StemCell Therapy

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Washington University in St. Louis, (State of Missouri) has received grants for Scientific Research from the United States Department of Defense. Shinkowa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. signed a contract with Washington University in St. Louis, Material Donation Agreement, for donation of NMN products used for the clinical researches named Effect of NMN Supplementation on Organ System Biology.

In the clinical researches, Professor Shin-Ichiro Imai (Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, Department of Developmental Biology/Department of Medicine(joint), and Samuel KleinMD, (William H. Danforth Professor of Medicine and Nutritional Science,Director Center for Human Nutrition, Chief, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Director, Center for Applied Research Sciences ,Director, Weight Management Program) will play a central part and verify the benefits of NMN via oral administration. NMN provided by Shinkowa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is highly regarded and so the products will be used officially in the researches.

NMN products provided by Shinkowa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. contains more than 99% overwhelmingly high purity NMN. In order to keep its quality and safety, 1) we manufacture the product by natural synthesis, not by chemical synthesis, 2) we have conducted and completed 24 weeks of human safety trial with National University. We hold scientific evidences and results (Appearance of SIRT1 longevity gene and increase in each growth hormone including melatonin) related to NMN only in the world.We also conduct researches, Elucidation of NMNs intracellular mechanism of action by Multi-Omics Analysis with the non-profit organization The Systems Biology Institute (SBI)(Representative: Dr Hiroaki Kitano) to elucidate NMN mechanism of action, and also Dogs Longevity and Anti-aging Effects by Medication of NMN : Confirmations of Positive Effects on Blood Component and Intestinal Flora with ,Activation of Longevity gene with National University of Yamaguchi, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Professor Toru Kimura : Biofunction Course, Laboratory Zoology). It will be completed the analysis and announced its results.

Our 3rd Lecture was held and organized by Shinkowa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The lecture Thinking about Health Realization of Productive Aging from the Vanguard of Aging and Lifespan was held at Hilton Hotel in Osaka, and the lecturer was Professor. Shin-Ichiro Imai from Washington University in St. Louis. This was the continuation of the lecture in Shanghai, China, held on 2nd of May 2019 and the chairman of which was Dr. Ryuji Hiramatsu who is an executive coordinator of Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe. The lecture included Qs and As sessions and we had over 150 attendees including the customers and the parties.We will continue to aim to achieve productive aging worldwide and will hold more lectures.* the 1st lecture: Tokyo, the 2nd lecture: Shanghai, China, the 3rd lecture: Osaka

In 1989:

Graduated from Keio University School of Medicine; Obtained a medical license

In 1993:

Finished masters degree in The Graduate Keio University School of Medicine

In 1995:

Obtained Ph.D.

1993-1997:

Assistant Professor, Microbiology, Keio University School of Medicine (Dr. Toshiya Takano)

1997-2001:

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Leonard Guarente Laboratory)

From July 2001:

Assistant Professor, Washington University School of Medicine Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology

From July 2008:

Associate Professor (Tenured on 3rd October), Washington University School of Medicine,

Department of Developmental Biology (Renamed from 2008),

Department of Medicine (Joint)

From May 2013:

Professor, Washington University School of Medicine,

Department of Developmental Biology,

Department of Medicine (Joint)

Started cellular aging and immortality researches while in Medical School of Keio University.Continued researches to elucidate molecular mechanism of aging and longevity. In 1998, published Heterochromatin Island Hypothesis regarding aging and immortality mechanism. To prove the hypothesis, started yeast and mammal Sir2 researches at Guarente Laboratory in Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2000, discovered that Sir2 is NAD-dependent protein deacetylase and its activation is important for controlling longevity. Since 2001, as a principal of laboratory in Washington University, engaged in mechanism of metabolism, aging and control of longevity researches focusing on mammal Sir1 and NAD synthesis.Encouraging on the importance of hypothalamus for aging and longevity control, the proof of importance of NAD synthetic intermediate, pursuit of NAD World that considers metabolism, aging and longevity as generalized control system, and establishment of anti-aging methodology to aim to Productive Aging.

Chairman: Dr. Ryuji HiramatsuDoctor of AgricultureDirector of Research,Industry-academia Collaboration of Institute of Biomedical Research and InnovationExecutive coordinator,Cooperation and Business promotion groupFoundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe

With our NMN researches, under the theme The Science of Wellness, we aim to achieve productive aging worldwide. We will strengthen, extend, and publicize our researches, sales and efficacy of NMN to contribute to the improvement of humans Quality Of Life (QOL)Our NMN products are available via the following links.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191226005036/en/

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Shinkowa Pharmaceutical: Notice for the Conclusion of NMN Product's Material Donation Agreement (MDA) with Washington University in St. Louis -...

Looking back 150 years, the proportion of elderly in Japans population was only a few per cent; now it exceeds 27%, making Japan the worlds top super-aged society. In 2060, it will exceed 38% and remain at this level in the future, retaining its top spot. OECD countries and many emerging economies including China will follow suit at their own respective speeds. The transition is a great outcome of public health and medicine.

A super-aged society is a natural consequence of longevity and we should celebrate it; on the other hand, our new challenge is healthy longevity or how we can be healthy, active and happy until the very end of our lives. Japanese data on the elderly, gathered by Dr Hiroko Akiyama of the University of Tokyo, suggests that health status at 65 is a strong indication of quality of life for the rest of life. In the 70-year-lifespan model, where people die in their 60s or 70s, health is not as big an issue for working-age people; in the 100-year lifespan model, one should continuously invest in ones health from as early a point as possible to maintain ones health after retirement. But how?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution offers good news on this front. Now, it is much easier than ever before to gather indicators of what affects ones health. We can gather genomic data, daily vitality data, health check data and medical treatment data. We can also gather data regarding lifestyle, social connectedness and financial activity all at a lower cost. Then artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data analysis can help us to understand our health more accurately and easily, and maintain it cost-effectively. We have rich new solutions for healthier lives.

The issue is the motivation or incentive for ordinary people to invest in their health before becoming elderly. Health geeks with rich health literacy invest in their health, using new technology but we observe quite a number of ordinary people with less health literacy. How can we inspire such uninterested people toward health investment or prevention before becoming sick?

The traditional approaches are from government, insurers or healthcare providers. National or local governments encourage members of their populations to improve health literacy and to receive health checks. Insurers may change member premiums and conditions, based on the member's health status or lifestyle. Hospitals and medical doctors are in a good position to advise locals. However, governments tend to lack resources, insurers cannot reach non-members and hospitals cannot cover people who dont come to hospitals.

Governments can enforce obligations for ordinary individuals or businesses to take care of their health. A typical example of this is regulation for occupational health. While the requirement level and compliance level differs country by country, we observe employers obligations to secure employee safety and health in offices and factories in many countries. However, while a legal obligation is good at securing minimum standards, it is not good at encouraging best practices. An obligation is necessary but insufficient.

We need to use incentives for both individuals and businesses to realize better occupational health. A public-private partnership programme called Health and Productivity Management (H&PM) started in Japan six years ago. It encourages CEOs and company management to invest on a voluntary basis in their employees' health for productivity and creativity purposes. The return of that investment is healthier employees with energy and enthusiasm and better evaluations from the labour market, capital markets, customers and society, all of which improves the value of the company. Now, more than 2,300 large companies and 35,000 SMEs in Japan have implemented H&PM.

External evaluation strengthens the return of investment. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange select 35 listed companies from 26 sectors (based on the results of a yearly survey) for the H&PM stock selection competition. in addition, Nippon Kenko Kaigi, a large business and medical federation including the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Japan Medical Association, nominates 3,300 companies as certified H&PM companies.

So far, we have observed positive outcomes from H&PM. In the past five years, certified H&PM companies have outperformed other ordinary companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, according to an analysis by Tokyo Mitsubishi and Morgan Stanley Securities. Some institutional investors such as AXA Insurance have started considering H&PM as one element of environment, social and corporate governance (ESG).

While direct evidence is lacking, logically speaking, H&PM will have positive external effects on the rest of society and the economy, since healthier employees become healthier citizens and active consumers. Considering new business trends such as the SDGs, ESG or stakeholder capitalism, some companies are now more focused on these external effects than on the financial returns derived.

