Strenuous exercise can damage muscles and surrounding tissues, leading to inflammation. This inflammation can cause muscle soreness and reduced muscle strength, which can last for several days. Soccer players, who have limited recovery time between matches, often use drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to recover faster. But these can have side effects. Nutritional supplements rich in polyphenols, such as curcumin from turmeric, have been studied for their potential benefits in exercise recovery. Curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. And it may help reduce inflammation and muscle damage caused by exercise. STUDY: Curcumin Attenuates Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness and Muscle Function Deficits Following a Soccer Match in Male Professional Soccer Players Study Design In a study with professional soccer players, researchers used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design to investigate the effects of curcumin supplementation on recovery from matches. Eleven male soccer players from a Premier League club participated in the study. Baseline measurements of dependent variables such as muscle soreness, jump height, reactive strength index, and subjective well-being were taken two days before matches. These measurements were repeated at 12, 36, and 60 hours after matches, before training sessions, while the players were in a fasted state. The study used curcumin supplements and a placebo control. And the outcomes measured were jump height, reactive strength index, muscle soreness, and subjective well-being. Study Results The study found that there were no differences between interventions in terms of data on external loads, daily energy intake, and macronutrient intake. There were also no differences based on the order of trials for measures such as countermovement jump (CMJ), reactive strength index (RSI), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and subjective wellbeing. However, there were changes over time following matches, with the biggest differences occurring at 12 hours post-match. CMJ and RSI were higher in the curcumin group compared to the control group at most time-points, especially at 12 hours post-match. DOMS was higher in the control group at 12 and 36 hours post-match, but not in the curcumin group. Wellbeing was rated worse in the control group at 12 and 36 hours post-match. But no changes were observed in the curcumin group. Wellbeing was also better with curcumin supplementation at 12 and 60 hours post-match. This study found that taking curcumin supplements helped professional male soccer players recover faster from muscle soreness after a game. This is the first study to investigate the effects of curcumin on elite-level team-sport athletes using match-play as an exercise-induced muscle damage model. The results showed that curcumin supplementation reduced muscle soreness and improved muscle function recovery, which is consistent with previous studies in untrained/moderately trained individuals and animals. Curcumin is believed to work by interacting with various inflammatory and oxidative pathways in the body, suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, and supporting antioxidant enzymes. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which curcumin may enhance recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. Thrivous Recommendation Thrivous develops Tenacity Arthroprotector to enhance joint and bone function for better aging. Each serving of Tenacity provides a clinical dose of Turmeric Curcumin, along with complementary nutrients. As indicated by this study, Tenacity may reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery after sports and exercise. Get your Tenacity in the online Thrivous store today!

The Star Trek phrase, “live long and prosper,” may have originated from an ancient Egyptian blessing that uses the symbols for life, prosperity, and health. Throughout the centuries, humankind has sought ways to extend a person’s life and enhance the quality of life. Modern technologies allow biochemical scientists to understand what promotes healthy longevity better than previous generations could have imagined. And like the daily erosion of a single drop of water, we know that unchecked inflammation and free radicals cause wear and tear in every system of the body. To live long and prosper, you need every system working like a well-oiled machine. A diet full of fresh vegetables, fruits, fiber, lean meats, and healthy fats provides the nutritional base for healthy living. However, you can take advantage of generations of herbal knowledge, backed by scientific research and clinical trials, with well-designed supplements. Pack your system with powerful anti-inflammatories and antioxidants to support metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems with Thrivous Geroprotector Stack. 1908 Nobel Prize winner Ilya Mechnikov coined the term “geroprotector,” which has a literal translation of “protecting against aging.” A geroprotector should: Increase healthy lifespan Slow age-related changes in molecular, cellular, and physiological biomarkers Improve the physical, mental, emotional, and social quality of life Thrivous Geroprotector Stack To support life extension and healthy aging, Thrivous Geroprotector Stack incorporates science-backed doses of the most effective nutrients, including the most powerful anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. Included in the stack are Thrivous Tenacity, Thrivous Vitality, and Thrivous Omega. Thrivous Tenacity supports joint and bone health with the anti-inflammatories Turmeric (95% Curcumin) and Boswellia, the antioxidant S Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe), and the nutrient Vitamin D. You can find more information on these ingredients and their clinical studies applicable to joint and bone health