Show 1198: How You Can Age Better (Archive)

Whoever said growing old isn’t for sissies really got it right. But not everyone has the same experience with aging. Why do some people do well up to and into their 90s, while others are over the hill in their 70s? Genetics certainly plays a role, but it is not the whole story by any means. How can you age better?

Starting to Age Better Before You Get Old:

If you wait until you already feel old, whether you are 60, 70 or 80, you will have more difficulty achieving a healthy old age. Instead, starting in your 30s and 40s gives you a better chance for success. But even adopting strategies to age better when you already have decades of life experience can give the rest of your life more zest.

Research has shown the epigenetic changes related to smoking, diet, exercise and other factors can have a profound influence on how we age. Scientists know what to do to make old mice behave like younger mice. Will these techniques work for people as well? What is the significance of Yamanaka genes and how can we reset them?

The Mystery of Rapamycin:

Years ago, scientists discovered a compound made by a soil microbe on Easter Island. This agent (named rapamycin for the Polynesian name of Easter Island, Rapanui) has become an important drug for preventing the rejection of organ transplants. But it has also played an important role in aging research, clarifying why we age and how we can age better. Rapamycin has a lot of side effects and isn’t suitable for widespread use to slow the progression of aging. But there are other medicines, such as metformin and aspirin, as well as supplements such as resveratrol, that may act on some of the same targets. Learn about Dr. Sinclair’s recommendation for six simple things you can do to age better.

This Week's Guest:

David Sinclair, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School & Co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging. Dr. Sinclair is a co-founder of several biotechnology companies (Sirtris, Ovascience, Genocea, Cohbar, MetroBiotech, ArcBio, Life Biosciences, Liberty Biosecurity) and is on the boards of several others. He is also co-founder and co-chief editor of the journal Aging.

His work is featured in five books, two documentary movies, 60 Minutes, Morgan Freeman’s “Through the Wormhole” and other media. He is an inventor on 35 patents and has received more than 25 awards and honors. Dr. Sinclair’s latest book is Lifespan: Why We Age - and Why We Don't Have To

His website is https://genetics.med.harvard.edu/sinclair/people/sinclair.php

The photo of Dr. Sinclair is by Brigitte Lacombe.

The podcast for this show is an extended interview that includes material not in the original radio broadcast.