Countries with the largest populations aged 60 and above

H&PM is not unique to Japan: Johnson & Johnson started H&PM decades ago and say one dollar invested generates 3 dollars in return. The US Chamber of Commerce issued a report that poor occupational health reduces GDP by 8.2%, 7%, 5.4% in the US, Japan and China respectively. In 2019, Business 20 (B20) included H&PM into its proposal to the G20. H&PM is a good strategy for improving occupational health in emerging economies with fewer initial resources. Sri Lanka started an H&PM awards programme in 2019.

It is fair to say that the rapid expansion of H&PM in Japan faces a unique challenge owing to the countrys labour shortage. As an ageing society, Japan lacks younger individuals as human resources, which makes recruitment a very important business issue. The same is true for the need to retain trained staff and convincing them not to resign. While H&PM works very well in this regard, such a labour shortage may happen in many countries as they age.

Increasing human productivity is one of the hot topics among global businesses amid rapid industrial structural change. I believe, H&PM is a new, positive strategy for realizing healthy longevity which will prove effective in many companies and economies.

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with our Terms of Use.

Written by

Kazumi Nishikawa, Director, Healthcare Industries Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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How to get ageing populations to invest in their health - World Economic Forum

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| 3 min read | by Doug Marrin, dmarrin@thesuntimesnews.com |

Bob Dylan could have very well been describing Dexter Township resident Howard Booth when he wrote may you stay forever young. And now in his 70s, Howard is still competing and collecting the medals and trophies to prove it.

I had a chance to sit down with him and hear a little more about his astounding athleticism at his age. My first question for him was, How is this even possible at age 76?

By basically staying fit, he says. I was a high schoolathlete who played all four sports in Mio, Michigan. There were a lot ofopportunities to play sports and enjoy them. Growing up, there just wasnt alot of fun stuff to do in town other than sports. There wasnt a lot going on.

Howard has lived an active life regularly competing in one way or another in various sports. This year at age 76, he went to Torun, Poland and won the World Masters Championship for indoor pole vault thus remaining the ranking world champion in his age group. He also set an American record in the short hurdles becoming world champion in that event as well. He also runs the 100-meter dash and 400-meter relay for Team USA.

World Masters Athletics (WMA) is the organization behind worldwide track and field, cross country, and road running events for people 35 years of age and older. Along with sanctioning worldwide events, WMA outlines the rule modifications for different age levels. Separate worldwide championships are held for indoor events and outdoor events.

As a kid playing pick up games with friends in sandlot baseball and basketball, Howard moved on to varsity sports in high school and then on to collegiate sports at Eastern Michigan University.

Surprisingly, in spite of his athletic prowess, Howard went to college on an academic scholarship. His father felt his diminutive size at 5 6 tall and 130 pounds would only get him hurt playing against bigger players. Howard found other ways to keep moving and stay active. He caught the eye of coaches anyway and was recruited for the gymnastics team, the track team, and cheerleading. And then after graduation, he settled into road running for the next 30 years just for health. He did many 5K, 10K, and half-marathon events like the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run.

My brother talked me into doing the Pikes Peak Ascent, which is the half marathon from the bottom of Pikes Peak up to the top, said Howard. So you go a mile-and-a-half vertical while youre going 13.1 miles horizontal. Its a really challenging race.

So, after a lifetime of staying in one sport or another, as a 60-year-old, friends suggested I try the Senior Olympics, Howard explains. I looked up what they were jumping with a pole vault. I went out into my backyard and cut a maple sapling which I had done back in my high school days. I took some jumps and figured Okay, I can I can still do this.

At Howards first outing at the Michigan Senior Olympics, he set a Michigan age group record for the 60-65 age group. From there his athletic ability spread out into running and long-jump events.

Fast forward 15 years and at the 2019 Michigan Senior Olympics, Howard won five gold medals and set five records in pole vault, long jump, 60-meter sprint, 60-meter hurdles, and the 300-meter dash. He scored a plethora of other medals and records at other events as well.

It is no surprise that this past summer Howard was selectedas one of the three inductees into the Michigan Senior Olympics Hall of Fame.It is quite an elite club with only 19 members before this years ceremony.

But back to my original question: How is this possible for a person of Howards age?

You ask how a 76-year-old is still pole-vaulting within inches of the world record on a really good day? Howard laughs. A big part of it is consciously working at it but also never having let it go. I didnt do the typical American thing which was after college get totally immersed in my job and gain 30 pounds. Athletics was a big part of my life in high school and college and I brought that along with me. Life was hectic. We had a young baby. I was finishing my Ph.D. but I still found time to get out for a half-hour to an hour run of some kind.

Before retiring, Howard was a Professor of Physiology atEastern Michigan University. I asked him if his profession gave him any specialinsight into how the body operates and ages.

Absolutely, he replies. We are doing an awful lot ofmental activity when the brain coordinates with the muscles. Were onlyconscious of little snippets of it. You might just be thinking about jumping upand flipping the ball into the net while avoiding the hand of the defender, butthere are millions of synaptic connections that make all that happen.

We should have a great appreciation that our body needs to be out there doing things and moving, he stresses. Its very good for us. As a society, we reward our brainpower but your body needs physical activity and the more you do it the more you keep it.

To the younger generations he offers this advice: Theresabsolutely a huge quality of life thing associated with what Lu and I aredoing. Were very active. We feel good. So much of our society is digital andelectronics, mental exercise, but youve got to find a place in all that foryour physical body and it will reward you back.

Howard admits hes got a list of old man problems such asosteoarthritis, but he works around them. However bad your physical problemsare, physical fitness makes it better, he says.

If youve let yourself go, no matter your age, Howard says, You can always turn it around. You may not become a senior Olympian, but you can always start exercising. Use the old guidelines of aerobic things like walking, walking more, and then walking faster. There is a lot of good value in just walking down the country road thinking about the trees and birds, maybe with your dog along, and not about work or all the things that need to be done at home.

Youre always going to have aches and pains, either fromworking out a little too hard yesterday or because youre old, tired, and yourbody is falling apart, says Howard.

Howard does not claim that staying fit and active can fix or prevent everything. But it does make a lot of things better, he says.

Read more about Howards senior athletic achievements at Local Athlete Earns Silver Medal, Four Top 10 Finishes in World Masters Athletics Championships and Dexter Townships Booth gets redemption, wins gold at World Masters Athletics.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of Howard Booth.

More:
At 76, Dexter Township senior remains a competitive athlete | his secrets for longevity and health - thesuntimesnews.com

Long life expectancy can be achieved through some simple lifestyle changes. Alongside eating a healthy diet, regular exercise, plenty of sleep, moderate alcohol intake and not smoking are also important.

When it comes to what foods and drinks to consume to live longer, the ingredient in mulled wine have been shown to hold a host of benefits.

Mulled wine is made from red wine mixed with various spices, including cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg.

While it should be consumed within alcohol guidelines - no more than 14 units a week - here are the benefits of enjoying the festive tipple this Christmas.

Small mounts of red wine have been linked to more health benefits than any other alcoholic drink, and relationships between wine-drinking and lower risk of heart disease have been drawn.

READ MORE:Type 2 diabetes: Foods that could increase your risk of developing the condition

Drinking small amounts of red wine may reduce the risk of heart disease by helping to retain good HDL cholesterol in the blood.

Oxidative damage and the oxidation of the bad LDL cholesterol may be reduced by up to 50 percent.

Some studies have even suggested populations already at a high risk of heart disease, like the elderly, may benefits even more from moderate wine consumption.

Many studies have shown moderate wine drinkers are at lower risk of death from heart disease compared to non-drinkers or beer and spirit drinkers.

Red wines powerful plant compounds and antioxidants, such as resveratrol, have also been proven beneficial.

Resveratrol is found in grape skin and is produced in some plants as a response to damage or injury.

The antioxidant has been linked with fighting inflammation and blood clotting, as well as a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

Resveratrol has also been shown to make test animals live longer.

But it should be noted the resveratrol content of red wine is low, and you would have to consume several bottles per day to reach the amount used in animal studies.

Cinnamon has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol.

It reduced levels of total cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while good HDL cholesterol remains stable.

A review study concluded a cinnamon dose of just 120mg per day can have these effects.

Ginger has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels.

In a 45-day study of 85 individuals with high cholesterol, 3g of ginger powder caused significant reductions in most cholesterol markers.

Research has shown the compounds found in cloves could help keep blood sugar under control.

