplex, fiber supplement, prebiotic supplement.

Diet:Fasting-mimicking diet once every four to six months;roughly 16:8 intermittent fasting at other times.

Mindfulness practice:Daily meditation.

Anti-aging Rx:I love cooking and eating, so I do not restrict foodon the weekend. Happiness with friends and family is thesurest path to longevity.

100th-birthday wish:A bike tour across the US, from coast to coast.

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Why Silicon Valley Execs Are Investing Billions to Stay Young - Robb Report

A Washburn woman with a reputation for kindness and hard work is celebrating a century alive, and letters of congratulations are coming from all over.

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine A Washburn woman with a reputation for kindness and hard work is celebrating a century alive, and letters of congratulations are coming from all over.

The Presque Isle Rehab and Nursing Center held a 100th birthday party for Dorothy Dot Sperrey on July 24. Wearing a tiara and a sash that read 100 and fabulous, she received well-wishes from dozens of residents as well as some high-ranking officials among her 75 birthday cards included one from Sen. Susan Collins. President Donald Trump also sent a letter of congratulations.

A litany of nursing home staff attended as family members watched from outside unable to enter because of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a sign of the times for a woman who has lived a lifetime of history.

On July 25, 1920, Sperrey was born into a vastly different Aroostook County and United States. The president was Woodrow Wilson, alcohol was illegal nationwide and women were only given the right to vote 24 days after Sperreys birth.

Dorothy Sperrey, right, appears in a photo from around 1941. Sperrey was around 21 at the time. (Reproduction by David Marino Jr.)

She is one of very few Americans who can vividly recall scenes of the 1920s. Her earliest memory is watching her mother nurse her newly born sister, Naida, around 1922. She remembers when her family got their first car in 1928 for $800 (about $12,000 adjusted for inflation). It was great to have their only previous mode of transportation was by horse.

In her teens, Sperrey worked on the historic Benjamin C. Wilder House on Main Street in Washburn, now a museum. Sperrey would clean, do laundry, cook and watch children in the home, at the time owned by the Jardine Family. Her work at the house introduced her to her eventual husband, Atwood Sperrey.

Sperrey, whose maiden name is Valley, married Atwood on April 20, 1939. They would remain married for more than 73 years, raising six children before his death in 2012. It is likely one of the longest lasting marriages in The Countys recent history.

Announcement of a bridal shower held for Dorothy Valley (later Sperrey) from a Star-Herald article published on April 6, 1939. She would get married exactly two weeks later. (Digital Archives, Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library)

The Sperreys were an agricultural family that raised potatoes, peas and oats. Dorothy took an active role on the family farm, waking up at the crack of dawn to cut seed in the spring and harvest in the fall while doing all the cooking and cleaning required around the house as she raised half a dozen children.

Sperrey loved to cook her homemade chocolate doughnuts were well-known amongst family members make crafts and crochet. Religion was also an important aspect of her and her familys life. A longtime member of the Washburn Pentecostal Church, she often hosted traveling missionaries from South Asia and Africa. Now unable to read the Bible, her daughter Connie reads passages to her every night.

Her generosity is well-known in the Washburn community. One day, a school bus broke down near her home during one of Aroostook Countys notorious winter storms. As Sperrey recalls, she let the dozens of children inside, keeping them warm and even baking Rice Krispie squares for all of them. Her kindness wasnt forgotten one of those students sent Sperrey a birthday card celebrating her achievement.

Sperreys daughter, Anita McLellan, said that her mother has no life-threatening health issues and takes very little medication. There are other examples of longevity in their family: a few of her mothers siblings had lived into their 90s, including Naida Valley Parks, 97, who lives in Caribou.

People aged 100 or older, known as centenarians, make up an exclusive and miniscule subsection of the American population in 2014, there were only about 72,197, according to federal data. Sperrey attributed her longevity to living a clean life inspired by her upbringing.

My mother and father never smoked or drank or anything like that, and they never said you should do this or that, Sperrey said. But, we just knew by their example what they stood for, and we stood for that.

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Washburn woman who was born before women had the right to vote turns 100 - The County

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The DTE Training and Development Center off Cherry Hill Road. (Photo: JOHN HEIDER | hometownlife.com)

In government, taxes make the world go round.

Last year, the City of Westland collected$93,879,944in taxes between the summer and winter collections. Over $7.5 million of that came from just 10 businesses. These businesses employ, house, power and receive business from residents of the city and its surrounding communities.

Taxes bring in money that help fundcities, schools, librariesand more. It's up to elected officials to decide how that money is spent.

"In Michigan, it's generally around 60 to 70 percent of their operating budget," said Tim Hodge, a professor of economics at Oakland University."Property taxes make up the lion's share."

In Westland, those big payers include DTE Energy, the Westland Mall, Consumers Energy and a number of apartment complexes.

Westland Shopping Center off Warren Road.(Photo: JOHN HEIDER | hometownlife.com)

A property's tax billis determined by its taxable value;which is determined by things likelongevity of the owner, inflationandmarket value;multiplied by the various millage rates landowners pay.

"Whatever the millage rates are for the city, the schools, the county, the community colleges, all of those are put on there and calculated based on the taxable value of the property," Steve Smith, Westland's finance director, said.

Because ownership longevity is a factor, two properties that serve the same function might have two very different tax bills.

"You can't compare a taxable value on a property from one to the other even if they're the exact same structure," Jennifer Stamper, Westland's city assessor, said."They may have been sold at different times, which is going to affect the taxable value, one may have added a small addition to it that changes the value."

Westland's Westwood Village appartments. (Photo: JOHN HEIDER | hometownlife.com)

Businesses can appeal their state equalized value with their state, which, if lowered, can lower their taxable value and therefore their tax bill. But according to Stamper, exemptions are few and far between.

According to the state department of treasury, none of Westland's top 10 taxpayers were approved for any of Michigan's major exemptions during either collection in 2019.

"There are certain exemptions under state law, but they are very few," Stamper said."We as a city cannot just decide that we're going to give an exemption on a certain property because we feel like we want to help them out."

Stamper and Smith said the city cannot decide how much a landowner pays in property taxes, no matter how much business certain properties may bring to the city.

"We can't arbitrarily decide what to charge them for taxes," Smith said."It's all based on formulas and laws."

