Longevity – how the average life span will increase to 100

Posted on September 15, 2011 by admin

People living past their 100th birthday will be considered common by the year 2050 to some experts. While extreme life extension is still a distant dream, the fact that modern humans tend to live longer today than their ancestors did decades ago demontrate a real trend towards significantly longer lifespans.

More importantly, some researchers belive that there is really no natural limit to human lifespan as has been suggested in the past. According to the study conducted by two leading European scientists—Jim Oeppen of Cambridge University, Dr. James Vaupel of the Max Planck Institute for Demography—centenarians will be quite common in the 21st century.

Lifespan Trends Towards Increased Longevity

Their research findings are based on lifespan patterns that have been recorded since the 1840s. From that period, the highest average human lifespan has seniors and longevitybeen recorded to have increased quite significantly every year. Based on this trend, most people in Western Europe, Japan, the United States, and other countries with the highest life expectancies today will get to enjoy an average lifespan of 100 by 2050.

This is a far cry from the average life expectancy 200 years ago, which was around 33 years for men and 35 years for women. Currently, average global lifespan is at 65 years for men and 70 years for women.

On an average, Japanese men and women continue to dominate the lifespan arena, with men averaging at 77.6 years while women exceeding this by at least 7 years at 84.6. Meanwhile, both the United States and the United Kingdom trail behind other rich industrialized countries in terms of the average life expectancy of their citizens. In the UK, men are expected to live an average of 75 years while women are live slightly longer to 79.9 years.  Frenchmen fare worse however at just 74.9 years, while French women appear more resilient at 82.4 years.

American males are expected to live an average of 75.9 years while most American women will get to live an average of 80.9 years. The relatively low life expectancy ranking in the US as compared with other rich nations is largely attributed by many experts to smoking and obesity, two of the most notorious culprits that are pulling down American life expectancy records.

Up north, Canadians are faring significantly better. According to Shiang Ying Dai, a senior analyst with Statistics Canada’s health statistics division in Ottawa, “People are living longer, longer than ever.” Older Canadians are also healthier in general such that most Canadian men will reach 78.8 years while Canadian women will get to live up to 84.1 years.

 

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Is Cellulite Treatment Effective?

Posted on September 11, 2011 by admin

Cellulite is a condition wherein the deeper layers of the skin lose their integrity, leading to the development of skin wrinkling. Although it is not considered serious, many women find it awkward, especially if the cellulite appears on obvious body parts. In most people, cellulite can be found on their buttocks, thighs, and hips.

Skin dimpling is common among women because of the differences in skin layer distribution. Over time, connective tissues that hold fat deposits lose their integrity. These changes result in a pushing pressure towards the upper layers of the skin, hence the skin appears lumpy and wrinkled.

Because of the disturbing appearance of cellulite, many women look for effective treatments for this condition. Luckily, there are lots of effective cellulite treatments that can restore your smooth, fair skin. Cellulite management ranges from a simple diet and lifestyle change to more aggressive treatments such as surgical procedures.

Some of these therapies include:

Skin Creams and Lotions

These products are easily available both at drugstores and beauty centers. Basically, topical anti-cellulite products contain active chemical components that promote skin rejuvenation. Methylxanthines such as caffeine, aminophylline and theophylline are highly popular chemical components used in the treatment of cellulite. There are thousands of available ointments on the market and you can choose which one will suit your needs.

Dietary Supplements

Most of these products contain different ingredients, both synthetic and organic compounds, which are said to be effective in improving blood circulation. Sweet clover, gingko biloba, bladder wrack extract, fish oil, soy lecithin and grape-seed bioflavinoids are just several of the popular ingredients. Since dietary supplements are not considered to be drugs, they are not covered by the rules of the US FDA which require scientific proof of effectiveness and safety.

External Manipulation

There are several treatment options that depend solely on external pressure. Specialized cellulite massage, and heat and cold compresses have positive effects in the reduction of cellulite. One example of massage is Endermologie which uses specialized procedures and machines to smoothen skin layers.

For most women, effective cellulite removal requires a combination of two or more treatment options. Take note that these procedures may involve treatment over several days.

 

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Can Low Calorie Diets Extend Life?

Posted on September 6, 2011 by admin

Experts have been preaching for years that the best way to live a healthier lifestyle is by maintaining a low calorie diet, which also helps us get to a more healthy weight. Should it not then make sense that those diets will also help to extend our lifespan beyond what they would have been?