If blood sugar remains high over a long period of time it can increase the risk of serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease.

An animal study found clove extract helped moderate blood sugar increases in diabetic mice.

Animal studies have shown taking high-dose nutmeg supplements can reduce heart disease risk factors, such as high cholesterol and high triglycerides levels.

More human studies is needed, but other health benefits of nutmeg include anti-inflammatory properties and improved blood sugar control.

Read this article:
How to live longer: The festive drink that could boost your longevity - Express

You always plant a seed for the season to come and The Ossory Agriculture Show Society has been planting seeds for 121 years with a successful agricultural event attracting people from all over the country.

The comparison of farmers planting for the next season and The Ossory Show Society planning its next big move is how Director of Services at Laois County Council, Donal Brennan, praised the society at its Civic Reception in February.

The Ossory Show is 121 years old. Through that period not only has it survived but it has thrived and grown and gone from success to success.

Agricultural shows in many ways are like agriculture itself you always plant for the season to come.

You have plans to grow and that is evidence of your planning to go forward from strength to strength, Mr Brennan said.

There was a huge turnout and the hard work of all the members, sponsors and supporters was praised for such a successful event.

Chairperson Peter Ging said young people helping with the show have given it a new lease of life.

Over the last number of years, it looked like the show was kind of going down because we were all getting on in age.

Over the last four or five years, there are a number of younger people that have come in and they have really changed the show and we have gone from having the field half full of cars to now not having enough space for what we are putting in the field.

Mr Ging thanked everyone involved for their hard work.

It still is one of the best cattle shows in Ireland but we also have everything for the family now and thats our aim to continue to grow our show.

We can't do that without sponsorship and the help of everybody involved. Thank all our members for supporting us and working hard, he said.

Former Chairperson of the show, Marty Phelan, said the show must go on and it is held on one of the best sites in the country.

I was Chairman of the old show in the tin house and we acquired the site and it has developed into a wonderful showground in a very good location.

The showgrounds now are an unbelievable amenity for the local area and its probably one of the best sites in the country.

The Ossory Show originally took place at Donaghmore Workhouse Museum and moved to Rathdowney in 1915.

The show took the title of Laois County Show in 1927 and affiliated with the Irish Shows Association in the 1940s.

It celebrated 120 years in 2018 and has continued to keep pace with the changing times.

Then Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, John King said the show is a significant part of Laois heritage.

Brian Stanley TD shared his earliest memories of the show and praised the hard work of the members.

Councillors Brendan Phelan, Caroline Dwane Stanley and James Kelly congratulated the society on the night.

See the article here:
Longevity of Ossory Show is celebrated in Laois - Leinster Express

The last year of this decade started amid a power struggle between the White House and the Democratic leaders in Congress, resulting in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

By the end of the year, a U.S. president had been impeached for only the third time by the House of Representatives.

In between those two historic events, all eyes stayed on Congress and President Donald Trump. Capitol Hill was the scene of hearings related to special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in U.S. elections and an impeachment inquiry that followed Trump's phone call with Ukraine asking for an investigation into a political rival.

Elsewhere, communities found themselves once again coping with gun violence. A school in Colorado lost two students within weeks of the 20th anniversary of Columbine. A Poway, California, synagogue was the scene of a shooting six months after 11 people died at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue. The list of shooting scenes expanded when gunfire erupted at a garlic festival in Gilroy, California, a kosher market in Jersey City, New Jersey, and a backyard barbecue in Fresno.

Weeks- and months-long protests became the norm around the world, intensifying in scale and longevity. Hong Kong protesters wore gas masks and sunk the territory's GDP in a pro-democracy, anti-Beijing demonstration that lasted from summer to winter. French strikers shut down the country's metro system and the Eiffel Tower amid pension changes. In Sweden, a 16-year-old girl picketing alone in front of parliament became the symbol of a global youth movement for climate change.

See the photos.

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Top Stories of 2019 - NBC10 Boston

Daily Inter Lake - Local News, Restoration of historic St. Matthews Church is well underway '); $(this).addClass('expanded'); $(this).animate({ height: imgHeight + 'px' }); } } }); }); function closeExpand(element) { $(element).parent('.expand-ad').animate({ height: '30px' }, function () { $(element).parent('.expand-ad').removeClass('expanded'); $(element).remove(); }); } function runExpandableAd() { setTimeout(function() { $('.expand-ad').animate({ height: $('.expand-ad img').height() + 'px' }); }, 2000); setTimeout(function() { $('.expand-ad').animate({ height: '30px' }); }, 4000); } function customPencilSize(size) { var ratio = 960/size; var screenWidth = $('body').width(); if (screenWidth > 960) screenWidth = 960; $('.expand-ad__holder').parent('.ad').css('padding-bottom', (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px'); $('.expand-ad__holder').css({ height: (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px' }); $('.expand-ad').css({ height: (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px' }); $('.expand-ad img').css('height', 'auto'); $('.expand-ad embed').css('height', 'auto'); $('.expand-ad embed').css('width', '100%'); $('.expand-ad embed').css('max-width', '960px'); } function customSize(size, id) { var element = jQuery('script#' + id).siblings('a').children('img'); if (element.length 960) screenWidth = 960; element.css('height', (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px'); } (function () { window.addEventListener('message', function (event) { $(document).ready(function() { var expand = event.data.expand; if (expand == 'false') { $('.expand-ad__holder').removeClass('expand-ad__holder'); $('.expand-ad').removeClass('expand-ad'); } }); }, false); function loadIframe(size, id) { $('.ad').each(function () { var iframeId = $(this).children('ins').children('iframe').attr('name'); var element = $(this).children('ins').children('iframe'); if (element.length > 0) { var ratio = 960 / size; var screenWidth = $('body').width(); if (screenWidth > 960) screenWidth = 960; element.css('height', (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px'); } }); } })();

Excerpt from:
Restoration of historic St. Matthew's Church is well underway - Daily Inter Lake

Humans are living longer than their ancestors did.The average human being could become a centenarian if they follow recent guidelines targeted at longevity genes contribute only 20% to longevity; 80% of longevity lies in the hands of individuals.

Life experiences are very exciting, and many people want to stay active, disease-free and live longer.

Autophagy and stress resistanceIn order to remain healthy, the cells and tissues (of our bodies) need to stay clean and healthy cells should be able to get rid of damaged cellular structures like mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and abnormal proteins and also be able to withstand stressors like free-radicals and oxidizing agents.

The process of removing debris from cells is known as Autophagy (cellular housecleaning)

The ability for cells to withstand injury from glucose deprivation, free radicals, chemotherapeutic agents, radiation is known as stress-resistance.

It is Autophagy and Stress resistance that keep cells healthy and therefore improve healthspan and lifespan.

Decreased cellular autophagy (as seen in oxidative stress) leads to the accumulation of abnormal cellular structures and proteins that potentially could harm cells for example, the accumulation of abnormal proteins in brain cells (neurons) leads to Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease decreased autophagy promotes systemic inflammation and tumor development.

Improvement in cellular autophagy makes cells healthy, extends health-span and lifespan.

Unfortunately, Autophagy and Stress resistance decrease with age.

There are three known enzyme groups that modify Autophagy and Stress resistance these enzymes affect our health status and longevity.

These three enzyme proteins are nutrient-sensors, and affect our metabolic health and Longevity.

1The mTOR Pathway: mTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) is a group of enzymes that support cellular growth and the storage of energy as Fat and Glycogen, instead of ATP.

Senescence cells are cells that have stopped producing nucleotides (DNA) and have lost their ability to divide and function correctlySenescent cells secret various proteins that promote Inflammation, and Tumor growthSenescent cells recruit neighboring cells to become senescent.

It has been shown that any activities that block mTOR actions, do make us healthier, thinner and prolong both our lifespan and our health-spans.

What promotes MTOR activity?Food is the primary activator of mTOR activity.There is the release of Hormones such as Insulin (after glucose ingestion) and Insulin-like growth factor-1 (after a high protein meal) which, promote mTOR activities ingestion of Animal protein, (especially those containing high-proportion of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) like Methionine, Leucine Isoleucine and Valine) is associated with high blood levels of IGF-1 and Insulin.

IGF-1 and Insulin promote rapid aging.It has been established that high blood glucose is the strongest factor associated with rapid agingLow blood glucose level is strongly associated with longevity.