Contact reporterShelby Tankersley at stankersle@hometownlife.com or 248-305-0448. Follow her on Twitter@shelby_tankk.

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Show me the money: Here's who pays the most property taxes in Westland - Hometown Life

As Buettner shares on the mindbodygreen podcast, oregano, sage, or rosemary (or a combo of all three!) make for quite the beneficial sip. "All three of those herbs are anti-inflammatory," he notes."They're also diuretic, so they can lower your blood pressure."

Take a peek at the research: Studies have shown that the flavonoids and phenolic acid in an oregano brew can help manage inflammatory conditions and oxidative stress; similarly, rosemary tea is touted for its antimicrobial properties, and sage has been shown to lower blood sugar levels.

If you're well-versed in the benefits of herbal tea, this recipe for longevity might not feel incredibly groundbreaking. But, as Buettner says, it's not just the herbs themselves that lend so many benefitsit's the fact that people drink them all day, every day that makes them so powerful.

During his anthropological adventure to discover the aforementioned Blue Zones, Buettner noticed that communities (specifically small villages in Korea) who lived well into the autumn of life were sipping these brews all day long. "Because they couldn't afford coffee, they were drinking these teas," he adds. "It's not because they drink these teas once in a while but because they drink them every day for years or decades that probably is adding to their longevity."

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So "Longevity Tea" Is A Thing & It's Easier To Make Than You'd Expect - mindbodygreen.com

The FutureBrand Index 2020 has just been released, the first comprehensive global study into the perception of global brands since the outbreak of COVID-1. And the findings show well-perceived companies can consistently align the full picture of the experiences they create with their wider corporate purpose.

FutureBrand AU CEO, Rich Curtis, told CMO brands that develop and deliver distinctive strategies and unconventional thinking perform more strongly than other brands. And in 2020, its strongly related to the coronavirus pandemic that has profoundly affected peoples lives and the new demands or expectations which have been placed upon how people buy, work, play, study and live.

We can see in this study that those brands able to take the opportunity to stand apart, and do so in a way that is authentic to who they are and what they do, outperform other brands, Curtis said.

Curtis cited the example of Netflix, which has moved beyond being a technology outfit or a streaming business, and has successfully built an emotional connection with customers through a distinctive strategy to market.

The FutureBrand Index is a global perception study that reorders PwCs Global Top 100 Companies by Market Cap on perception strength rather than financial strength. One theme stood out beyond all others, and that is individuality. The report said its a quality that distinguishes an entity from others of the same kind.

The research was conducted during the initial weeks of lockdown, as the world adjusted to a new way of living and working, to tap decision-makers about their thinking in the here and now and into the future.

The research has also identified several other themes common to companies with strong positive perceptions. Prioritising customers and their needs, even if it means forging a different path to rival firms, is one of these. And in a time of an ongoing health crisis, those companies in healthcare rate highly, along with those that care about employees as they do their customers, including a firm commitment to diversity and inclusion feature high up on the list.

Those companies which realise the true value of an open culture that fosters a happy and productive workforce and the ones that embrace innovation, change and agility to maintain resilience in the face of fast-moving, sector-specific, national and international events also have the right ingredients for positive brand perception.

In particular, Curtis said its about an organisation having a clear sense of purpose. With the COVID-19 context, it's especially important to have a clarity of purpose and mission.

A good example of that is the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Because it has that clarity of purpose, people feel engaged and kind of bound on to that organisation. And it is able to communicate very openly and very authentically with its own employees about what is happening at the moment and what it is doing, he explained to CMO.

Looking ahead, Curtis said for organisations to survive, and even thrive, throughout and beyond the pandemic where well-being and healthcare have been elevated, forging an emotional connection is all powerful.

That is most certainly an enduring dynamic in building successful brands, he added.

Follow CMO on Twitter:@CMOAustralia, take part in the CMO conversation on LinkedIn:CMO ANZ,follow our regular updatesvia CMO Australia's Linkedin company page, or join us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/CMOAustralia.

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Study: Emotional connection key to brand longevity - CMO

In my previous two articles, I focused on the social and dietary influences on longevity. This week I will be looking at the impact of the environment on our life expectancy. How timely then, to build on the positive effects of the recent pandemic on the change in our behaviours. Over the last 5 months of lockdown, we have experienced a dramatic improvement in air quality and climate change. There has never been a better time to take responsibility for both our health and our planet.

Below, I have attempted to provide the latest understanding of the environment on our health and advise how to mitigate the risks:1.Air quality: In Europe alone, there have been thousands of fewer deaths as a result of reduced road traffic and industrial emissions due to the recent lockdown. This is largely due to the dangerous effect particulates have on our respiratory and cardiovascular systems. London has had some of the highest levels of Nitrogen Dioxide pollution in the world (just behind Beijing and New Dehli). However, the Mayor of London has made significant improvements to reduce harmful emissions (by up to 20% in the last 4 years). In addition to this, electric and hybrid vehicles could not come at a better time.2.Sun exposure: This will not only make you look older, but will cause damage to the skins genetic material and put you at risk of skin cancer. You should use a daily facial moisturiser of at least spf30 and a similar spf for your body if you are exposed. Lighter skin will require higher spf. It is a delicate balance, as the sun is also important for Vitamin D production, and one study has actually shown increased longevity with sun exposure (only by 7 months), which may be a result of those who have healthier diets, higher Vitamin D or more active lifestyles.3.Smoking: This goes without saying. There is also a non-linear relationship to the amount smoked, so even smoking a couple of cigarettes per day can have significant risks. Thankfully, the smoking ban in public places has reduced the risks of passive smoking.4.Light emission: This is a theoretical risk from backlit screens, as it impacts on your internal body clock (Circadian Rhythm) and can disrupt sleep, a factor in longevity. I would recommend wearing blue-light filter glasses after sunset, and change the settings on your phone/devices to night shift which cuts down the blue light emissions. Ideally, one should not use backlit screens within 2 hours of bedtime.5.Background radiation: Predominantly from X-rays or CT scans, although the radiation for different procedures vary widely, and usually the benefit outweighs the risk. Radon occurs naturally in the ground and areas such as Cornwall have high levels, contributing to higher levels of lung cancer, but these risks are still relatively small. We are also exposed to radiation when flying. A return transatlantic flight is the equivalent of one Chest X-ray. However, this amount of radiation is still extremely small, and unless you were travelling extensively, it would have very little overall effect. There has been a lot of debate around the effect of wireless radiation from high mobile phone use. The jury is still out and the WHO have categorized it as possibly carcinogenic , but the Health Protection Agency has found no consistent evidence that it is harmful.6.Higher Altitudes: it is difficult to know if this is due to the cleaner air, but many communities in the Blue Zones who live beyond the average life expectancy, are in mountainous regions.7.Pesticides: These have evolved over the decades, and we no longer use highly toxic pesticides such as DDT, which is still detectable in peoples bodies, even now. The regulation has become much stricter, so the residue found on produce is hundreds of times lower than the amount known to cause harm. There is ongoing debate over the advantages of organic natural over synthetic pesticides and if there is any significant benefit. It is still advisable to wash your fruit and vegetables, but mostly to prevent infections such as Coronavirus, Norovirus or E.Coli.8.The Hygiene Hypothesis: Is a popular belief that we are over sanitised leading to a dysfunctional immune system. This is a misnomer, as it is more related to changes in our diet and urban lifestyle than being too hygienic. It is a complex argument, suggesting a lack of exposure to healthy micro-organisms early in life (particularly in relation to our gut flora), which are important in shaping our immune system. Manipulation of our environment over the past century may have led to a rise in allergies and auto-immune conditions. Research has been looking at the role of probiotics in helping with this.