here. Thrivous Vitality enhances the metabolic system on a molecular basis, including blood glucose functioning, cholesterol levels, cell functioning, and DNA replication with the anti-inflammatories Berberine and Blueberries (an antioxidant, too), and the antioxidant Coenzyme Q10. You can find more information on these ingredients and their clinical studies applicable to the metabolic system here. Thrivous Omega enhances the cardiovascular system, including the heart and circulation systems, and triglyceride and cholesterol levels, with the anti-inflammatory Omega 3, and the anti-inflammatories and antioxidants Garlic and Pine Bark. You can find more information on these ingredients and their clinical studies applicable to the cardiovascular system here. Thrivous develops its supplement formulas from the best scientific evidence, backed by multiple human studies for each ingredient. Thrivous combs through decades of clinical research and algorithmically ranks hundreds of nutrients by scientific evidence, safety, and efficacy. The anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, and nutrients included in Tenacity, Vitality, and Omega rank highest for the effective support of their intended uses. How to Use Geroprotector Stack Take two capsules each of Tenacity, Vitality, and Omega with a meal daily. Each geroprotector is designed for regular use for extended periods. Thrivous Tenacity, Vitality, and Omega are designed for healthy adults to take daily with meals. The optimal dosage of each supplement may vary based on individual size and sensitivity. The maximum dosage of each supplement is eight capsules a day. Thrivous recommends starting with low dosages and slowly increasing dosages as needed. Seek appropriate medical advice before and during the use of all dietary supplements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Honest Quality and Safety At Thr ...

Autophagy is an important process in cells that helps get rid of damaged or unnecessary parts. When it doesn't work properly, it can lead to poor aging. Exercise is known to activate autophagy and can be helpful in promoting healthy aging. However, it is not clear how exercise affects autophagy in humans, as different studies have had different results. Some scientists aimed to look at all the studies done on exercise and autophagy in humans to try to get a clearer picture of how they are related. Their work is published in the journal Autophagy Reports. STUDY: Does Exercise Regulate Autophagy in Humans? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Study Design This study followed specific guidelines and was registered in a database. The scientists searched for relevant studies on exercise and autophagy in different databases. They used specific search terms and only looked at studies in English that were original and peer-reviewed. They removed duplicates and screened records to find studies that met their inclusion criteria. The studies needed to be about humans, involve physical exercise as the only intervention, and report the protein level of LC3B, which is a common indicator of autophagy. The scientists collected information from articles that met their inclusion criteria, using a standard form. They recorded the author and year of publication, details about the participants, the type of exercise used, the type of tissue studied, and information about the autophagic proteins and their changes after exercise. And they extracted mean and standard deviation values from control and exercise groups for meta-analysis. They used WebPlotDigitizer software to collect data from graphs and contacted the original authors if any data was missing. They also used a software called Review Manager to combine and analyze data from different studies. The scientists used a random-effects model to estimate the effects of the intervention (difference between the exercise and control groups). They also conducted subgroup analysis to see how different types of exercise or tissue types affected autophagic responses. They considered a p-value of less than 0.05 to be statistically significant and used I2 value to determine the level of variation between the studies. Study Results There were 26 studies that were good enough to use. These studies included 519 people who were put into different categories based on their age and health. The studies used different types of exercise equipment and different types of exercise. The scientists looked at different proteins in the studies to see how exercise affected autophagy. They found that different studies showed different results, but they focused on the proteins that were studied the most. They proceeded with a meta-analysis of the studies on the effects of different types of exercise on the levels of autophagy-related proteins in humans. The results show that resistance exercise can increase the levels of LC3-II and SQSTM1, while endurance exercise has no significant effect. Additionally, exercise can have different effects on skeletal muscles and PBMCs. Finally, the study found that older adults may experience lower LC3-II levels following exercise. The meta-analysis results show that long-term resistance exercise boosts autophagy in skeletal muscles, while an acute bout of resistance exercise reduces it. Moderate- and vigorous-intensity endurance exercise had no effect on autophagy. The effects of exercise on autophagy in different tissues or cells are likely to be exercise modality- and tissue-dependent. Further investigation is needed to understand the effects of exercise on autophagy in humans, and how autophagy can be used to treat diseases. Thrivous Recommendation Thrivous generally recommends regular exercise, particularly resistance training. As indicated by this study, long term resistance training can promote healthy aging. For the best results, combine regular exercise with adequate sleep and ...

