Regulation of Aging - Anne Brunet

TL;DR

Aging is not a one-way road towards decline and disease; it can be regulated by specific genes and environmental factors, and some aspects of aging can even be reversed.

Transcript

Stanford University good morning everyone my name is Scott Delp I'm a professor in bioengineering and mechanical engineering orthopedic surgery I also am one of the loyal and faithful Deputy directors of the Stanford Neuroscience Institute so I serve bill every week and in uh my role uh as deputy director it is my pleasure to in our next speaker wh... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤕 Aging is a regulated process that can be influenced by specific genes and environmental factors.
• 🤕 Some aspects of aging, like cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, can be reversed or slowed down.
• 🤕 Stem cells play a crucial role in the aging process, and genes like fxo contribute to preserving a youthful pool of stem cells.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does aging affect cognitive function?

Aging is accompanied by cognitive decline, including working memory, short-term memory, long-term memory, and processing speed.

Q: Can aging be reversed in already old organisms?

Studies have shown that pairing a young animal with an old animal can reverse some of the Hallmarks of Aging. Blood circulating factors play a role in this reversal process.

Q: What role do stem cells play in the aging process?

Stem cells in the brain, specifically neuro stem cells, decline in their ability to activate and produce new neurons with age. Genes like fxo play an important role in preserving a youthful pool of adult stem cells.

Q: How do genes and environmental factors influence the aging process?

Genes like fxo and environmental factors like dietary restriction and exercise can slow down the aging process. Some drugs, like metformin and resveratrol, also show promise in affecting the rate of aging.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Aging is accompanied by functional decline and the onset of various diseases, especially neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

• In the past 20 years, the field of Aging has emerged and shown that aging is a regulated process that can be influenced by genes and environmental factors.

• Genes like fxo and environmental factors like dietary restriction and exercise can slow down the aging process, and some aspects of aging can even be reversed.