If you look after your environment, your environment will look after you.

Written by Dr Tim Lebens, a private GP in Central London, with a subspecialty in health optimisation and latest advances in medicine. http://www.drlebens.com

Read more from the original source:
How to live to 100: why our environment affects longevity - Tatler

In ones quest to find solutions to help live a long and disease-free life, numerous theories and suggestions have been declared. Intermittent fasting has gained much notoriety over the pastyear,and according to leading healthexperts, this type of eatingcould be the answer to helping you boost your life longevity. How?

A review of past animal and human studies in The New England Journal of Medicine recommend adopting a way of eating known as intermittent fasting which can help reduce blood pressure, aid in weight loss and improve longevity.

Alternating between fasting and eating can help to improve cellular health.

Professor Mark Mattson from John Hopkins University said the way of eating can help to trigger a metabolic switch.

In metabolic switching, cells use up their fuel stores and convert fat to energy this in turns helps fat to switch from fat-storing to fat-saving and has many health benefits.

The way of eating involves daily-time restricted feeding.

This narrows the time of eating to six to eight hours per day which is also known as 5:2 intermittent fasting, in which people limit themselves to one moderate-sized meal two days each week.

Findings on intermittent fasting range in the diets effectiveness, but some studies in animals and humans have linked the practice to longer lives, healthier hearts and improved cognition.

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When finding benefits of the diet, looking at different countries who adopt this way of eating as a norm often helps.

Residents of Okinawa are known for their extreme longevity and low-calorie, nutrient-rich diet.

Their way of eating has been suggested to help contribute to their long-life spans, low number of obesity and reduced risk of diseases.

Professor Mattson says studies have shown that this switch improves blood sugar regulation, increases resistance to stress and suppresses inflammation.

The professor notes that four studies in both animals and people found intermittent fasting also helped to decrease blood pressure, blood lipid levels and resting heart rates.

Preliminary studies suggest that intermittent fasting could benefit brain health too.

A clinical trial at the University of Toronto found that 220 healthy adults who maintained a calorie restricted diet for two years showed signs of improved memory in a battery of cognitive tests.

Professor Mattson added: Patients should be advised that feeling hungry and irritable is common initially and usually passes after two weeks to a month as the body and brain become accustomed to the new habit.

Mattson suggests a gradual acclimation to fasting rather than going cold turkey will help with this.

Mattsonalsohopes this study will give better insight to physicians, who can pass that guidance on to their patients.

For an added benefit, eating a Mediterranean diet during the eating phasecouldnot only boost longevity but improve heart health too.

Read the original:
How to live longer: Diet shown to burn fat, improve heart health and to boost longevity - Express

People who live in the worlds Blue Zoneslike Sardinia, Italy and Okinawa, Japanhave perfected the art of staying alive and well. Longevity expert Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones Kitchen, has made studying these superhumans and their wellness practices his lifes work. During a recent online master class on all things immortality (I mean, er, longevity) hosted by the Global Wellness Institute, Buettner said that one everyday outdoor activity sets the folks in the Blue Zones up for thriving well into their triple-digits: gardening.

[In] all Blue Zones, people continue to garden even into their 90s and 100s, said Buettner. Gardening is the epitome of a Blue Zone activity because its sort of a nudge: You plant the seeds and youre going to be nudged in the next three to four months to water it, weed it, harvest it. And when youre done, youre going to eat an organic vegetable, which you presumably like because you planted it. That means gardening hits three of the nine Blue Zones pillars of healthy living in just one activity: one, move naturally; two, manage your stress; and three, eat mostly plants.

Gardening ticks the first box, move naturally, because it calls for incorporating movement into your daily tasks (like walking to work or biking to the grocery store) rather than, say, setting aside an hour aside for a HIIT workout. As Emily Kiberd, DC, founder of New York CitysUrban Wellness Clinic, previously told Well+Good: Their lives are dynamic. Not a constant go, go, go, but a mix of movement, then rest. You can water your plants, then dive back into the book you were reading or go back to work with the energy granted to you by a small burst of movement.

Meanwhile, research has also suggested that planting flowers, herbs, or fruits and veggies also plants the seeds for good mental health (fulfilling that second Blue Zones pillar). Gardening has been found to delay symptoms of dementia. Green exercise, aka doing physical activity while exposed to or in nature, has been linked to longevity, and theres no discounting the fact that youll quickly rack up your 150 minutes of government-recommended exercise each week as you tend to your plant babies (which is also a win for your brains well-being).

Last, but certainly not least, is the fact that having a garden make it easier to access fresh, whole foods. As Buettner pointed out, planting your own fruits and veggies delivers you one step closer to actually eating them. What you do choose to plant and harvest will contribute to the overall diversity of your diet. That a big deal, when you consider that 2018 research found that people with the healthiest, most diverse guts ate 30 or more different types of plants per week. Plant your garden right, and at least a large fraction of the gut-friendly plants in your diet could be hand-grown.