Scientists have tested the effects of supplemental Vitamin D3, marine Omega 3 fatty acids, and a simple home exercise program on frailty prevention in generally healthy older adults. Frailty is an age-related condition affecting older adults, leading to an increased susceptibility of the individual against multiple negative health outcomes. The negative impact of frailty is expected to increase substantially with the growth of the global population of older adults. However, frailty is potentially reversible if detected early. Previous studies suggested that the supplementation of key nutrients, including Vitamin D and Omega 3, complemented by physical activity, could have positive effects on the progression of frailty in older adults. Preventing pre-frailty among robust older adults appears important, as pre-frail individuals are at risk of adverse outcomes including falls and disability. The DO-HEALTH study of generally healthy older European adults reported that 43% of their participants at baseline were considered pre-frail. The broad aim of DO-HEALTH is to prolong healthy life expectancy in European seniors. The specific aim is to establish whether Vitamin D, Omega 3 fatty acids, and a simple home exercise program can prevent frailty. The participants in the DO-HEALTH trial are more than 2,000 community-dwelling men and women, 70 years old or older. The trial was based on a simple home exercise program and supplements, over a 3 year period. The participants were divided into random groups to separate the effects of individual interventions. The groups were: Vitamin D3, Omega 3, and exercise Vitamin D3 and Omega 3 Vitamin D3 and exercise Vitamin D3 alone Omega 3 and exercise Omega 3 alone Exercise alone Placebo Each participant received two study capsules per day. Each active Vitamin D capsule contained 1000 IU of Vitamin D3. Each active Omega 3 capsule contained 500 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in a ratio of 1:2. Each placebo capsule contained high oleic sunflower oil. The simple home exercise program included an unsupervised strength-training exercise of 30 minutes (three times per week). It also included an attention control exercise program focused on joint flexibility of 30 minutes (three times per week). The results of the study are published in The Journal of Frailty & Aging. They indicate that the combined supplementation of Vitamin D3 plus Omega 3, plus the home exercise program, had significant benefits with regard to the prevention of pre-frailty. However, this benefit was not significant for the 3 treatments individually, highlighting the importance of the additive effect of all three preventive strategies. The scientists conclude that the combined effects of daily supplementation of Vitamin D3 and Omega 3, plus a simple home exercise program, should be further investigated. It may help to perform an in-depth study of the complex underlying mechanisms on the molecular level. Thrivous develops Geroprotector Stack to enhance body function for better aging. Each serving provides clinical doses of Vitamin D3 and Omega 3 Lysine Complex, which is 5 times more bioavailable than common fish oil capsules. As indicated by this study, Geroprotector Stack combined with exercise can enhance healthy aging. Get Thrivous Geroprotector Stack from the Thrivous store today!

Scientists in Korea and Romania have analyzed the effects of garlic supplements on the blood vessels that form the vascular system. The health of the vascular system is important. But aging is associated with decreased vascular function. And decreased vascular function may result in decreased blood flow in the brain, which is essential to healthy aging. Aged or fermented garlic extract contains nitrite, which is converted to nitric oxide in the body. It improves vascular function through increasing the availability of nitric oxide in the vascular system. Nitric oxide causes relaxation of vascular muscles. Its deficiency is associated with a decrease of antioxidants in the blood vessels, disturbed vasodilator and anticoagulant function, increased inflammation, and increased health risks. Positive effects of fermented garlic extract on the vascular system of laboratory animals have been confirmed by earlier studies. With this study, the scientists wanted to confirm the effectiveness and safety of fermented garlic extract on human vasculature. The fermented garlic extract used in this study was prepared as follows. First the skin was peeled from raw garlic. The garlic was then washed, sterilized, ground for 24 hours, and diluted with water. Then, bacteria were added to cause fermentation. The fermentation process was carried out at body temperature for one month. And it ended when the concentration of nitrite in the fermentation broth reached appropriate levels. Finally, the fermented garlic was separated with a centrifuge and concentrated. 58 participants were enrolled in the study. They were adults older than 19 years who had not participated in any other clinical trials in the past 3 months and didn’t have medical conditions that could influence the results of the study. The participants were randomly divided into groups that received either a fermented garlic extract tablet containing 7 mg of nitrite, or a placebo. The scientists measured blood pressure and several parameters related to the flow of blood in the body and the brain in all participants. This was done before and after ingesting the fermented garlic extract tablet or the placebo. A major finding of this study included decreases in blood pressure after ingestion of fermented garlic extract. Another major result, which this study is likely the first to achieve, indicates increases in cerebral blood flow after ingestion of garlic supplements. Thrivous develops Omega Cardioprotector to enhance heart function and circulation for better aging. Each serving of Omega provides a clinical dose of Garlic, as well as complementary nutrients. As indicated by this study, Omega may enhance blood flow in the brain. Thrivous Omega is available to purchase on the Thrivous website.

