What is the secret to aging more slowly and living longer? Not antioxidants, apparently.

Many people believe that free radicals, the sometimes-toxic molecules produced by our bodies as we process oxygen, are the culprit behind aging. Yet a number of studies in recent years have produced evidence that the opposite may be true.

Now, researchers at McGill University have taken this finding a step further by showing how free radicals promote longevity in an experimental model organism, the roundworm C. elegans. Surprisingly, the team discovered that free radicals -- also known as oxidants -- act on a molecular mechanism that, in other circumstances, tells a cell to kill itself.

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is a process by which damaged cells commit suicide in a variety of situations: to avoid becoming cancerous, to avoid inducing auto-immune disease, or to kill off viruses that have invaded the cell. The main molecular mechanism by which this happens is well conserved in all animals, but was first discovered in C. elegans -- a discovery that resulted in a Nobel Prize.

The McGill researchers found that this same mechanism, when stimulated in the right way by free radicals, actually reinforces the cell's defenses and increases its lifespan. Their findings are reported in a study published online May 8 in the journal Cell.

"People believe that free radicals are damaging and cause aging, but the so-called 'free radical theory of aging' is incorrect," says Siegfried Hekimi, a professor in McGill's Department of Biology and senior author of the study. "We have turned this theory on its head by proving that free radical production increases during aging because free radicals actually combat -- not cause -- aging. In fact, in our model organism we can elevate free radical generation and thus induce a substantially longer life."

The findings have important implications. "Showing the actual molecular mechanisms by which free radicals can have a pro-longevity effect provides strong new evidence of their beneficial effects as signaling molecules," Hekimi says. "It also means that apoptosis signaling can be used to stimulate mechanisms that slow down aging." "Since the mechanism of apoptosis has been extensively studied in people, because of its medical importance in immunity and in cancer, a lot of pharmacological tools already exist to manipulate apoptotic signaling. But that doesn't mean it will be easy."

Stimulating pro-longevity apoptotic signaling could be particularly important in neurodegenerative diseases, says Hekimi. In the brain the apoptotic signaling might be particularly tilted toward increasing the stress resistance of damaged cells rather than killing them, explains Hekimi. That's because it is harder to replace dead neurons than other kinds of cells, partly because of the complexity of the connections between neurons.



[www.sciencedaily.com]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2014 11:38AM by jtprindl.

Quote

"Showing the actual molecular mechanisms by which free radicals can have a pro-longevity effect provides strong new evidence of their beneficial effects as signaling molecules," Hekimi says. "It also means that apoptosis signaling can be used to stimulate mechanisms that slow down aging."

correlation is not causation or something like that There are many books a boout cell signaling. Actually, cells differentiate from DNA through this mechanism. I bet this causes a lot theory spins so university proffesors can make articles and get noticed. But at the end of the day, they did not produced substance.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2014 12:54PM by Panchito.

This sounds like the same deal as when people are TOO clean and need some germs to give their immune systems a workout!

Makes perfect sense that extremes are not the answer.

does that mean i should throw a bunch of donuts ( or donut making dough rolled with sugar and tater tots into a deep fry and go to town?

like everything, specific ranges and mechanisms and utilization of this information needs to be specified

it has not been specified so it is ( like most nutritional "facts" misplaced without proper or full context

that's like saying chocolate is good for you cuz it posseses antioxidants
totally misplaced information
deleting full context
of the remaining ingredients in chocolate and the dark side of cacao

"that's like saying chocolate is good for you cuz it posseses antioxidants
totally misplaced information
deleting full context
of the remaining ingredients in chocolate and the dark side of cacao"

Raw cacao IS good for you when eaten in moderation. Problem is many get addicted and overeat it. Chocolate is also linked to longevity.

jtprindl

<<Raw cacao IS good for you when eaten in moderation. Problem is many get addicted and overeat it. Chocolate is also linked to longevity.>>

well it definitely is touted to have antioxidants and a lot of other good stuff
however
i think that every food has two faces


cacao taxes adrenals
that ultimately messes with estrogens, progesterones, DHEA etc.

so if u are going to eat raw chocolate, apologize to your adrenals first

then

enjoy!

if u are willing to pay, by all means.. play

"cacao taxes adrenals
that ultimately messes with estrogens, progesterones, DHEA etc."

Only when you eat it excessively.

enjoy

I will (in moderation of course)

You may be surprised by how many centenarians regularly consume chocolate.