If you dont know the first thing about buying seeds, soil, fertilizer, and all that jazz, remember that gardening doesnt have to be as complicated as purchasing an acre of farmland. For one thing, you could try sprouting: an easy, indoor method for growing your own grains, beans, legumes, or veggies. This also allows you to eat your plants when theyre young and thus more nutrient-dense than they would be otherwise.

If you have some backyard or balcony space and thus have more room for planting (either in the ground or in planters), consider this your motivation to brush up on the basics of not-killing-things and really do your research as far as what should be planted when, how the heck you should water your little seeds, and the perfect sunlight-to-shade ratio. To really feel like youre becoming a student of the plant kingdom, you can even sign up for one of these online gardening workshops to make your love for the activity blossom.

Should you find yourself feeling stuck, just remember: The people of the Blue Zones had to start from scratch to earn the green thumbs they have today. And hey, with any luck, youll have one hundred years to learn how to plant, care for, harvest, and eat the perfect tomato.

Read the original here:
This One Activity Ticks Off 3 of the Blue Zones Markers of Longevity - Well+Good

Bats which are the carrier of deadly viruses that affect humans like Ebola, rabies, and possibly the SARS-CoV-2 strain of virus that causes coronavirus. However, these viruses have not killed bats but humans. Also Read - Vivek Oberoi Wishes Speedy Recovery For Aishwarya Rai And The Entire Bachchan Family

Bats are remarkably able to tolerate viruses, and, additionally, live much longer than similar-sized land mammals. What are the secrets to their longevity and virus resistance? Also Read - Punjab Lockdown Extension News: State to Further Impose Restrictions to Contain Coronavirus

According to researchers at the University of Rochester in the US, bats longevity and capacity to tolerate viruses may stem from their ability to control inflammation, which is a hallmark of disease and aging. Also Read - Coronavirus in Maharashtra: 7827 Fresh Cases, 173 Deaths in 24 Hours; Caseload at 254427, Fatalities Over 10000

In a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, biology professors Vera Gorbunova and Andrei Seluanov described the mechanisms underlying bats unique abilities and how these mechanisms may hold clues to developing new treatments for diseases in humans.

There may be a very strong connection between bats resistance to infectious diseases and their longevity. We also realised that bats can provide clues to human therapies used to fight diseases, said Gorbunova.

The scientists, along with colleague Brian Kennedy, director of the Centre for Healthy Aging at the National University of Singapore, got to talking about bats.

Unlike humans, bats have developed specific mechanisms that reduce viral replication and also dampen the immune response to a virus.

The result is a beneficial balance: their immune systems control viruses but at the same time, do not mount a strong inflammatory response.

Another factor may be their environment.

Many species of bats live in large, dense colonies, and hang close together on cave ceilings or in trees. Those conditions are ideal for transmitting viruses and other pathogens.

Bats are constantly exposed to viruses. They are always flying out and bringing back something new to the cave or nest, and they transfer the virus because they live in such close proximity to each other, said Seluanov.

Because bats are constantly exposed to viruses, their immune systems are in a perpetual arms race with pathogens.

Usually the strongest driver of new traits in evolution is an arms race with pathogens. Dealing with all of these viruses may be shaping bats immunity and longevity.

However, the study does not suggest for humans to toss their masks and crowd together in restaurants and movie theatres.

Evolution takes place over thousands of years, rather than a few months.

While humans may be developing social habits that parallel those of bats, we have not yet evolved bats sophisticated mechanisms to combat viruses as they emerge and swiftly spread.

The consequences may be that our bodies experience more inflammation, said Gorbunova.

Studying bats immune systems will provide new targets for human therapies to fight diseases and aging, said researchers.

For example, bats have mutated or completely eliminated several genes involved in inflammation; scientists can develop drugs to inhibit these genes in humans.

Read the original post:
Bats Have Allegedly Carried Deadly Coronavirus But Not Succumbed to it Because of THIS reason - India.com

Representational image

Bats are carriers of deadly viruses that affect humans like Ebola, rabies, and possibly the SARS-CoV-2 strain of virus that causes coronavirus. However, these viruses have not killed bats but humans.

Bats are remarkably able to tolerate viruses, and, additionally, live much longer than similar-sized land mammals. What are the secrets to their longevity and virus resistance?

According to researchers at the University of Rochester in the US, bats' longevity and capacity to tolerate viruses may stem from their ability to control inflammation, which is a hallmark of disease and aging.

In a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, biology professors Vera Gorbunova and Andrei Seluanov described the mechanisms underlying bats' unique abilities and how these mechanisms may hold clues to developing new treatments for diseases in humans.

"There may be a very strong connection between bats' resistance to infectious diseases and their longevity. We also realised that bats can provide clues to human therapies used to fight diseases," said Gorbunova.

The scientists, along with colleague Brian Kennedy, director of the Centre for Healthy Aging at the National University of Singapore, got to talking about bats.

Unlike humans, bats have developed specific mechanisms that reduce viral replication and also dampen the immune response to a virus.

The result is a beneficial balance: their immune systems control viruses but at the same time, do not mount a strong inflammatory response.

Another factor may be their environment.

Many species of bats live in large, dense colonies, and hang close together on cave ceilings or in trees. Those conditions are ideal for transmitting viruses and other pathogens.

"Bats are constantly exposed to viruses. They are always flying out and bringing back something new to the cave or nest, and they transfer the virus because they live in such close proximity to each other," said Seluanov.

Because bats are constantly exposed to viruses, their immune systems are in a perpetual arms race with pathogens.

"Usually the strongest driver of new traits in evolution is an arms race with pathogens. Dealing with all of these viruses may be shaping bats' immunity and longevity".

However, the study does not suggest for humans to toss their masks and crowd together in restaurants and movie theatres.

Evolution takes place over thousands of years, rather than a few months.

While humans may be developing social habits that parallel those of bats, we have not yet evolved bats' sophisticated mechanisms to combat viruses as they emerge and swiftly spread.

"The consequences may be that our bodies experience more inflammation," said Gorbunova.

Studying bats' immune systems will provide new targets for human therapies to fight diseases and aging, said researchers.

For example, bats have mutated or completely eliminated several genes involved in inflammation; scientists can develop drugs to inhibit these genes in humans.

