Optimal Being

Cold activates a cellular cleansing mechanism that breaks down harmful protein aggregations responsible for various diseases associated with aging. In recent years, studies on different model organisms have already shown that life expectancy increases significantly when body temperature is lowered. However, precisely how this works has still been unclear in many areas. A research team at the University of Cologne's CECAD Cluster of Excellence in Aging Research has now unlocked one responsible mechanism. The study appears in  Nature Aging . Professor Dr. David Vilchez and his working group used a non-vertebrate model organism, the  nematode  Caenorhabditis elegans, and cultivated human cells. Both carried the genes for two  neurodegenerative diseases  that typically occur in old age: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington's disease. Both diseases are characterized by accumulations of harmful and damaging protein deposits—so-called pathological protein...

It sounds fixed but it's not, say researchers who studied three triggers of severe physiological stress: pregnancy, COVID, surgery. In preclinical models and in humans, stress from surgery, pregnancy, and severe COVID-19 increased signs of biological age, which were reversed following recovery. “Traditionally, biological age has been thought to just go up and up, but we hypothesized that it’s actually much more dynamic,” said lead author  Jesse Poganik  of the Brigham’s  Division of Genetics . “Severe stress can trigger biological age to increase, but if that stress is short-lived, the signs of biological aging can be reversed.” For  the study , Poganik and colleagues gathered data from several situations that are likely to cause severe physiological stress. In one experiment, they examined blood samples from elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery, looking at samples collected immediately before surgery, a few days after surgery, and before discharge from the ...

A meta-analytic review of randomized-controlled trials evaluating the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on cognition found that these interventions consistently yield small-to-moderate improvements in global cognition and various cognitive subdomains. The improvement levels are practically meaningful. The study was published in   Health Psychology Review . Mindfulness is the practice of paying deliberate and non-judgmental attention to the present moment, cultivating awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings to promote mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall well-being. It is often used in psychotherapy as a therapeutic technique to help individuals manage stress, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, enhance self-awareness, and develop healthier coping mechanisms by incorporating mindfulness practices and principles into their treatment. Mindfulness-based interventions typically involve practices like meditation, deep breathing, and body scans to...

New research suggests that even the simplest forms of social interaction, like greeting or thanking someone, can significantly boost our life satisfaction. The findings, published in   Social Psychological and Personality Science , highlight the often-overlooked value of everyday, minimal social interactions. The motivation behind this study stemmed from decades of scientific research on the impact of close relationships, like family and friends, on psychological well-being. However, interactions with acquaintances and strangers – the people we might casually greet on our morning walk, thank a bus driver, or exchange a few words with at the supermarket – had not been as thoroughly explored. This gap in understanding prompted researchers to investigate whether these minimal interactions could be just as crucial to our overall happiness as the deeper connections we share with close ones. “I’ve been involved in relationship research for almost ten years but I focused solely on close r...

Summary:  Researchers have found that targeted electrical stimulation of the brain can temporarily increase a person’s hypnotizability, potentially allowing more individuals to benefit from hypnosis-based therapies for pain relief and other conditions. In a study involving participants with fibromyalgia, electrical stimulation delivered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex boosted hypnotizability for about an hour. The effect was achieved in less than two minutes of stimulation and was statistically significant. The findings offer a novel approach to altering stable traits and could have broader implications for enhancing responses to psychotherapy. Key Facts: Hypnotizability is a stable trait in adults, much like personality and IQ, and can influence the effectiveness of hypnosis-based therapies. Transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered targeted electrical pulses to the brain, increasing hypnotizability for a short duration. This research has potential applications in pai...

  Doctors call physical exercise a “polypill,” because it can prevent and treat many of the chronic diseases that are associated with aging. A new study of muscle fibers from mice and humans shows how exercise affects gene expression. The exercise-induced changes “reprogram” the epigenetic expression of the fibers to a more youthful state. The findings could provide leads for the development of drugs to mimic these benefits in people who are unable to exercise. Research shows that people who exercise regularly not only strengthen their muscles but also improve their overall health, regardless of how late in life they start. For example, recent studies have found that exercise reduces the risk of  cardiovascular disease , as well as  Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s  in older people. Conversely, reductions in muscle mass and strength are associated with lower quality of life and  higher mortality from all causes . As a result of its proven ability to prevent and treat...

  Summary:  Perceived time significantly impacts the healing of physical wounds. Researchers found wounds healed faster when participants believed more time had passed, challenging conventional beliefs about psychological effects on physical health. The research emphasizes the need to consider a broader range of psychological influences on physical well-being and suggests that abstract beliefs about the body’s functioning directly affect health outcomes. Further investigations aim to uncover the underlying mechanisms and broader implications of this intriguing discovery. Key Facts: Perceived time plays a crucial role in the actual healing process of physical wounds, regardless of the actual elapsed time. The study suggests a broader range of psychological influences on physical health, beyond the traditional focus on emotions and behavior. Researchers are conducting further investigations to better understand the mechanisms and implications of this mind-body connection in heal...

Summary:  Researchers uncover a link between acylspermidines, a family of metabolites, and sirtuins, enzymes critical in aging and disease. Recent studies indicate sirtuins’ role in age-related diseases, making them promising therapeutic targets for longevity and health span. The discovery of sirtuin-linked acylspermidines in C. elegans and mammals opens new avenues for understanding and potentially manipulating these pathways. This breakthrough in biochemistry brings us closer to uncovering the roles of acylspermidines in lifespan and cell proliferation. Key Facts: Acylspermidines, newly discovered metabolites, reveal an unexpected connection between sirtuins and cellular metabolism. Sirtuins are enzymes implicated in age-related diseases and are potential targets for extending health span and longevity. This study highlights the importance of uncovering hidden biochemical pathways in understanding aging and disease processes. Source:  Boyce Thompson Institute In a significan...

There are two types of happiness, hedonic and eudaimonic.  While both support life satisfaction, research shows they serve unique purposes and are expressed in different brain regions.  Eudaimonic happiness also appears to be more sustainable and seems to cultivate certain health benefits. T here’s a common perception that entrepreneurs and small business owners are overworked and stressed out. Both of those things can be true on occasion. At the same time, 94% of small business owners  say they are happy with their lives , and 81% attribute this happiness to their entrepreneurship. The former value easily tops employees’ self-reported happiness. In a  2012 survey of 11,000 graduates of the Wharton MBA  program, respondents running their own businesses ranked themselves the most content. “Entrepreneurship” even dominated “income” as a predictor of happiness. The reason for this may be that entrepreneurship stokes a type of happiness called “eudaimonic happiness....