Calorie restrictionWithout eating there shall be no secretion of IGF-1 and Insulin.

Calorie restriction and Intermittent fasting block mTOR activities while feeding promotes mTOR activityCalorie restriction, in addition activates Sirtuins, promote Autophagy and keep cells healthy.

2The SIRTUINSThe Sirtuins are a family of seven enzyme that require NAD+ (as a cofactor) for their enzymatic activitiesIn the absence of NAD+, Sirtuins cease to function.

The longevity promotion activity of the sirtuins include:

Low levels of the Sirtuins have been associated with the following: Cellular SenescencePoor stress resistance, InflammationsHeart diseasesNeurodegenerationIncreased body fat and Diabetes

Question: What is NAD+?Answer: Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) is a vitamin B3 derivative that serves as an important cofactor for many enzymes of the bodyNAD+ activate Sirtuin proteins.

.Question: What activities increase the levels of NAD+?

Answer

Ingestion of NAD+ precursors from plants help to replenish NAD+ in the bodyEdible plants llke EdamameBroccoliFermented and cooked cornMushroomsTomatoesCocoa nibs have the NAD precursors that can be processed into NAD+ by the body.

3AMPK (The AMP-Kinase)AMPK promotes longevity byPromoting autophagy (cellular housekeeping)preventing cellular senescence and thus blocks cancer development and inflammation

Converting fats and glycogen into energy (ATP) and blocking energy storage as fat and glycogen

Promoting mitochondria (cellular energy houses) production more mitochondria a cell has the younger they become.

And AMPK activity declines sharply with age.35 That is why we become less energetic and gain weight with age also become increasingly vulnerable to cancer and diseases associated with impaired DNA and protein function

AMPK acts as anti-inflammatory agentAtherosclerosis, Diabetes and other metabolic diseases result from inflammation and the AMPK helps to avoid these conditions.

By reducing inflammation throughout the body, AMPK promotes lifespan and healthspanAMPK prevents premature death from complications of aging such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

AMPK pathway is activated by the following:High intensity training (generates more AMP)Fasting and conditions that reduce cellular energy stores.

Polyphenols including Resveratrol, Catechins (as in cocoa products)

Biguanide medications for diabetes, including Metformin

ANTIAGING PATHWAYSConditions that induce cellular stress promote 1Autophagy, 2 Sirtuins, 3.NAD+ and 4AMPK activities to protect cells and cellular structures and thus enhance health-span and longevity.

Such conditions, recommended for adoption to promote longevity, include:

Question: what are the advantages of calorie restriction?

Answer: CR inhibit mTOR enzymes, activate Sirtuins, and Promotes Autophagy.

Calorie restriction (CR) is the only effective way to extend lifespan and health-span without medications and genetic modifications.

Question: Why are plant proteins preferred to animal proteins?

Answer: branched chain amino acids (BCAA) abound in animal proteins: Meat, Fish, Eggs and PoultryBCAAs promote mTOR activities.

Plant have less proteins which is just about optimal for normal physiologyLess than adequate protein consumption engages the survival circuit inhibits mTOR and turns the cells resources towards repair mode, instead of storage mode.

Question: How does exposure to cold promote Longevity?

Answer: Exposure to cold generates Brown fat; it also promotes NAD+ activity

Brown fat helps the body to utilize the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to generate heat during cold exposureBCAAs promote Diabetes and obesity by removing BCAAs from the circulation, brown fat help to prevent Diabetes and Obesity and other metabolic diseases.

PRACTICAL POINTSQuestion: What are the examples of high intensity Training/Exercises?

Answer: High intensity training (HIT) include Jump ropes or Skipping rape jogging Jumping jacks and Running up the stairsA 30-minutes each day of high intensity exercise is fine.

To achieve longevity, High Intensity Training is requiredIt is not how long you exercise that determines longevityIt is the exercise intensity that stimulate the longevity genes (Sirtuins, NAD+, AMPK) into action.

Exercise training above the public health recommendations provides additional benefits regarding disease protection and longevityEndurance exercise, including high-intensity training to improve cardiorespiratory fitness promotes longevity and slows down agingStrength training should be added to slow down loss of muscle mass, associated with aging and diseasehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30640736

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is the single best predictor of current and future health.

Higher level of total physical activity exceeding 10-12 METS is strongly associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and ischemic stroke.https://www.bmj.com/content/354/bmj.i3857

SKIPPING ROPE/JUMP ROPE- AS A high Intensity Exercise

Rope jumps/skipping Rope burns calories at about 12 METS.

A single jump burns 0.1 calorieJump roping burns as many calories in 30 minutes as running at a pace of 6 m.p.hSkipping ropes are accessible, and portable you only need a soft place to jump repeatedly.

Duration of skipping ropeFor beginners, start with 10-minutes workout session per dayThe target is 3000 jumps or more, each day, 5 days/week, for the next 5-6 decades.

Studies indicate that Endurance exercise, including high-intensity training to improve cardiorespiratory fitness promotes longevity and slows down ageing those who jog regularly have longer telomeres than their cohort who do not.

STRENGTH TRAINING:Strength training should be added to slow down the loss of muscle mass, associated with aging and diseases we can do the high Intensity Training only when we have adequate muscle power.

For strength training, a single set comprising 10-15 reps for each muscle groups, twice a week (at least 2 days apart) adequate.

SUMMARYThe youth promoting lifestyles are:1HIT >30 minutes 5 or more days each week2Calorie restriction or intermittent fasting 3Replace animal protein with plant proteins4create a habit of getting exposed intermittently to cold weather conditions just do it; you will be happy by the way, Happy People generate healthy lifestyles.

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How To Stay Young Even When You Are 100 Years Old - Modern Ghana

A trip to the theater, museum or art gallery could help you live longer. And the more often you get that culture fix the better, a new study suggests.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) found that people who engaged in the arts more frequently -- every few months or more -- had a 31% lower risk of dying early when compared to those who didn't. Even going to the theater or museum once or twice a year was linked with a 14% lower risk.

They looked at data given by more than 6,000 adults in England age 50 years and older, who were taking part in a wider study on aging.

How often an individual engaged in art activities, which also included exhibitions, concerts and opera but not cinema, was measured at the start of the study in 2004 to 2005. Participants were then followed up for an average of 12 years, during which time deaths were recorded using data from the UK's National Health Service (NHS.)

Why?

The study looked at a range of economic, health and social factors to try and explain why there is a link between "arts engagement" and living longer, although as an observational study it can't establish cause. Part of the reason, the study said, comes down to social and economic differences among those who go and don't go to museums, exhibitions and art galleries.

Wealth, they found, explained about 9% of the association. Cognitive differences, social and civic engagement, mental health, mobility and disability and deprivation also played a role. Things like free time and occupational status made no material difference, said Fancourt.

"Part of the association is attributable to differences in socioeconomic status among those who do and do not engage in the arts, which aligns with research that suggests engagement in cultural activities is socially patterned," the study said.

However, said Fancourt, "over half the association is independent of all the factors we identified that could explain the link."

She said that engaging with the arts can act as a buffer against stress and build creativity that allows people to adapt to changing circumstances. It also helps people build social capital -- accessing emotional support and information that helps people age more successfully.

"We also thought that a greater sense of purpose could play a role," she said. "If this (study) is added to the larger body of evidence, we are getting an increasingly rich picture on how arts can benefit health and it's not about one single outcome. It can have wide ranging benefits and support healthier lives lived longer."

How do you fall in love with art?

"Clinicians who read the paper might recognize the value of the arts, but will also wonder how engagement with culture and the arts could influence longevity," the editorial said.

"There is already much published work about the positive neurophysiological changes induced by activities, including the arts, which enable 'deep play' or 'flow.' However, as the authors note, further research is needed into the possible mechanisms that link cultural engagement with longer life."

Originally posted here:
Visit museums or art galleries and you may live longer, new research suggests - CNN

Among the different modes of freight transport, the trucking industry is possibly the only segment that remains localized and bound to specific regions, unlike the air or maritime sectors that are fundamentally more global.

However nucleated the trucking ecosystems might come across, they share certain traits and woes that are strikingly similar across geographies like excessive fragmentation, lack of visibility and transparency, and general indifference to technology.

Fragmentation creates an environment in which the adoption of common standards or practices is extremely arduous, furthering the issue of digitalization percolation as it requires stakeholders across the horizon to come together and adopt technology en masse.