Read the original:
Here's How Bats Survive Novel Coronavirus and Other Deadly Viruses - The Weather Channel

(Shenandoah) Its no doubt that most people getting into broadcasting were influenced by the people they watched or listened to growing up.

Looking back to my formative ears, I can point to a number of legendary figures that put the bug in my earand in my mindto consider a career in broadcast journalism. Walter Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley, Frank McGee, Peter Jennings, Jules Bergman, Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather. All but the last two luminaries are gone now.

Sadly, one by one, the faces and voices of my early years are disappearing. Earlier this month, I lost another one of my heroes with the passing of Hugh Downs.

Tributes to one of Americas most ubiquitous media personalities have been numerous since Downs passing July 1st. In fact, writing my own particular salute in last weeks blog would have saved me loads of trouble. But, I digress. I still wanted to express my own appreciation to another career role model.

Its a good bet that no broadcaster was more versatile than Hugh Downs. He was more than a news anchor. He was an announcer, a game show host, an actor and a musician. Its safe to say he put 150 years of living in 99. Consider all of his lifes accomplishments:

---Downs cut his teeth at radio and TV stations in Chicago in the 1940s and 50s. He was an alum of the so-called Chicago School of Television, ushering in a more conversational style of communications.

---He made his early mark in network broadcasting as announcer on the childrens TV series Kukla, Frank and Ollie, on the NBC daytime program Home, and on the landmark NBC weekend radio program, Monitor.

---He moved on to become Jack Paars sidekick on NBCs Tonight Show from 1957-to-62. In fact, Downs took over as host unexpectedly one night when Paar suddenly quit. Paar walked off after learning NBC deleted a joke from the previous nights program about a water closet (which is now considered pretty tame, compared to todays radio and TV humor). Paar came back a month later.

---From 1958-to-69, Downs hosted the NBC game show Concentration. Thats the show in which you had solve a rebus puzzle after matching prizes concealed behind a board with 30 numbers. Many a child of the 1960s watched the show on sick days or snow days.

---In 1962, Downs began a nine-year stint as host of NBCs Today Show. Downs guided the early-morning program through the turbulent 1960s. He actually hosted the first Saturday edition of Today the morning after President Kennedys assassination in 1963. It was on that fateful program that a young, aspiring writer named Barbara Walters made one of her first TV appearances. Teamed with Walters, Jack Lescoulie, Joe Garagiola, and Frank Blair, Downs helped make Today required viewing in the 60s.

---Downs was a huge space program buff. He anchored a special edition of Today from the Kennedy Space Center on the morning of Apollo 11s launch. He was the announcer on a special record with audio highlights of the first moon landing.

---Tired of the early-morning grind, Downs left Today in 1971, and retired in Arizona. Not so fast. In 1978, ABC News asked Downs to take over as anchor of its struggling news magazine, 20/20. Thus began another long run, cementing Downs legendary status. He was later reunited with Barbara Walters, giving 20/20 that same sense of magic the two created during their Today years.

---Downs was never afraid to take risks, or do something daring. His Today years included memorable interviews with actress Bette Davis, Martin Luther King Jr., and Dr. Timothy Leary. While on 20/20, Downs flew a Space Shuttle simulator, and went deep sea diving with great white sharks. He even filed a story on his own knee replacement surgery, watching the surgery as it was happening. This reporter often passes out during blood tests. But, again, I digress.

---As if Downs wasnt cool enough, he also appeared in animated form in a guest shot on Family Guy. (Its well worth watching the episode, just to hear Downs say, Remember me, dirt bag?)

---Somehow, Downs found time to raise two children with his wife Ruth, and even compose his own music.

Other than all this, Hugh Downs didnt do much!

Believe it or not, theres more to the men and women you see or hear reporting the news. Hopefully, reading the highlights of Downs career will give you a sense of that. We will never see the likes of someone like him again. But, young people getting into the business would be wise to emulate him in terms of versatility, curiosity, longevity. Those are traits that can carry anyone in this business far.

May he rest in peace. Hugh Downs, AWAAAAAAAAAY!!!!

Mike Peterson is senior news anchor/reporter with KMA News. The opinions expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of this station, its management or its ownership.

Go here to see the original:
Sundays With Mike: In appreciation of Hugh Downs - KMAland

New Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Jamal Crawford is the oldest player in the NBA at the moment. Hes three months older than Miami Heat icon Udonis Haslem, who held the title of the oldest player in the league before Brooklyn signed Crawford this week.

During an interview with Marc Berman of the New York Post, the new Nets signee spoke about how hes been able to keep his body in tip-top condition for so many years.

My wife changed my diet a few years ago, and that was huge, Jamal Crawford said in explaining his longevity.

And Im just staying in love with the game. I didnt turn 40. I turned 20 twice. I have no idea what my role will be, but whatever it is, I will try to do it to the best of my ability. Im just thankful to the Nets for the opportunity.

The Nets signed Crawford and Michael Beasley since they desperately needed bodies for the bubble games. Brooklyn will be without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie, Wilson Chandler, and Tauren Prince down in Orlando, Florida, so it made all the sense in the world for general manager Sean Marks to add Crawford and Beasley.

Crawford played with the Phoenix Suns during the 2018-19 season. He averaged 7.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 64 regular-season games while shooting 39.7 percent from the field, 33.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 84.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Nothing is set in stone, but theres a chance the Nets could bring Crawford back for the 2020-21 season since the three-time Sixth Man of the Year has a strong relationship with both Durant and Irving.

Continue reading here:
Jamal Crawford reveals the secret to his longevity - ClutchPoints

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

John Gerard TowerProfessor of biological sciencesUniversity of Southern California

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid drug that is used in humans for birth control and as a treatment for Cushings disease, and is currently in clinical trials as an anti-cancer treatment.

We have previously shown that mifepristone dramatically increases the life span of mated female Drosophila flies.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: In the present study, we find that mifepristone increases fly life span by altering genes and metabolic pathways that are shared with humans, including interactions with the microbiome.