Studies have been going on for years to prove just that certain treatments like caloric restriction can have some interesting anti aging effects.

Of Monkeys and Men

Over twenty years ago, researchers decided to go beyond the usual lab rat diet testing and study the aging cycles of rhesus monkeys instead. This is one breed of primate that has been documented to have a lifestyle longer than others and is biologically closer to man than any lab rat could hope to be.

The hypothesis of the studies would be to prove whether or not maintaining low calorie diets would have an effect on the overall aging process and whether or not it would extend that lifespan.

Two studies were began, both using rhesus monkeys in the clinical trials. With an average lifespan of around 27 years and the longest on record being 40 years, they made a much closer analogy to man than could be possible using any other species.

Twenty years later, the results are beginning to come in. Of the second group, which were not subjected to low calorie diets, 37 percent died due to factors that could be contributed to being the result of aging, while only 13 percent of the diet control group died in the same manner.

The Impact of Low Calorie Diets on Aging

The monkeys in the diet control group, twenty years after the low calorie diets were begun, are now expected to see an increased life span of around 10 to 20 percent, thanks to the impact those diets have had on their bodies, and on the effects of aging. The caloric intake of the control group had been reduced, over the years, by around 30 percent fewer calories, and the results have been astounding.

The control group is now showing signs of having developed the best results of caloric restriction; in particular, normal insulin levels, healthier hearts and brains and a reduction in the risk of developing serious diseases including cancer. Fewer calories mean less body fat being developed and there are encouraging signs that the caloric restriction has a definite effect on controlling the dieter’s metabolism. But did it help extend their life spans? That is still under debate for the moment.

What is Known For Certain

Caloric restriction does promote weight loss; that is for certain. It also seems to have an effect on the body’s ability to trigger autophagy cycles. Autophagy is the method your body’s cells use to cleanse the body of damaged components and recycle the material into new cells, tissues and muscles. Autophagy could very well be the link that will prove whether caloric restriction or low calorie diets extend life spans, because a small part of reversing the aging process is cell renewal.

Low calorie diets also seem to set off a triggered response in the body that is common to all genomes, both man and animal. There have been recently identified biological mechanisms within the cells that can detect how much nutrients are available for use throughout the body. If the cells find the levels low, it sets off a starvation survival impulse, making the body absorb more nutrients from any diet, even low calorie diets and processing them more efficiently, into energy and into creating new building materials for extended use throughout.

 

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What is Fraxel? + how can it help wrinkles

Posted on September 1, 2011 by admin

Fraxel is a laser treatment, but unlike other treatments, it’s very mild and controlled. The treatment session lasts only 25 to 30 minutes, or 90 minutes if the consultation time is included.

This treatment promises to produce a smoother skin surface even if there is a long history of scarring caused by acne or sun damage. It can also encourage a more even skin tone, and eliminate wrinkles and finer age lines.

How does it work?

Fraxel works on the skin through highly controlled lasers. As a result, the thermal interaction between the treatment and the skin’s collagen structures creates minimal shock. Compared to other laser treatments, the patients’ recovery time is minimal. In fact, patients say they experience no downtime at all after the procedure. But this is not the case for every patient.

The microscopic thermal interactions between fraxel and the skin teach cells to rebuild properly. Wrinkles and other deformities on the skin happen when the cell structures are changed by sun damage, and the wrong rebuilding process is repeated over time. Fraxel corrects the altered collagen structure, promoting the production of youthful looking skin which has an even tone and is free from scabs.

Some laser treatments may cause scabbing. While improvements can be noticed after the first treatment, patients are most satisfied after the 6th to 12th month of continuous sessions. Patients need to wear sunscreen regularly to minimize further sun damage to their skin.

Where can you have Fraxel Treatment?

Most dermatologists and medical spas offer Fraxel Treatment. Because it’s a non-invasive treatment, it can be done inside your doctor’s office, or at a specialized dermatologist’s room at a spa. Before the treatment proper, the skin is cleaned and moisturized first. The cleaning and moisturizing of the skin take 45 minutes to an hour. The treatment takes about 25 to 30 minutes, depending on the repair that needs to be done.

