<p>Dr. Gordon Lithgow of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging tells us about worms!</p> <p>This unassuming scientific model has a lot of important advantages for science: they can be frozen and subsequently thawed and retain viability, they are extremely well understood down to the precise number of cells in their body and the wiring of their nervous system, known as the connectome. Additionally, they have a short lifespan and are cheap to work with. Why would that be advantageous, you may ask?</p> <p>This is where Dr. Lithgow's work on the Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing Program comes in. Short-lived organisms give Dr. Lithgow and his colleagues the opportunity to see how their biology responds to compounds in different contexts and to do so cheaply and rapidly. Think a vitamin, pharmaceutical or one of any number of other compounds may have a broad effect on longevity? <em>Try it on Caenorhabditis first! </em>Taking this approach allows the broad screening of compounds that might not otherwise get its chance in the limelight if science were limited to only working with rodents, for example.</p> <p>In this episode, you'll discover:</p> <ul> <li><strong>(00:00)</strong> Introduction</li> <li><strong>(03:30)</strong> What is C elegans and why do researchers use it?</li> <li><strong>(06:43)</strong> Proteostasis and its involvement in aging</li> <li><strong>(10:59)</strong> Shocking worms with heat extends their lifespan</li> <li><strong>(16:40)</strong> Sauna use activates human heat-shock proteins, improving health</li> <li><strong>(19:27)</strong> Excess dietary iron accelerates protein aggregation, promoting Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases</li> <li><strong>(25:07)</strong> Vitamin D deficiency accelerates aging</li> <li><strong>(35:19)</strong> Using worms to search for compounds that extend life in humans</li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're interested in learning more, you can read the <a href="https://www.foundmyfitness.com/episodes/gordon-j-lithgow">full show notes here</a>.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Join over 300,000 people and get the latest distilled information straight to your inbox weekly:</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.foundmyfitness.com/newsletter">https://www.foundmyfitness.com/newsletter</a></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Become a FoundMyFitness premium member to get access to exclusive episodes, emails, live Q+A's with Rhonda and more:</span> <a href="https://www.foundmyfitness.com/crowdsponsor"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.foundmyfitness.com/crowdsponsor</span></a></p> <p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
Actionable Insights
1. Sauna Use for Longevity
Engage in sauna use 2-3 times per week for a 20-24% lower all-cause mortality and 20% lower Alzheimer’s risk, or 4-7 times per week for a 40% lower all-cause mortality and 60% lower Alzheimer’s risk, as this activates heat shock proteins crucial for protein homeostasis and stress response.
2. Monitor Dietary Iron Levels
Get your iron levels measured and avoid blindly taking iron supplements, as excess dietary iron can accelerate aging and the accumulation of insoluble proteins, potentially increasing the risk of neurological diseases.
3. Optimize Vitamin D Levels
Get your 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood levels measured before and after supplementation, aiming for levels between 40-60 ng/mL, as deficiency is linked to elevated risk for adult cancers and neurological diseases, and optimal levels are associated with lower all-cause mortality and improved cognition; always discuss supplementation with your doctor.
4. Incorporate Sulforaphane into Diet
Consider incorporating sulforaphane, found in cruciferous plants like broccoli, into your diet; it’s a potent activator of the NRF2 pathway, which lowers inflammation and oxidative stress, and has shown lifespan extension in animal studies.
If you’ve done 23andMe genetic testing, use the tool at foundmyfitness.com/genetics to check for gene polymorphisms in the hemochromatosis and transferrin genes, which can indicate an increased risk for iron overload and associated neurological diseases.
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