In addition, we find that mifepristone increases the life span of mated C. elegans worms.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: It is striking how conserved the regulation of life span appears to be across species. The metabolism associated with a long, healthy life in humans is similar to the metabolism associated with a long, healthy life in flies, and this is promoted by mifepristone. The finding that mifepristone can increase life span in species as different as fly and worm suggests the possibility that mifepristone might also be able to increase life span in humans.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: It will be important to identify the exact molecular target of mifepristone in the fly, as this remains unknown, and identifying this target may be useful for designing further anti-aging interventions. It may also be of interest to design human clinical trials to test for possible life span effects of mifepristone.

Nothing to disclose.

Citation:

John Tower, Sean P Curran, Daniel E L Promislow, Jie Shen, Mina Abdelmesieh, Shinwoo Lee, Palak Patel, Jimmy Wu, Tianyi Wang, Jonah Vroegop, Ina Wang, Yang Fan, Lu Wang, Chia-An Yen, Devon V Doherty, Gary N Landis.Metabolic Signatures of Life Span Regulated by Mating, Sex Peptide and Mifepristone/RU486 in Female Drosophila melanogaster.The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 2020; DOI:10.1093/gerona/glaa164

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Excerpt from:
Mifepristone Increases Lifespan in Flies and Worms...Can It Improve Longevity in Humans? - MedicalResearch.com

In a previous article, we looked at an exercise that will prepare you for a Pilates Teaser. Today we look at the Pilates Teaser, and as stated before, it looks a lot easier to do than what it is. Get ready to do an intense exercise with a ZEN FACE.

The Pilates Teaser is another trademark Pilates exercise. It can be seen as the logo of many Pilates Studios. The Teaser works your abdominals as you curve your spine off of the mat and extends your legs out to 45. I often notice that clients do not fully extend their knees. The importance of the knee extension is to encourage a good contraction in your thighs. If you can do anything to tone your thighs a little more, then this is one of those simple things. When you are up in your Teaser position, you will feel how your back muscles kick in to keep you up there. YAY, additional toning for you back too.

Think of achieving flow and thought throughout the movement. Link your mind to your body and feel what your body is doing every inch of the way. With that in mind, enjoy the deep flexion in your spine as your abdominals resist gravity when you roll back down onto your mat. Maybe give yourself a cheeky smile at the end when you realize you DID IT!

The beauty of Pilates is that it always seems so effortless, however, when you get onto the mat or Pilates Equipment, you will realize that it is anything by effortless. It is synergistic coordination of the body in motion as it tones, mobilizes, and stretches all the areas that need just that.

Guess what? We will be looking at Teaser 2 and Teaser 3 real soon. So, if you thought that it cannot get more intense than this, you were wrong.

Pilates is not just for stretching and breathing. It is intense and the progression of the exercises allows us to see improvement in our body as we move. If you are ready to do the Teaser, then try and do between 4 10 of these every day. You will definitely see a huge improvement in the tone of your tummy and your legs. So, grab the mat, get down, have a conversation with yourself, and go for it. The more exercise you do like The Teaser, the stronger you will get, and the quicker you will see results. Not only will you look great, but you will feel amazing. Why? Because you will feel the strength settling into your body more and more each month. That is the beauty of consistency.

Please be aware that if you have any spinal injuries, you will need to get consent from your Health Care Professional in order to ensure that your safety comes first.

Inhale, lift your chest while you float your arms to your sides, exhale, roll up through the spine, extend the legs, inhale in the Teaser position and then exhale rolling back down to the starting position. Repeat this sequence 4 10 times and remember that you need to contract your abdominals as you exhale.

Take a mind-body journey with Pilates and Tanya Thompson. I would like to invite you to discover movements differently. Take this time to be still, feel, and embrace what your body has to offer you. This week we will be looking at how you can train your body in Pilates with the Pilates Teaser.

The focus of this exercise is to work your abdominals and spine effectively with your leg extended away from your body. Think, fully extended knees, legs pressing up against each other and a smooth flow in your spine. Think of creating really long movements with your limbs whilst transitioning from a deep curve in your spine to an extension in your spine. The movement should be calm, the exercise should look effortless and the intensity should be transferred throughout the body. As we embark on this Pilates journey, we will introduce you to both Pilates Mat and Pilates Equipment repertoire. Enjoy!

Go here to read the rest:
Are you ready to tone your legs and tummy with the Pilates Teaser? - Longevity LIVE

Planning to live beyond 100 years old? Then you do not have to live alone since one centenarian advised health and wellness website Well+Good. Instead, you can simply model your dietary and lifestyle habits after those living in Blue Zones.

For those who may not be familiar about them, the Blue Zones are five areas around the world that have the longest-living and healthiest populations. These are:

All the locations listed above have nine things in common and one of these is their eating habits, all in spite of being in completely different geographical locations and cultures.

Though their long life owes mainly to where and how they live, some of their dietary methods for longevity can easily be applied to an American lifestyle. Originally shared in a seminar hosted by the Global Wellness Summit, journalist and Blue Zones expert Dan Buettner gives us some of his top nutrition hacks that will help you live like the longest-living people on Earth, all based on years of research:

Drinking Wine After 5 In The Afternoon

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this one seems tricky to pull off since it requires having meals with friends. Buettner said that there is plenty of evidence in Blue Zones suggesting that just two glasses of wine daily probably lowers your mortality, especially with friends and a meal.

A few glasses of wine are good for at least a few potetntial reasons. Registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman told Well+Good that wine is rich in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been linked with a reduced risk of heart disease.

(A Mostly) Plant-Based Diet

People living in the Blue Zones have been practicing a mostly plant-based diet for generations. According to Buettner, they are eating 90 to 100 percent plant-based food "beyond a shadow of a doubt."

Plant-based diets have been shown to be heart-, gut- and brain-friendly. In addition, vegetables, grains and other plant-based foods have less carbon footprint compared to meat and dairy.

Lots Of Carbs

Buettner said that people in Blue Zones typically consume about 65 percent of their daily calories in carbohydrate form. This makes sense for one reason: It typically comes with lots of gut-filling fiber, in addition to vitamins and minerals that are needed by your body to function optimally.

However, the carbs they consumed are not refined, processed carbs such as those found in white bread or in sugary treats, but those from grains, greens, nuts, beans and other natural sources. Beans, in particular, beat all other carb types. Buettner said that eating about a cup of the "longevity all-star food" adds an extra four years to your life expectancy.