During the first two days after your treatment, patients may experience a slight swelling or reddening of the skin. It looks like a slight sunburn, although it could be covered up with makeup. Once the reddening and/or swelling diminishes, your face may have a tanned or bronzed appearance. Shortly after that, the old skin may flake off, marking the regeneration of your skin’s collagen. While this first week as a bit inconvenient for some patients, the end-result is worth it. Patients will notice a significant improvement on their skins, and may even have flawless skin after the 6th month.

 

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What is Hyperpigmentation?

Posted on August 25, 2011 by admin

Hyperpigmentation, simply put, is a condition which occurs when there’s an overproduction of melanin. Melanin is responsible for the darkening of the skin’s tone. As a result, the skin’s color becomes uneven. Some skin discoloration occurs in large patches, while others are just spots. Hyperpigmentation includes freckles, liver spots, melasma and acne spots.

Causes

Hyperpigmentation can be caused by hormonal imbalance, overexposure to the sun, the intake of some prescription drugs, and aging. There are plenty of non-invasive treatments for hyperpigmentation (which is really more of a cosmetic problem than anything else). However, most of the non-prescription treatments are for cases which were not caused by hormonal imbalance.

Treatments

You can reduce the discoloration of your skin simply by applying sunscreen, even when they’re not going to the beach. Exposure to UVA and UVB can cause hyperpigmentation which causes a splotchy or freckled appearance. Sunscreen prevents hyperpigmentation but isn’t exactly an active treatment. The skin will still have to repair itself over time before the discoloration wears off.

Bleaching products

There are bleaching products available over-the-counter for non-hormonal hyperpigmentation. Hydroquinone, for example, can actively whiten dark spots to promote a more even tone of the skin. However, some people are allergic or are too sensitive for these bleaching products so consult a dermatologist first before using them. You may want to try them on a patch of skin on your hand before applying them on your face as the skin on the face is the most sensitive. The last thing you want is a chemical burn.

Exfoliating agents

There are also exfoliating agents which help speed up the process of regeneration. Compared to bleaching products, though, exfoliating solutions tend to be harsher on the skin. You should consult with dermatologists first. If possible, submit yourself to testing before applying them onto your face. For ultra-sensitive skin, exfoliating agents may just worsen the blotching of the skin. Worse, if the splotchy appearance of the skin is hormonal, the treatment might not work. If you’re purchasing AHA glycolic acid as an exfoliating agent, make sure that the solution is 8% concentrated. There are also 15% concentrated solutions of this chemical, but it might be too harsh for sensitive skin.

Hormone-induced Hyperpigmentation

If you’ve been diagnosed with hormonal imbalance, and your dermatologist suspects that it’s causing discoloration to your skin, you may be prescribed medicine to balance your chemical makeup. There are plenty of herbal supplements which balance hormones, too, and they are sold over-the-counter.

 

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How to Get Rid of Varicose Veins

Posted on August 19, 2011 by admin

Varicose veins are enlarged blood vessels that appear as gnarled and bulging cords on the skin. Some can be swollen while others lay flat beneath the skin layer. Usually, varicose veins are abundant on the back of the calves, thighs or midline of the legs. For many people, these enlarged blood vessels appear like spider webs or spider veins and can be disfiguring.

There are several reasons why varicose veins appear. First is the weakening of valves in your blood vessels. Normally, these valves regulate smooth blood flow from the legs up to the heart. Once these valves fail to work, blood collects in your leg veins causing a buildup of pressure. This results in the obvious twisting, gnarling and bluish coloration of the vein.

Another reason could be associated on familial predisposition. Advancing age also increases the risk of developing varicose veins. Similarly, childbearing, being overweight, and having a job that requires long periods of standing or sitting can increase pressure on the blood vessels thereby causing varicose veins.

Although some women report mild pain, aching and discomfort, varicose veins are not considered fatal hence do not require intensive treatment. But for most women, these twisted blood vessels are simply unsightly often reducing their self-esteem and confidence. This reason alone leads women to look for effective varicose vein treatments and management.

The diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins is based on a physical exam. Your doctor will look at your legs, thighs and back for obvious signs such as tenderness, swelling or skin discoloration.

In most cases women self-medicate, trying out both medical and traditional treatment courses. Conservative management of varicose vein includes: lifestyle changes, increased activity, weight loss and use of natural herbal remedies. Also available are some medicinal products that include creams, lotions and gels. For worst cases, surgical operations might be recommended.

On average, removal of varicose veins costs around $800 – $3000. Of course, surgical operations are a lot pricier than non-invasive treatment courses. Effective management of varicose veins requires a combination of conventional as well as modern treatment regimens.