Scientists in Brazil and Canada have examined the effects of two different doses of caffeine on muscle strength and calcium levels in blood. Caffeine may enhance muscular strength by altering the capacity of calcium release. This study, published in Nutrients, contributes to a better understanding of the effects of acute caffeine supplementation on muscular strength and calcium release rates, which was previously unclear. 21 male recreationally-trained (that is, neither untrained nor well-trained) volunteers participated in this study. All participants had been actively engaged in at least four hours per week of strength training for the 12 months prior to the beginning of the study. They didn’t have any pathology or injury that would alter muscle biology and performance. They didn’t smoke. And they had a habitual intake of less than 150 mg per day of caffeine. At the beginning of the study, the height, body mass, body fat percentage, and related parameters of all participants were measured. The study consisted of exercise sessions after supplements, with either caffeine or a placebo. Researchers measured blood and other parameters before and after exercise, and performed statistical analysis of the results. The test and the statistical analysis methods were designed to exclude irrelevant factors (e.g., the participants didn’t consume food before the exercises). Three exercises (bench press, squat, and deadlift) were selected to assess the dose-response relationship between caffeine supplements and strength performance. These exercises permit evaluating muscle performance on the basis of the weights used and the number of repetitions that the participants were able to endure. The participants randomly received either 6 mg or 8 mg per kilo of body weight of caffeine or a placebo. The caffeine and the placebo were administered using capsules of similar appearance and weight. The two different doses of caffeine permitted studying how the effects of caffeine depend on the dose. The results of this study suggest that a higher dose of caffeine may help to optimize strength performance. Higher doses of caffeine seem to be related to improvements in strength. The results of this study also suggest a relationship between calcium release in plasma and caffeine consumption in a dose-dependent fashion. Enhanced calcium release was only observed when higher doses of caffeine were applied. The scientists warn that the findings of this study are specific to caffeine capsules. The findings cannot necessarily be generalized to the effect of caffeine-containing drinks or other substances that involve a combination of other ingredients. In addition, all participants were recreationally trained young men. Therefore, the findings cannot necessarily be generalized to other populations, including women, youth, and older adults, as well as inactive or well-trained individuals. Thrivous develops Surge Acute Nootropic to enhance energy and focus. Each serving provides a clinical dose of caffeine, along with complementary nutrients. As indicated by this study, Surge may enhance muscle performance. Thrivous Surge is available for purchase online in the Thrivous store.

My hard-working parents instilled in me a mental drive to be 100% productive 100% of the time. However, time and experience have taught me that being totally on, every moment of the day, is counterproductive. After all, when the light switch is on, it is hard to relax and fall asleep. Yes, I want my brain and body to function at 100% when I work, exercise, and engage in life. But, I also need to be able to relax, unwind, and let go of the constant, even frantic thoughts and pressures that keep me from being able to focus calmly and productively. All too often after a “productive” day, I find myself in bed, looking for my brain's off switch. How can I be productive without a good night’s sleep? And what about my advancing years? Are my choices today supporting a healthy, productive, and enjoyable future? Proper sleep, exercise, nutrition, and social engagement are part of the equation for healthy aging. In addition, scientific research indicates some dietary supplements support cognitive function, mental agility and aging, relaxation, and sleep quality. Thrivous Nootropic Stack Thrivous, the human enhancement company, uses the latest scientific research to harness the knowledge and power of biotechnology to provide the greatest potential to support and improve your brain. Thrivous Nootropic Stack includes Thrivous Clarity, Thrivous Alpha, and Thrivous Serenity, and contains dietary supplements in evidence-based effective dosages. The ingredients contained in Nootropic Stack support: Cognition, including long- and short-term memory, focus, and learning. Healthy cognitive aging, by promoting neurotoxin removal, reducing neural stress, and protecting nerve cells. Mood by relaxing, calming, and reducing stress. Reduced fatigue by supporting metabolism, reducing systemic stress, and improving sleep. Sleep quality, including reducing the time it takes to fall asleep and spending more time in slow-wave sleep cycles. Why Use a Stack? If you like to approach life from every angle using scientific backing, Thrivous Nootropic stack is for you. Nootropic Stack provides nutritional and herbal support for current cognitive