Occasional Meat Eating

According to Buettner, meat is considered a celebratory food in the Blue Zones and is typically only eaten about five times per month. He added that those living in these communities typically stick to a portion "no bigger than the size of the deck of cards" -- equivalent to about 3 ounces. This makes sense from a scientific perspective: Meat may be loaded with protein, B vitamins and bioavailable iron but too much of it can lead to health issues such as cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer. Plus, higher meat intakes in men and women are tied to higher rates of cancer and all-cause mortality.

Sticking To Water, Coffee And Wine

That means no soda and other sugary beverages. Buettner said that people living in Blue Zones drink six glasses of water a day, plus coffee in the morning and a glass of wine for dinner.

Modified Forms Of Intermittent Fasting

That does not mean those living in Blue Zones are dieters. More accurately, they typically eat in ways that are similar to what is called intermittent fasting, per Buettner. According to him, "they breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper, and they tend to eat all their calories in an eight hour window, leaving 16 hours for their digestive systems to rest." This means they eat more of breakfast and less of dinner and do not eat late at night. (Intermittent fasting itself does have its share of potential longevity-related benefits.) Do note, however, that intermittent fasting is not for everyone, especially those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a history of eating disorders.

Here's something to look forward to with aging. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

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Eating For Longevity Hacks From The Longest-Living People On Earth - Medical Daily

July 7, 2020 Medtronicannounced it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and European CE mark approval for its Linq II insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) with remote programming, which enables clinicians to optimize device settings without the need for patients to return to the office or hospital. The Linq II system also delivers improved device longevity compared to other ICMs and enhanced accuracy to correctly detect abnormal heart rhythms, simplifying the diagnosis and monitoring of patients. The new devices allows continuous cardiac monitoring for 4.5 years using nominal settings.[1]

Linq II is a small (one-third the size of a AAA battery), wireless ICM for patients with abnormal heart rhythms who experience infrequent symptoms including dizziness, palpitations, syncope (fainting) and chest pain, thereby requiring long-term monitoring or ongoing management. The device will be commercially available in the U.S. and Europe later this summer.

In the current COVID-19 environment, the Linq II system offers patients a seamless way to experience ongoing connectivity between their device and their physician, while reducing the need for in-office visits, said Rob Kowal, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of the Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure division, which is part of the Cardiac and Vascular Group at Medtronic. Linq II gives physicians actionable data to help diagnose underlying heart conditions and define treatment protocols for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or other abnormal heart rhythms.

The Linq II device incorporates many of the features of Linq with TruRhythm plus improvements that differentiate the device from other ICMs: Accuracy and Streamlined Workflows: The Linq II device has the lowest published rates of AF false detections compared to previous ICMs.[2-5] It also has an industry exclusive premature ventricular contraction (PVC) detector to help with patient diagnosis; PVCs are extra, abnormal heartbeats that begin in the ventricles, and disrupt the heart rhythm. Additionally, clinicians spend 33 percent less time reviewing ICM transmissions,[6] resulting in potential office efficiencies and reduced costs due to more streamlined workflows. Remote Programming: The Linq II ICM offers remote programming, which reduces the need for patients to come into the office to have their device settings adjusted a benefit for both patients and physicians, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Remote Patient Management: Patients with the Linq II ICM can choose one of two monitoring options to fit their lifestyles and increase remote monitoring compliance, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes. Patients can use their smartphones to automatically transfer device data via the MyCareLink Heart mobile app using BlueSync technology thatenables secure communication via Bluetooth. Patients who are unable or prefer not to use a cell phone can transmit device data with the MyCareLink Relay Home Communicator. Increased Longevity: The Linq II device offers an extended duration of continuous monitoring at 4.5 years using nominal settings.[1] Continuous monitoring gives physicians greater insights into patient data, aids in diagnoses and helps them manage chronic cardiac arrhythmias.

For more information: http://www.medtronic.com

References:1. Linq IIClinician Manual. M974764A001.2 BiotronikBioMonitor2 Technical Manual. 2017.3. NlkerG, et al. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2016;27:1403-1410.4. Confirm Rx ICM DM3500 FDA Clearance Letter. 2017.5. PrerfellnerH, et al. Europace. 2018;20:f321-f3286. Alert Analysis for Linq II with TruRhythm and Linq II, Medtronic data on file, 2020.

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Next Generation Medtronic ICM Offers Remote Programming and Improved Longevity - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology

ROCHESTER, N.Y. Bats are thought to be hosts for a number of deadly human viruses, including Ebola, rabies, and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for COVID-19). Despite carrying these viruses, however, bats themselves are relatively immune to the ill effects of viruses. In a new review paper published in the journal Cell Metabolism, University of Rochester scientists explain the mechanisms underlying bat virus tolerance and how bat immune systems may provide clues to treating viruses like SARS-CoV-2.

Although the origins of SARS-CoV-2 are not known for certain, the authors of the paper believe that the virus originated in bats and was subsequently transmitted to humans. Interestingly, although bats carry SARS-CoV-2, they seem to suffer no ill effects from it.

In addition to their virus tolerance, bats are remarkable for another reason: they live much longer than other animals of similar size. In general, body size tends to be closely related to lifespan. Smaller animals have shorter lives, while large ones live longer. Not so for bats. Many bat species can live for 30 to 40 years, which is unusual for their body size.

Weve been interested in longevity and disease resistance in bats for a while, but we didnt have the time to sit and think about it, says lead author Vera Gorbunova in a statement. Gorbunova is the Doris Johns Cherry Professor of Biology at Rochester. Being in quarantine gave us time to discuss this, and we realized there may be a very strong connection between bats resistance to infectious diseases and their longevity. We also realized that bats can provide clues to human therapies used to fight diseases.

Gorbunova and fellow scientist Andrei Seluanov have studied disease resistance and longevity in other animals, including naked mole rats, which have exceptionally long lifespans. A common factor across long-living species is inflammation, or rather, a lack thereof. These species tend to have dampened inflammatory responses, particularly when infected with viruses.

Inflammation is a key characteristic of aging and age-related diseases such as cancer, Alzheimers disease, and cardiovascular disease. One inflammation trigger is viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

With COVID-19, the inflammation goes haywire, and it may be the inflammatory response that is killing the patient, more so than the virus itself, says Gorbunova. The human immune system works like that: once we get infected, our body sounds an alarm and we develop a fever and inflammation. The goal is to kill the virus and fight infection, but it can also be a detrimental response as our bodies overreact to the threat.