"Another primary issue with fragmentation is that it leads to massive amounts of siloed data," said Lyall Cresswell, the CEO of Transport Exchange Group, a U.K.-based freight logistics company providing real-time decision-making solutions for businesses. "This is where we come in, democratizing that data and putting it across in a commonly accepted standard format for businesses to consume."

Cresswell spoke of how small- and mid-sized companies in the trucking landscape are often caught in a "deer in the headlights" situation, where they struggle to adopt technology that could help them future-proof their businesses from disruption both from an operational and financial perspective.

"With digitalization initiatives getting more mature over the last couple of years, it is important for businesses to not hold back and look at making decisions. They aren't necessarily making long-term decisions, as the technology might change. But it is critical to move in the direction towards change, as if they remain stagnant, the industry is just going to pass them by," said Cresswell.

In the context of price points on adopting technology into their operations, Cresswell contended that a majority of the solutions are available at a cost that isn't unreasonable. This is due to the technology maturing over the years and in part due to the proliferation of startups that lower prices to gain market share in the space.

"Technology is low-cost now as it's all cloud-based today. We do see some high-end systems that companies might need help in setting up, but most of the time, cloud-based technology is something that you can plug and play instantly," said Cresswell. That said, the trucking industry is chock full of traditional family-owned businesses that oftentimes do not grasp the relevance of technology, making it vital for developers to educate them on technology's scope in improving their operations.

Technology aside, it is hard for any company to accurately identify industry trends and future- proof their operations to address potential challenges. For instance, the Amazon effect that has virtually revolutionized the way logistics work today, was not a trend that was anticipated to scale this quickly until it actually arrived at the scene. In the same vein, technological disruption in the delivery sector via drones, last-mile delivery robots, and autonomous driving technology could alter the future of the transport landscape all in quick time.

Though these are trends that businesses have no control over, it serves them well to look at leveraging things under their control like data streams, which can be used to create operational insights like predictive maintenance, dynamic pricing and capacity availability.

"These are the kind of things that, as a small business owner, you'd have them in your head. But if you are a fleet with over 1,000 trucks, you will have to look at using that data, because without that, the information just partially resides in somebody's head," said Cresswell. "Future-proofing is about taking that data beyond traditional reporting and making use of that in an intelligent way to improve operations."

Image Sourced from Pixabay

Read the rest here:
Future Proofing Is Critical To The Longevity Of Trucking Businesses - Benzinga

Top surprising facts about growing older

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have been well known for years, and it is considered one of the best options to treat the mind of people who suffer from an anxiety disorder. As a part of this therapy, the patient interacts with a mental healthcare professional and discusses feelings, emotions, and behaviour.

Thus, the patient and the psychotherapist will work together to expel the negative thought processes. Now, researchers have found that CBT is helpful in increasing longevity among people who suffer from anxiety and other related disorders.

During the study, researchers selected 46 participants who are suffering from a social anxiety disorder. Nine weeks of CBT treatment were given to these participants, and during this time, no psychotropic drugs were given to them. After nine weeks, researchers checked the blood samples of the participants and found that anxiety levels were reduced drastically.

Surprisingly, researchers also noted a spike in telomerase activity in these blood samples. It should be noted that telomeres a structure in the human DNA that is inherently related to the ageing process. As cells divide and we age, telomeres become slightly shorter. Telomerase is an enzyme that slows down this process, and thus it will effectively promote longevity.

"Telomere length and telomerase activity did not change significantly after treatment, but an increase in telomerase over treatment was associated with reduced social anxiety. Also, lower pretreatment telomerase activity predicted subsequent symptom improvement," wrote the researchers in the study report published in the journal Translational Psychiatry.

Even though CBT is widely used as a treatment for anxiety disorder, this additional benefit will surely enhance its popularity in the coming years, and it will encourage more people any kind of disorder to try this therapy. Currently, this form of therapy is being used among 45 percent of people who suffer from anxiety and other mood disorders.

More here:
This new therapy could boost longevity and can treat anxiety - International Business Times, Singapore Edition

The transaction includes a significant proportion of non-UK overseas lives and will protect the Scheme from the risk of rising costs as a result of pensioner and dependent members living longer than expected.

CMS was appointed by the Scheme as legal counsel for this specific project following a competitive tender process and worked closely together with Hymans Robertson, the lead adviser to the Scheme. In a market first, the transaction optimised efficiencies for the Scheme through a combination of the following: allowing the Scheme to have exposure to Hannover Res credit risk; allowing the Scheme to benefit from Zurich retaining a substantive minority share of the longevity risk (in a product known as Enhanced Pass Through); and providing the Scheme the benefits of transacting with a UK regulated insurance company.The CMS team was led by Pensions Partner, James Parker, with assistance from Maria Rodia, Alex Tomlinson and Laura Clarke.Commenting on the transaction, James Parker said: We are delighted to have been able to assist the trustees to significantly reduce the longevity risk in their scheme and improve the security of members benefits. This is one of a series of high-profile transactions on which we have acted as transaction legal counsel this year, underlining CMS market-leading reputation in the pensions de-risking market.This transaction concludes a busy year for the CMS Pensions Team with highlight transactions including acting for Stanhope Pension Trust, trustee of the GEC 1972 Plan, on a 4.7 billion buy-out transaction with Rothesay Life the UKs biggest ever pension transfer deal.

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Pensions - Articles - FTSE 100 pension scheme in ground breaking longevity swap - Actuarial Post

There are few tenements still standing in South London the Pullens Estate in Walworth is one of them.

It has a classic design, which was why it was used to represent London in multi-Oscar-winning movie The Kings Speech, set around the Second World War.

Charlie Chaplin lived there months before he set sail to earn his fortune in the movie industry in the USA. And enduring Streatham supermodel Naomi Campbell lived there, too.

Also resident was Frank Bowling, the first black artist to be elected to the Royal Academy in its history. The buildings were saved by squatters in the 1980s.

The tenements and three yards, occupied by small businesses, are among some of the last surviving in London.

They were once a private estate of 684 flats in 12 blocks, owned by the builders, the Pullens family, until taken over by Southwark council in the late 1970s.

They had been built over 30 years from 1870 by James Pullen and Son of 73 Penton Place without planning permission.

The estate originally had 650 flats, surrounding four separate yards of workplaces of which 360 flats and three yards remain.

The yards are unusual originally, each ground or first-floor workshop opened into one of the two flats situated behind it.

Formed in Amelia Street, Crampton Street, Iliffe Street, Penton Place and Peacock Street, the tenements and the workshops are protected by Conservation Area status.

We dont know precisely what businesses were carried on in the very early days, but by the 1970s there were industrial clogmakers for London Fire Brigade; stationers; makers of ships fans; manufacturers of X-ray machinery; hatmakers; brushmakers; bookbinders; printers as well as furniture makers and restorers.

Two brothers, the Lilleycrops, ran Turners Office Furniture, which was furniture restorer to the Inns of Court.

The first block of 16 flats was built in Penton Place without the required consent of the Metropolitan Board of Works.

But Pullen managed to persuade local officials that his work was good, and continued building until 1901 10 years more than he had been granted permission for.

When the philanthropist Charles Booth was surveying London for his poverty map in 1899, he encountered Mr Pullen at work. Booth said: Old Mr Pullen in a top hat and fustian suit was on a scaffolding superintending.

Booth said demand for the well-built flats was high they were occupied before the paper isdry on the walls often by police officers from Whitehall and Lambeth.

The rent was eight shillings for three rooms, kitchen and scullery, plus six pence a week charged for cleaning the stairs and gas. Each had to make a deposit of 24 shillings effectively barring anypoor tenants.

Behind the blocks, around four yards, were 106 workshops and shops at the entrance.

A young Charlie Chaplin lived in one of the Pullens Buildings for nine months in 1907.

Some of the buildings were damaged during German bombing in the Second World War.

A V1 rocket hit Manor Place by the railway on June 27, 1944 at 10.45pm.

Six houses were blown up in Crampton Street and four in Manor Place.

It also damaged a public wash house and stores in Manor Place, a railway bridge, two arches, and 300 houses and buildings in Manor Place and the surrounding streets.

In the 1970s, the council planned to demolish the buildings.

But it was stopped in the 1980s by squatters under the umbrella of the Pullens Squatter Organisation who, with the full support of residents, campaigned and fought successfully to save them.