functioning, healthy cognitive aging, mood, and quality sleep support. In short, life is complicated, and so is the body’s biochemistry. Thrivous develops its nootropic formulas from the best scientific evidence, with each ingredient backed by multiple human studies. After combing through decades of clinical research, Thrivous used algorithms to rank hundreds of nutrients by scientific evidence, safety, and efficacy with effective dosages. Though there is some overlap in ingredient function, in general, Thrivous Clarity supports current cognition with Bacopa Monnieri, L-Theanine, Rhodiola Rosea, B Vitamins, and Zinc; Thrivous Alpha supports healthy cognitive aging and current cognition with Acetyl L Carnitine, R Alpha Lipoic Acid, Phosphatidylserine, and Ginkgo Biloba; and Thrivous Serenity supports mood, fatigue, and quality sleep with L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, Magnesium, and Melatonin. For detailed information about the ingredients in Thrivous Clarity, Thrivous Alpha, and Thrivous Serenity see these articles: Enhance Cognitive Function with Thrivous Clarity Enhance Cognitive Aging with Thrivous Alpha Promote Restorative Sleep with Thrivous Serenity How to Use Nootropic Stack Take Thrivous Alpa and Clarity daily with meals. Take Thrivous Serenity nightly before bed. Thrivous Alpha: Take four capsules daily with meals. Alpa is designed for regular, long term use. The maximum dosage is 16 capsules daily. Thrivous Clarity: Take two capsules daily with your first meal. Normally, Clarity becomes effective within one hour and fully effective within two to three months of regular use. Clarity is designed for regular, long term use. The maximum dosage is four capsules daily. Thrivous Serenity: Take two capsules daily within one hour before bedtime. Only take Serenity before sleep. Normally, Serenity becomes effective within on ...

Scientists have examined the effects of Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha GPC) on blood dynamics and heart rate variability. This was done in women who were overweight or obese, following a sprint interval exercise. While its overall health benefits are well known, intense exercise can have unwanted side effects on vulnerable people. In particular, without preventive measures, overweight people can experience high blood pressure responses and acute cardiac events after intense exercise. Therefore, it is important to find way to reduce the cardiac risks of exercise. Alpha GPC, a food supplement for healthy individuals, is thought to have favorable effects on the central nervous system and possible protective influences on cardiovascular functions. After ingestion, the supplement converts to active forms of choline, an essential nutrient that has many confirmed beneficial effects. However, the influence of Alpha GPC supplements on cardiac functions after strenuous exercise among adults with obesity is not clearly established. Therefore, the scientists conducted a study to validate the hypothesis that Alpha GPC supplements could play a protective role on cardiac autonomic and blood pressure in people with obesity after a sprint interval exercise. Twelve overweight or obese women participated in the study. The participants were between 20 and 40 years old with a high body mass index. Also, the participants had no diagnosed chronic diseases or health conditions, and didn’t use dietary supplements or medications that could affect the results of the study. The participants underwent several sessions, during which they first consumed either 1000 mg of Alpha GPC or a placebo. Then they performed sprint interval exercises following the standard Wingate test protocol. Relevant cardiac and blood related parameters such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure, were measured before and after the ingestion of the supplement or placebo. They were also measured before and after the Wingate test. The measurements were followed by statistical analysis of the data. Throughout the study, the scientists strived to ensure the statistical validity of the data. For example, the Wingate tests were performed at the same time of day. The results of the study are published in Nutrients. The scientists found that Alpha GPC supplements before sprint interval exercise can attenuate the changes in heart rate variability and blood dynamics variables that typically occur during and after intense exercise and recovery. In particular, recovery after strenuous exercise in overweight and obese women is faster. Therefore, the scientists suggest that Alpha GPC may be a useful strategy to reduce the risk associated with intense exercise in individuals who are overweight or obese. The scientists also found indications that Alpha GPC supplements could lead to better exercise performance by increasing power and reducing fatigue. And the scientists recommend more studies to determine the effects of Alpha GPC supplements in more detail. Thrivous develops Alpha Neuroprotector to enhance brain and nerve function for better aging. Each serving provides a clinical dose of Alpha GPC, as well as complementary nutrients. As indicated by this study, Thrivous Alpha may protect the heart from the risks of intense exercise, and improve exercise performance. Alpha Neuroprotector is available online at the Thrivous website.