On a final note, prevention is always better than cure. The risk of developing varicose veins can actually be minimized with a healthy lifestyle.

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[Infographic]-Human Lifespan Will Be 100+ By Year 2050

Posted on August 15, 2011 by admin

In the course of just 100 years (1900-2000), human beings have almost doubled their life expectancy…

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Will Extreme Life Extension, Create 2 Distinct Social Classes?

Posted on August 1, 2011 by admin

In the course of just 100 years, human beings have almost doubled their life expectancy…

The Human life span has increased each generation due to advancing medical technology and greater understanding of the human body. In 1900 the average life span was “45 years”, in the year 2000 it was 75 years (an increase of 67%)

anti aging human bodyWith medical technologies advancing at a rapid pace such as organs being created from a person’s own stem cells and the unraveling of the genetic code, the average human lifespan’s may reach 100 by 2050 if it continues along the same trend lines that it has been since 1900.

But, this increasing lifespan graph may rocket upwards due to increased sharing of medical knowledge through the internet.

Will Only the Rich be Able to Afford These Elective Procedures to Increase Lifespan?

If this does happen will 2 social classes emerge?

The cost of healthcare is predicted to almost double in 10 years (from 2008 to 2018). So as we struggle to afford maintenance of our bodies, we have to consider how will extreme long life will cause changes in social dynamics, our economy, and the family unit.

Made to order organs may some day become commonplace. Since the leading cause of death in 2011 is heart disease, killing over 600,000 people per year. What will be the implications if doctors had the ability to grow replacement hearts from a persons own stem cells?

It is without a doubt that this operation would be expensive and no insurance company would be able to afford the costs. This would turn a heart transplant into an elective procedure.

Life extending technology will have far reaching effects in the health insurance industry.

Companies will not be able to pay for replacement organs or procedures that will extend life beyond what is considered “normal lifespan”. Receiving a new organ after a certain age may become a procedure the only richest subset of the population will be able afford them.

Will the gap between the have’s and the have not’s grow in to 2 completely distinct social classes?

Recent Discoveries in Life Extension Science

The field of life extension is still in its infancy, but there have been notable discoveries that make “large lifespan increases” seem possible.

- Extending The Life of Worms by 30% - In 2010 stanford scientists were able to increase the lifespan of roundworms by 1/3. Researchers blocked genes with a process known as RNA interference that affected how certain genes are expressed within a cell. If the human life span were increased by 30%, the average human age would increase to 97 years.

- Gene Mutation Doubles Flies Lifespan – A single gene modified in fruit flies increased lifespan from 37 days to 70 days (The human equivalent to this would be a 75 year increase). Researchers stated that the “gene mutation appears to work by restricting calorie absorption on a cellular level”.  This gene was then named the “I’m Not Dead Yet” gene after the famous Monty Python skit. One scientist believed that modification of this gene was another way to achieve the similar life extending effects of caloric restriction.

- Sir2 gene deletion double lifespan in yeast cells – It is a known phenomena that an extra copy of the Sir2 gene can affect the lifespan of species like worms and flies. A researcher named Valter Longo deleted this gene in yeast and was able to increase their life span up to 6 years. He hypothesized that this gene might “block the organism from entering an extreme survival mode characterized by the absence of reproduction, improved DNA repair and increased protection against cell damage”.

Implications of Extreme Life Extension on Social Class

If medical technology reaches a point where life extension technologies are possible – demand will be extraordinarily high. Since “demand” sets the price in a market, the cost of these technologies will most likely be out of reach of ordinary people.

This might create a gap between economic classes that has never been seen before.

Upper classes could afford “life extension” technologies which lower classes might feel entitled to (thinking of it as a basic human right).

- Would the “have-not’s” demand that government intervene and make them available to all people? If so, how would a government pay for skyrocketing medical care?

- Would people with “extreme long life”, switch from being focused on a family unit, to being focused on their own individual survival?

- Would this make people less inclined to reproduce? Due to the high costs of extending life past the normal span.

Whatever the outcome is, extreme life extension will most likely have a disruptive effect on our society. Currently it is impossible to know how a technology like this would affect our us, both positively and negatively.