Their campaign of direct action and solidarity eventually climaxed in barricades which stopped police and bailiffs entering the buildings. Infoshop an anarchist bookshop and volunteer-run, 100 per cent unfunded, DIY social centre is the last remnant of that protest.

New businesses began to move in during the 1980s silversmiths, fine artists, bookbinders, ceramicists and furniture designer-makers.

Many of the remaining 351 flats in the buildings are owned by the council, which spent millions on refurbishment in 2009.

Naomi Campbell lived in Iliffe Street in the 1990s.

Just under 50 per cent of the flats are now in private hands as leaseholds.

Prices have soared, boosted by the regeneration of Elephant and Castle and Victorian design being back in fashion.

In 2007 a Pullens flat in Iliffe Street sold for 305,000. In 2014 in Iliffe Street a property sold for 365,000. In 2015, another on Iliffe Street went for 435,000.

The historic and architectural importance of the buildings has been recognised by their use in several high-profile films, including The Kings Speech.

These days there are still firms like Rob Dixson, ceremonial swordmaker to the Lord Mayor of London; RimmingtonVian, glassware and ceramics designer/decorators supplying various royal palaces, stately homes and the National Gallery Collection among others; and Kevin OBrien, former artist in residence at the National Gallery during his time in Peacock Yard.

Currently, there is a studio for artist Frank Bowling.

There are also lute makers, potters, jewellers, silversmiths, paper conservators, designers, graphic artists, web designers, furniture designers, architects, furniture makers, video and film-makers, photographers, writers and publishers, musical instrument makers and theatre and film costume makers.

Sales of Roger Batchelors book The Pullens Story, 1879-the Present Day go to the New Life Africa International School, Nakuru, Kenya.

Continued here:
South London Memories: Testament to longevity of tenements - London News Online

Inside each of our cells is a genetic hourglass. Every time our cells dividewhich they have to do to keep us alivetheir 23 pairs of chromosomes remain nearly identical. Except for one intentional change: After each division, a cells chromosomes get a little bit shorter.

Ten years ago, a group of scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discovering these ever-shortening DNA sequences at the end of our chromosomes, called telomeres. After a cell has divided a certain number of timesknown as the Hayflick limitits telomeres are so short that the cell knows its time to peacefully shut itself down. When enough cells die off, organs wear out, and eventually, we die, too.

This discovery ushered in decades of aspirational research that set out to understand the role of telomeresand the protein that can rebuild them, called telomerasein aging. Perhaps, if scientists could figure out how to flip our biological hourglasses over, our cells could replicate for longer. Our organs would tire more slowly, and we could delay death.

The Nobel-winning research began way back in the 1970s with the work of biologist Elizabeth Blackburn. But even after four decades, its still not clear if telomeres can safely be manipulated to thwart aging.

That hasnt stopped some scientists from betting on artificially extending telomeres to support longevity: Just last week, Kansas-based biotech startup Libella Gene Therapeutics announced that it would begin early clinical trials testing out a gene therapy that could lengthen telomeres, according to OneZero.

That approach, which as of yet has only been tested in mice, is indicative of humans deep desire to roll back the clock. But the deeper scientists go into the field, the more complicated the story behind telomeres gets: Theres evidence that they may play an important role in other aspects of our health, and that cell division may not be the only reason they shrink over time. Before scientists can try to safely harness telomeres to improve our health, theyll have to answer these questions.

One anti-aging strategy that researchers have investigated involves telomerase, the telomere-building protein that Blackburns colleague Carol Greider discovered on Christmas Day in 1984.

Telomerase is an important tool for cells that divide frequentlylike blood cells, the lining of our digestive systems, or sperm and egg cells. These cells regenerate so often that they need an enzyme to regularly rebuild the caps on the end of their chromosomes.

All the other kinds of cells in our bodies shouldnt have telomerase. But if they did, theoretically, their telomeres would never shrink. They could keep dividing beyond their normal Hayflick limit.

Theres one big problem, though: Cells that have telomerase but arent supposed to often wind up to be cancerous.

In approximately 90% to 95% of cancers, during the process of oncogenesis, telomerase is reactivated, says Masood Shammas, a lead scientist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. As cancer cells spread, theyre able to build their telomeres back upallowing them to keep dividing and dividing and dividing.

This means that messing with telomerase to somehow extend lifeas Libella is attempting to, by injecting patients with a virus containing the gene that codes for telomeraseis risky business.

On the other hand, it also means that blocking telomerase could be a way to treat cancer. Shammas has worked on clinical trials that have tested telomerase-targeting drugs with a company called Geron. Although their original drug worked in mouse models, it failed in early-stage clinical trials for people, because it had some nasty side effects. As a result, scientists have had to put stopping telomerase on hold until they can figure out how to make it only work in cancer cells.

An alternative strategy focuses not on rebuilding telomeres, but slowing their shrinkage in the first place. Scientists are trying to understand what, in addition to normal cell division, causes telomeres to contract. Maybe limiting these activities could decelerate aging in a way that doesnt accidentally reactivate a cancer pathway.

The activities that can slow telomere degradation are still being researched. It seems, though, that theres a lot of daily living that may play a role in telomere length. Anything that damages DNA will damage telomeres, says Shammas.

Telomeres are particularly vulnerable because theyre more exposed on the ends of the chromosomes. Smoking, drinking, and eating red meats fried in oilswhich all produce molecules that can bind to and distort DNAmay harm your telomeres, too. They also happen to all be known carcinogens.

Of course, this doesnt mean their effects are felt immediately, or that these activities will definitely lead to telomere shortening or cancer. Its their cumulative effect over a lifetime, plus other factors that scientists havent nailed down yet, that we need to watch out for. And clinicians generally advise against these activities anyway.

Perhaps more surprisingly, a life-affirming action may also cause telomeres to shrink: Pregnancy.

Dan Eisenberg, a biological anthropologist at the University of Washington, has studied how telomeres behave over time for people who become pregnant. A large cohort study he and his team published last year looked at women in the Philippines. After controlling for age, they found that the more times someone had been pregnant, the shorter their telomeres were. Each pregnancy seemed to shorten a persons telomeres by the equivalent of as many as four years of life.

This could be because of how taxing pregnancy can be on the body. Developing a fetus takes about twice the energy a person normally uses. Theres less energy available to maintain and repair cells for the long-term, Eisenberg says.

While it seems counterintuitive that evolution would penalize a person for reproducing, it may be a necessary trade-off. Perhaps the benefit of spreading new genes into the world is worth the cost of slightly shorter telomeres, Eisenberg explained. After all, evolution doesnt affect the processes that happen to us after we after our reproductive years. Weve already achieved the goal of immortality by way of our progeny.

So, lifestyle modifications to prevent telomere shortening dont sound too appealing. And so far, the only activity that researchers have found that can naturally extend telomeres in the slightest may be exercise. The only thing that world show that can activate telomerase activity is regular exercise, says Shammas. But its still not clear why this is the case, and it certainly doesnt mean that hitting the gym can stave off all aging.

Which brings us back to the promises made by companies like Libella, the gene therapy outfit currently promoting a telomere therapy. With four decades of telomere research yet to produce better guidance than cut down on red meat and exercise more, its easy to appeal to the insecurities and fears of the aging population with less-than-fully-baked treatments.

As OneZero reported, Libellas study is slated to begin early next year in Colombia. Likely, its running there to skirt the US Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) requirement for an Institutional Review Board, which ensures the safety of clinical research participants. Generally, clinical trials overseen by the FDA have been preceded by trials in at least two animal species to show theyre safe and effective. So far, the studies that have backed Libellas gene therapy are based just in mice.

This study has caused a lot of experts to raise eyebrows, particularly when it comes to the ethical issue of asking participants to pay for a therapy with high risks. The company is charging $1 million for each of its five aging but otherwise healthy participants, as well as five participants who have Alzheimers disease and five who have a form of artery disease.

But the trial also raises the question of whether aging itself is a disease worth treating. With any disease, there has to be a disease-free state, says Suresh Rattan, biogerontologist at Aarhus University. In the case of a situation like aging whose main cause is life itself, when will we say that we have treated it? Evolution didnt design us to live forever.

