Sirtuin protein can extend life
It is believed that various proteins in the body may be able to expand the live of humans. This information is based on lab tests that have been conducted on mice. Such research could be changing the way that humans proceed with anti aging therapies in the future. This type of protein that is being closely looked at is called sirtuin. The studies indicate that mice have been able to live 16% longer with it than the normal average.
Such studies have been conducted in Israel at the Bar-Ilan University by a handful to credible scientists. What is still a mystery though is that the male mice seem to be doing much better than the female mice. This is a variable that is yet to be explained in this method of anti aging evaluations. The study of Sirtuin isn’t new, but the topic is new to many people.
It was actually introduced in 1999 and it is often referred to as Sir2. The claims at that point indicated that the life of yeast could be increased by 30% with it. There were studies done with flies and worms but the outcome was mixed so there wasn’t credible data to really back up the claims that were being made. There was no clear indicators that the use of Sirtuin could help with extending the life span in more complex life forms including humans.
All mammals including humans have 7 different types of Sirtuins that are found in the body. They are labeled SirT1 through SirT7 to successfully identify them with ease. Even though they have been successfully identified, many scientists freely admit they just aren’t sure what to do with them or what they all mean. There are some theories though that indicate these proteins could be key in preventing various types of cancer or heart disease.
Yariv Kanfi is the lead researcher in the current studies taking place in Israel. The work done so far indicates that mice have a high amount of SIRT6. They don’t seem to have problems with heart disease, liver problems, or other issues even when they have been bred to be obese with a very rich diet. Such studies are to represent the diet of many humans in society today.
In other groups, mice that were genetically bred to not have very much SIRT6 didn’t live very long. Another study showed that rats that were restricted with their diet seemed to have higher levels of SIRT6 in their blood.
The goal with this particular test was to allow the mice to have a natural life and to monitor the SIRT6 in their bodies. That is where the numbers about males living 16% longer were documented. The females though didn’t seem to experience a longer life span. The goal of studies now is to try to identify why there is such a difference for the males and the females.
Many experts from the University of Michigan School of Medicine including Richard Miller and David Lombard are excited about the results but they are also cautious. They remind us that when you are talking about life spans, there are many variables that play a role in all of it. The genetics of the participants in the studies as well as their overall environment play a role. It is likely going to take years to figure out what it all means, but it is exciting to see where things are headed.
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