Unlike humans, bats bodies are able to reduce viral replication without a strong immune response. This is beneficial because it controls the virus, but does not create a harmful inflammatory response.The researchers suggest that there may be several factors explaining how bats came to develop such unique immune systems throughout evolution.

First, bats are the only mammals with the ability to fly. This ability may have required them to develop tolerance to a variety of factors. They include temperature changes, metabolic changes, and molecular damage. In turn, these adaptations may help them to fight off diseases.

Bats also live in very crowded spaces. They often hang close to one another in caves or trees. This cozy style of living means that viruses and other diseases spread easily in bat colonies.

Bats are constantly exposed to viruses, Seluanov says. They are always flying out and bringing back something new to the cave or nest, and they transfer the virus because they live in such close proximity to each other.

The researchers explain that bats and viruses are in an evolutionary arms race. As bats immune systems evolve to fight a virus, the virus evolves to beat the bats immune systems. This cycle continues on and on.

Usually the strongest driver of new traits in evolution is an arms race with pathogens, Gorbunova says. Dealing with all of these viruses may be shaping bats immunity and longevity.

So, why dont humans just gather together in crowded spaces to give our immune systems a chance to develop tolerance to viruses?

As the researchers explain, bat immune systems have evolved over thousands of years, not a few months. While our social gathering traits are similar to bats, our immune systems have not yet evolved to fight off viruses in the same way bats can.

The consequences may be that our bodies experience more inflammation, Gorbunova says.

Humans have two possible strategies if we want to prevent inflammation, live longer, and avoid the deadly effects of diseases like COVID-19, Gorbunova says. One would be to not be exposed to any viruses, but thats not practical. The second would be to regulate our immune system more like a bat.

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Bats may have started the coronavirus pandemic. Could they be the key to ending it? - Study Finds

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Purely to preserve the longevity of Virat Kohli: Tom Moody has his say on split captaincy in Team... - Hindustan Times

Of all the things to worry about in the world right now, youd be forgiven if dementiaaka the loss of cognitive functionfailed to make the top of your list. However, dementia is on the rise in the U.S; its most prevalent form, Alzheimers disease, is now the sixth-leading cause of death. So while you shouldnt add this to an increasingly ceaseless inventory of things-which-prevent-sleep, it cant hurt to ever-so-slightly tweak your diet to be more brain health-centric.

Simply put, this means eating more plants, and that includes spices and herbs for brain health. While research is still fairly early stage, Gary W. Small, M.D., director of the UCLA Longevity Center, says that existing studies so far suggest that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of certain plants can positively affect brain health.

Plant-based compounds called polyphenols are effective antioxidants, and oxidation is not a good thing in the brain when it creates free radicals that can screw up cellular functioning, says neuroscientist Nan Wise, PhD. Meanwhile, after certain anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. Aleve or Motrin, were shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimers in older people, Dr. Small and other researchers became interested in safer ways to exert those effects via plants, (since the drugs tend to have side effects).

Below, all the deets on which herbs and spices look promising with respect to brain health based on the existing research, so you can curate your (quarantine) herb garden and spice rack accordingly.

According to Dr. Small, theres epidemiological evidence showing that rates of Alzheimers disease are lower in some parts of the world than otherslike this village in Indiaand one hypothesis is that spicy food contributes to this decreased risk. Particularly, curry, he says. And curry is made made up from curcumin. Curry, ICYMI, gets its curcumin primarily from the spice turmeric.

He put this hypothesis to the test in a small double-blind study,published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychology, which showed that curcumin did have a significant effect on memory and attention in adults aged 50 to 90 who had mild memory complaints. Over 18 months, curcumin improved memory in this population by 28 percent. They also experienced mild improvements in mood. Though the exact mechanism by which this effect happens is not known, Dr. Small says it likely has something to do with curcumins anti-inflammatory benefits. Dr. Small is currently at work organizing a study that will demonstrate these benefits in a larger cohort.

According to Dr. Wise, the curcumin in turmeric has also been shown to make Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) more available in the brain. DHA is a form of omega-3 fatty acids that is critical for maintaining brain healthdecreases in DHA in the brain are associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimers onset. As an added bonus, this has mental health benefits, too, as higher DHA levels are associated with lowered anxiety.

What cant turmeric do? A top dietitian explains its many health benefits beyond brain health:

The antioxidant-rich spice saffron has been used medicinally since at least the 7th century BC and today, research is showing it may have neuroprotective benefits. According to Megan Obreiter, RD, clinical dietitian at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, a small 2010 study showed that a daily dose of 15 milligrams of saffron produced a significantly better effect on cognitive function than a placebo; however, after 22 weeks this effect disappeared. Still, another study out of Iran found that saffron was comparable in efficacy to the Alzheimers drug memantine after one year of use, and another study found that it protected mice from neurotoxins. While more research clearly needs to be done, its not the worst idea to add this spice to your diet if you can afford it, especially given that its extremely delicious. (But if not, no worriesthere are lots of other brain-healthy herbs and spices on this list that are great too.)

Rosemary is one of the best herbs for brain health. Obreiter says it has been shown to improve memory in older adults. Its also been shown to inhibit brain cell deathand protect against neurodegenerative diseases, among other benefits, likely thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Sage has been utilized traditionally for its brain benefits, and studies bear out the wisdom in this approach. Both Obreiter and Dr. Wise mention that the herb has been shown to improve learning and cognition in older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimers. Improved memory in healthy individuals has also been noted.

A 2015 animal study showed that an extract made from cinnamon helped protect lab rats from cognitive impairment, says Dr. Wise. It might also have neuroprotective benefits in Parkinsons patients. Its also long been used to improve circulation and can even potentially help regulate blood sugar levels.

Some research suggests that a nutrient found in the ubiquitous-at-the-holidays spice nutmeg may help improve cognition and memory.

Ginger boasts innumerable benefits to health and has specifically been demonstrated to be useful in treating dementia and Alzheimers disease. Its also great for digestion and fighting inflammation.

Ordinary old pepper is not to be overlooked either, says Wise. Its been shown toimprove memory deficit.

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The 8 best herbs and spices for brain health, according to experts - Well+Good