Read the original:
Science is still studying how telomeres are linked to longevity - Quartz

Taylor Swift performs on stage during day two of Capital's Jingle Bell Ball with Seat at London's O2 ... [+] Arena. (Photo by Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images)

This week, Taylor Swift sees her new album Lover fall outside the top 10 on the Billboard 200 for the first time since it was released in August, pushed down to No. 13 by a handful of new releases and two surging titles by late rapper Juice WRLD. While her latest title may not be performing as well as it once did, one of the pop singers previous blockbusters is present closer to the bottom of the tally, and its that studio effort that helps her make history this frame.

Swifts 1989 sits at No. 159 this time around as it pushes past its five-year anniversary on the tally, which it marked last week. Impressively, the all-pop album isnt the first from the chart-topper to live on the ranking for that period of time.

The former country favorite is now the first solo female musician to see two different traditional studio albums spend five years on the Billboard 200. Both 1989 and her self-titled debut full-length have racked up at least 260 weeks on the chart, though they didnt do so in a row, as both fell off the list and returned at some point to add to their totals.

Taylor Swift has now spent 275 weeks on the Billboard 200, though it hasnt appeared on the chart in some time. 1989 is up to 261 frames on the list, and it will likely continue to push through and find space on the chart for some time to come.

Swift seems like she is also about to become the first solo female artist to see three albums spend at least five nonconsecutive years on the Billboard 200, as another successful release, Fearless, has accrued 255 turns on the tally...though since shes not promoting it in any way, it might not reach that milestone two-hundred-and-sixtieth frame for some time.

The Grammy winner doesnt own the record for the longest-charting album by a solo female musician (that honor belongs to Adeles 21, which is approaching 450 weeks on the Billboard 200), but Swift has proven that her projects have a longevity that few names can muster...and the fact that shes shown this more than once is truly impressive.

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Taylor Swift Proves Her Longevity Once Again On The Billboard 200 - Forbes

KEY POINTS

Since ancient times, man has always searched for ways to improve life expectancy. In modern times, scientists have revealed that achieving a long life is possible if you make a few lifestyle changes. Alongside a healthy diet, you should also perform regular exercise, enjoy plenty of sleep, and consume less alcohol. If you have been smoking, quit.

If you ask what beverages to drink, so you live longer, then you would be happy to know some Christmas beverages have lifespan-enhancing properties. These can help you achievethis goal.

Mulled Wine

Mulled wine, a beverage created from red wine and blended with different spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg, have been proven to provide your body with many benefits. This includes boosting longevity.

The important thing is you keep your mulled wine consumption at the minimum, perhaps no more than 14 units per week, to enjoy its health benefits.While it should be consumed within alcohol guidelines - no more than 14 units a week - here are the benefits of enjoying the festive tipple this Christmas.

Red Wine

Drinking red wine in small amounts can help lower your risk of developing heart disease and other health conditions. Studies reveal that red wine can also help retain good HDL cholesterol in your blood. According to these researches, moderate wine drinkers lowered their risk of dying from heart disease compared to beer and spirit drinkers or non-drinkers. christmas beverages to increase life expectancy Photo: stevepb - Pixabay

Potent antioxidants in red wine, like resveratrol, have also been proven to be very beneficial to health. This antioxidant can fight blood clotting and inflammation, as well as lower your risk of developing cancer.

Cinnamon

Another Christmas beverage that has shown potential in boosting longevity is cinnamon. This beverage can help lower the risk of developing heart disease by reducing your cholesterol. It works by lowering total cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides levels while maintaining good HDL cholesterol levels.Studies reveal that a dose of cinnamon at 120mg daily is enough to produce these cholesterol-lowering effects.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a popular Christmas beverage that researchers say can greatly improve your lifespan. In one study, mice were administered high-dose nutmeg supplements and were then observed by researchers. After some time, the animals show they have reduced their cholesterol and triglycerides levels, which then lowered their risk of dying from heart disease.

While scientists acknowledge that they need more time to study the effect of nutmeg in humans, their health benefits are very solid. Aside from lowering bad cholesterol levels, nutmeg also can improve blood sugar management and has anti-inflammatory properties.

View post:
Your Longevity May Improve With These Christmas Beverages - International Business Times

Among the different modes of freight transport, the trucking industry is possibly the only segment that remains localized and bound to specific regions, unlike the air or maritime sectors that are fundamentally more global.

However nucleated the trucking ecosystems might come across, they share certain traits and woes that are strikingly similar across geographies like excessive fragmentation, lack of visibility and transparency, and general indifference to technology.

Fragmentation creates an environment in which the adoption of common standards or practices is extremely arduous, furthering the issue of digitalization percolation as it requires stakeholders across the horizon to come together and adopt technology en masse.

Another primary issue with fragmentation is that it leads to massive amounts of siloed data, said Lyall Cresswell, the CEO of Transport Exchange Group, a U.K. & European-based freight tech platform providing real-time decision-making solutions for businesses. This is where we come in, democratizing that data and putting it across in a commonly accepted standard format for businesses to consume.

Cresswell spoke of how small- and mid-sized companies in the trucking landscape are often caught in a deer in the headlights situation, where they struggle to adopt technology that could help them future-proof their businesses from disruption both from an operational and financial perspective.

With digitalization initiatives getting more mature over the last couple of years, it is important for businesses to not hold back and look at making decisions. They arent necessarily making long-term decisions, as the technology might change. But it is critical to move in the direction towards change, as if they remain stagnant, the industry is just going to pass them by, said Cresswell.

In the context of price points on adopting technology into their operations, Cresswell contended that a majority of the solutions are available at a cost that isnt unreasonable. This is due to the technology maturing over the years and in part due to the proliferation of startups that lower prices to gain market share in the space.

Technology is low-cost now as its all cloud-based today. We do see some high-end systems that companies might need help in setting up, but most of the time, cloud-based technology is something that you can plug and play instantly, said Cresswell. That said, the trucking industry is chock full of traditional family-owned businesses that oftentimes do not grasp the relevance of technology, making it vital for developers to educate them on technologys scope in improving their operations.

Technology aside, it is hard for any company to accurately identify industry trends and future- proof their operations to address potential challenges. For instance, the Amazon effect that has virtually revolutionized the way logistics work today, was not a trend that was anticipated to scale this quickly until it actually arrived at the scene. In the same vein, technological disruption in the delivery sector via drones, last-mile delivery robots, and autonomous driving technology could alter the future of the transport landscape all in quick time.

Though these are trends that businesses have no control over, it serves them well to look at leveraging things under their control like data streams, which can be used to create operational insights like predictive maintenance, dynamic pricing and capacity availability.

These are the kind of things that, as a small business owner, youd have them in your head. But if you are a fleet with over 1,000 trucks, you will have to look at using that data, because without that, the information just partially resides in somebodys head, said Cresswell. Future-proofing is about taking that data beyond traditional reporting and making use of that in an intelligent way to improve operations.

Continue reading here:
Future proofing is critical to the longevity of trucking businesses - FreightWaves

Intermittent fasting was Googles top-searched diet of 2019. A growing number of people are curious about and trying the restrictive eating pattern, but the science is struggling to catch up.

As Inverse reported in July 2019, preliminary research suggests intermittent fasting leads to an array of health benefits, including better metabolism, longer life, healthier brain, and less inflammation.

Inverse is counting down the 25 biggest stories of human potential of 2019. This is #12.

Intermittent fasting means interspersing periods of abstaining from food with periods of eating regularly. You could skip breakfast and eat a late lunch, for example, or fast all day long, once or twice a week.

The research suggests that intermittent fasting is a simple, effective life hack for solving many age-related problems, but the evidence is far from conclusive.

There really is no one weird trick for the perfect diet for everyone, John Newman, geriatrician at the University of California, San Francisco told Inverse. Science is leading us toward the idea of maintaining some flexibility in our bodys metabolism, he said.

Its probably a good idea to be doing different things at different times, he said. And this might be one of the reasons why intermittent fasting, for example, is metabolically helpful, because it forces your body to switch how it is using a fuel for energy.

Intermittent fasting can help people lose weight. It may also help people stay sharper and healthier as they age. The practice triggers certain pathways in the brain that help cells become more equipped to deal with stress and resist disease.

The bottom line is that, in the brain, intermittent fasting will increase the resistance of nerve cells to various types of stress, Mark Mattson, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University, told Inverse at the time. It will enhance what we call synaptic plasticity or the formation of new synapses.