 

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Aubrey de Grey’s Treatment for Aging

Posted on July 28, 2011 by admin

A few decades from now, people will be able to live for a thousand years, according to controversial British scientist Dr. Aubrey de Grey who has established a comprehensive plan for the precise identification of all aging-related factors and the development of specific remedies for each.

The plan, called Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS) will create the biomedical infrastructure for combating age-related diseases and extend human lifespan way beyond what we even dare to imagine today. From breaching the 150 year threshold, humans will be able to live healthy lives in the hundreds of years, extending their lifespan to even a thousand years as new technologies for treating age-related diseases are discovered within the next two decades.

Given his illustrious professional background and experience, Dr. Aubrey de Grey’s theories are not without bearing. Dr. de Grey has been with the Department of Genetics at Cambridge University for over ten years before assuming the post of biomedical gerontologist and chief scientist of SENS. His extensive work at the University of Cambridge involved mitochondrial mutations and aimed to stop human aging altogether.

According to the long-haired scientist, “I’d say we have a 50/50 chance of bringing ageing under what I’d call a decisive level of medical control within the next 25 years or so. And what I mean by decisive is the same sort of medical control that we have over most infectious diseases today.” His work has been highly acclaimed in scientific circles, in universities that promote leading edge research such as MIT, and forums like TED, where groundbreaking ideas are shared.

Aubrey de Grey asserts that aging automatically takes effect after birth as a result of human metabolism. While metabolism is critical for survival, it also causes damage as a side effect, minimal at first but accumulating into various pathological conditions. According to de Grey’s research, the metabolism-related factors that cause aging have already been determined and they are

- cell loss/atrophy

- death-resistant cells

- nuclear mutations and epimutations

- mtDNA mutations

- protein crosslinks

- junk inside cells

- junk outside cells

Addressing and controlling each of these factors are necessary to substantially extend human lifespan.

Within two decades, this goal would have been reached. Within this time, people will just need to go to their doctors for regular “maintenance” to delay aging and prevent all the diseases associated with it. As Dr. de Grey foresees, the maintenance methods will likely include gene therapy, stem cell therapy, immunity boosters and other medical techniques to keep the human body in good health.

For people living today, Dr. de Grey offers this advice if they want to reap the benefits of his research: try to live long enough until the techniques have been developed and made available to the public. Start by eating right, exercising, and thinking positively.

 


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What Is Andropause?

Posted on July 27, 2011 by admin

Andropause is popularly known as the male menopause. Sometimes termed “man-opause,” this condition occurs in the latter stage of a man’s life. 30% of men experience “andropause” in the mid- 50′s.

According to health experts, andropause is related to the gradual decline in the production of male hormones – testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone in middle-aged men. Unlike female hormones, male hormones do not permanently shut down; instead there is a slow, progressive decline in production, and in lay terms, it is commonly linked with the loss of virility.

The US Census Bureau estimates that there are around four to five million men suffering from this condition, and the majority is within their early 30s or 40s. Sadly, only 5 to 10% will seek medical attention, while the rest lives with the problem untreated.  According to the World Health Organization, men start to lose male hormones at the age of 40, and at 70, testosterone levels are barely 10% of 25 year old males.

Male hormones are not only important in maintaining sexual drive and stamina, but also help in building protein and in several metabolic functions. Because of the depressed state of male hormones in the body, middle-aged men experience reduced potency, with loss of erectile function as one of the most distressing symptoms.

While andropause has been around for quite a long time, only a few men are aware that this medical condition exists. For some time, the idea of an andropause has been controversial because many clinicians believe that the male reproductive system remains active despite age. Skeptics say that andropause symptoms are not specific enough to describe a medical condition. These clinicians believe that andropause and its related symptoms are solely based on lifestyle, genetics and environment.

Although skeptics do not fully accept andropause as a medical condition, many doctors now consider it a crucial stage of life. In fact, there are lots of treatment alternatives recommended by physicians to people with this condition.

Often, management of andropause is very successful. Andropause treatment goals include improved potency, increased sexual drive, an enhanced sense of well-being, improved bone density and improvement of mental function. Hormone replacement therapy is considered to be the main treatment for andropause. There are lots of products such as DHT and DHEA that aim to normalize male hormone levels.

These hormone replacement treatments are currently available in the form of tablets, capsules, injections, gels and patches. Today, the majority of testosterone replacement therapies are done through the use of skin patches. Dosage is individualized depending on the symptoms experienced by the person; hence it is important to check with your doctor before taking any medicine.

 

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