Other studies show similar neuroprotective effects: Intermittent fasting can stimulate the production of neurotrophic factors and antioxidant cofactors that help cells cope with stress and resist disease. When it comes to aging, intermittent fasting has been linked to reduced inflammation and less accumulation of cells damaged by free radicals.

But like all diets, intermittent fasting is not for everyone, and comes with potentially dangerous risks. It can be uncomfortable, unsustainable, exacerbate disordered eating patterns, and may increase stress levels.

Its not just intermittent fasting that shows these potential benefits. Studies on good old dietary restriction simply eating less than normal appear to work, too. The plant-based diet and Mediterranean diet have the strongest research around longevity and protecting against disease, experts said.

Eating lots of nutrient-rich foods like plants is more likely to help people live longer and healthier lives.

As 2019 draws to a close, Inverse is revisiting 25 striking lessons for humans to help maximize our potential. This is #12. Some are awe-inspiring, some offer practical tips, and some give a glimpse of the future. Read the original article here.

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Is intermittent fasting the longevity life hack weve been waiting for? - Inverse

Ivy McGregor, Director of Social Responsibility at Parkwood Entertainment and the CEO and Chief ... [+] Architect of her firm, IVY Inc.

In business, profit is usually the primary goal, and for good reason. A company that doesnt make money wont last long. But over the last decade, more businesses have reached beyond the bottomline to find ways to give back to the communities they serve. From charitable foundations to eco-friendly initiatives, businesses big and small are committing to corporate social responsibility (CSR). In 2017, 86% of S&P 500 companies released reports on their CSR efforts, up from 72% In 2013, and less than 20% in 2011.

Its a change thats seeing businesses positively impact the social and environmental issues in the world around them, something Ivy McGregor understands very well. McGregor is a global philanthropist; working as the Director of Social Responsibility at Parkwood Entertainment (the philanthropic arm also known as BeyGOOD) and the CEO and Chief Architect of her firm, IVY Inc. where she consults with corporations nationwide to ideate, strategize, and execute corporate social responsibility initiatives.

McGregor first discovered her passion for philanthropy early in her career when shed spend her off-hours volunteering at nursing homes and gathering neighbourhood kids to discuss their entrepreneurial visions. While McGregor put her all into her day jobs, those evenings and weekends spent serving her community brought her fulfillment.

That is when I felt my heart jump, McGregor explained. I had no idea this would be a pathway to a career, but what I did know was that it was important for my brain to work and for my heart to beat in tandem.

But paving the path from the days of volunteering to what McGregor does now took a lot of gumption and a willingness to be an answer to the problems she saw. That tenacity is what allowed her to create a career that didnt exist before her. Sometimes [getting started] is hand-raising and sometimes its pushing the door down, [which] means coming up with a solution where you see it is a need.

So, McGregor began creating solutions for organizations in a space she was immersed in the faith-based community. She reached out to pastors struggling to engage their dwindling memberships and offered strategies that resolved the problem.

For years, she did this work for free, even as friends encouraged her to charge for it. Instead, McGregor found value in the experience and the list of people who now endorse her as an effective and talented strategist.

I couldnt talk about philanthropy if I wasnt a philanthropist. I could have charged [money] for these strategies, absolutely, but now I have people all over the world who market for me because I gave my advice for free, McGregor said.

The strategy paid off, and McGregor is now widely recognized for her expertise in the world of corporate social responsibility. In addition to her experience, McGregor credits her success to the values that shape her approach to business.

Ivy McGregor onstage during the Global Citizen Festival in New York's Central Park, along with ... [+] BeyGOOD Fellows from South Africa.

McGregors mother, whose diligence and dedication as a single mother of five inspired her daughters work ethic, also taught her that love is the most important thing. McGregor said this belief has allowed her to extend non-judgmental support to the communities and individuals her business and clients support and to give without any expectation in return.

I encourage people to realize that you cant control the outcome, but we can control what we start with. So, starting with a zero-judgment zone and pure heart so that we dont discriminate against the people we help, McGregor advised.

McGregor also recognized the value of connecting with people outside of her typical circles. Early in her career, she was inspired by a homeless woman named Anne who she met in a department store bathroom. McGregor said executives would benefit from interacting with staff from departments they might not otherwise share space with and volunteering in vulnerable communities.

Hearing their stories and conversations makes us sensitive to other people, so were not just locked in our own cycle of understanding, McGregor said.

Service is another of McGregors key values. Twenty years ago, she created the tagline, Service is sustainability, and she stands by it to this day, crediting service and its ability to positively impact consumers for businesses that have stood the test of time.

They understand that its not so much what you say, but how you make people feelempowered, inspired, helped. Service is a soft skill and a true power, she said.

For corporations that dont yet have a corporate social responsibility strategy or want to strengthen the work theyre already doing, McGregor suggested that they consider the many optionsdonations, volunteer efforts, internships, job opportunities for vulnerable communities, etc.and engage their stakeholders to determine what works best. Once they know what their staff and stakeholders are invested in, they can take action and engage the community.

To employees, community members or aspiring corporate social responsibility directors wanting to pitch initiatives to corporations, McGregor advised that research, timing, and a clear value proposition are critical.

The pitch becomes more than just a good idea, but an idea that has a win in it for the company, like This is what will happen in the next 90 days if you engage this idea, This is how you will benefit a year from now, and This is what a five-year strategy looks like.

When asked what makes a standout pitch for her own philanthropic efforts, McGregor explained that in addition to research and presentation, shes interested in long-term impact and sustainability.

Longevity is definitely a theme for McGregor. She noted that while shes proud of the work shes done as a social innovator, honoured to be guiding philanthropy for a powerhouse artist, and excited to be consulting with companies around the world, she hopes her legacy inspires and challenges people to break the mold long after shes gone.

I want my legacy to say: Dont just go down the path that has already been paved. Create brand new pathways that are the story of your life. I want my legacy to be one of belief, hope, and things that seem extreme to others but possible to you, McGregor said.

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Global Philanthropist, Ivy McGregor, Shares How To Pitch Your Big Ideas And The Key To Longevity In Business - Forbes

THE HAGUE, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The reinsurance agreement with Canada Life Reinsurance, a division of a Toronto-based life insurance company with an AA rating from S&P Global, provides full protection against the longevity risk associated with EUR 12 billion of liabilities. The agreement includes both deferred and in-payment pensions and annuities. The contract will commence on December 31, 2019, and will run until the portfolio runs off. The longevity reinsurance agreement has no impact on the services and guarantees that Aegon provides to its policyholders.

This longevity reinsurance agreement is in line with our strategy to release capital from mature, spreadbased businesses, said Alex Wynaendts, CEO of Aegon. Through this transaction we are freeing-up significant capital from our Dutch life insurance activities. This underscores our commitment to maintain a strong capital position in the interest of all our stakeholders.

The benefit to the Solvency II ratio of Aegon the Netherlands, as a result of the transaction, is expected to be in line with prior guidance of 10-12%-points. This corresponds to a 5-6%-points increase in the Groups Solvency II ratio. Underlying earnings before tax will decrease by approximately EUR 25 million per year.

About Aegon

Aegons roots go back 175 years to the first half of the nineteenth century. Since then, Aegon has grown into an international company, with businesses in more than 20 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Today, Aegon is one of the worlds leading financial services organizations, providing life insurance, pensions and asset management. Aegons purpose is to help people achieve a lifetime of financial security. More information on aegon.com.

Forward-looking statements

The statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following are words that identify such forward-looking statements: aim, believe, estimate, target, intend, may, expect, anticipate, predict, project, counting on, plan, continue, want, forecast, goal, should, would, could, is confident, will, and similar expressions as they relate to Aegon. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Aegon undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which merely reflect company expectations at the time of writing. Actual results may differ materially from expectations conveyed in forward-looking statements due to changes caused by various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following:

The frequency and severity of defaults by issuers in Aegons fixed income investment portfolios;

The effects of corporate bankruptcies and/or accounting restatements on the financial markets and the resulting decline in the value of equity and debt securities Aegon holds; and

The effects of declining creditworthiness of certain public sector securities and the resulting decline in the value of government exposure that Aegon holds;

Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting Aegon are described in its filings with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, Aegon expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Aegons expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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Aegon reinsures longevity exposure in the Netherlands - Business Wire