Scientists led by University of Catania have evaluated the effect of Acetyl-L-carnitine in pre-frail older patients. Pre-frailty is the intermediate stage before frailty, the age-related onset of the gradual decline in body function. Frailty is the decline of physical, cognitive, psychological, and social skills that results in a progressive loss of autonomy and capacity to maintain optimal function. The prevalence of frailty increases in older age. For the purpose of this study, frailty is established on the basis weight loss, exhaustion, low grip strength, slow walking pace, and low physical activity. Pre-frailty is defined as the intermediate condition where two of these five criteria are met. Pre-frailty predicts future disability but might be modifiable, particularly at an early stage. In a previous study, the scientists had observed deficiency of a vitamin-like compound, called Carnitine, in frail and prefrail patients. A variant of the compound called Acetyl-L-Carnitine is known to have many physiological effects and has been used to enhance cognition. Also, studies have shown positive effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on the aging brain. The scientists conducted this study to evaluate the effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine in pre-frail older patients. 92 patients older than 65 participated in this study, conducted between 2009 and 2017. The participants were divided into two groups. The participants in one group took 1.5 g of Acetyl-L-Carnitine orally, twice a day for three months. The participants in the other group took a placebo consisting of inert material. The participants were then followed for another three month period, during which the efficacy of the treatment was evaluated. The scientists administered physical and cognitive tests, based on the frailty criteria listed above, to the participants. The scientists also collected and analyzed blood and urine samples to measure and evaluate biomarkers related to frailty. The supplementation of Acetyl-L-Carnitine was well tolerated, with no significant adverse effects. And the results of the study indicate that Acetyl-L-Carnitine treatment seems to delay and alleviate aging-related degenerative disorders of the elderly in prefrail subjects. The beneficial effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on frailty status were confirmed on both brain and body in older prefrail patients. In particular, Acetyl-L-Carnitine supplements resulted in small but measurable improvements in muscle health by reducing oxidative stress, decreasing inflammatory response, and activating enzymes involved in the defense against oxidative damage. On the mental side, Acetyl-L-Carnitine supplements resulted in small but measurable improvements in memory, attention, and learning. The scientists are persuaded that improvements in alleviating the aging process need strategies to forestall frailty. Acetyl-L-Carnitine supplements have been found to induce small but clinically-meaningful changes. And these findings are relevant for public health. Thrivous develops Alpha Neuroprotector to enhance brain and nerve function for better aging. Each serving of Alpha provides a clinical dose of Acetyl L Carnitine, as well as complementary nutrients. As indicated in this study, Alpha may decrease the negative effects of aging on the brain. Thrivous Alpha is available online in the Thrivous store.

Scientists led by Harvard Medical School have shown that degradation in the way DNA is organized and regulated - known as epigenetics - can drive aging in an organism, independently of changes to the genetic code itself. “We believe ours is the first study to show epigenetic change as a primary driver of aging in mammals,” says research leader David Sinclair in a press release issued by Harvard Medical School. A story published in Time Magazine explains that epigenetic information is what makes skin cells turn into skin cells and brain cells into brain cells. “It does this by providing different instructions to different cells for which genes to turn on, and which to keep silent.” Epigenetics “is like a cell’s operating system, telling it how to use the same genetic material differently,” notes one of the scientists in the press release. In a research paper published in Cell, the scientists report that, by manipulating the epigenome, aging can be driven forward and backward. Not only were the scientists able to age mice on an accelerated timeline, but they could also reverse the effects of that aging and restore some of the biological signs of youthfulness to the animals. The scientists experimented with laboratory mice. First, the scientists used a technology platform called ICE (Inducible Changes to the Epigenome) to accelerate the breaks in chromosomes that mammalian cells experience every day in response to things like breathing, exposure to sunlight and cosmic rays, and contact with certain chemicals. The mice began to look and act old. Quantitatively, an aging clock developed by the scientists revealed a rise in biomarkers that indicate aging. Then, the scientists gave the mice a gene therapy that reversed the epigenetic changes they’d caused. The gene therapy delivered three genes that are active in stem cells and can help rewind mature cells to an earlier state. The mice’s organs and tissues resumed a youthful state. The therapy “set in motion an epigenetic program that led cells to restore the epigenetic information they had when they were young,” says Sinclair. “It’s a permanent reset... like rebooting a malfunctioning computer.” “We hope these results are seen as a turning point in our ability to control aging,” adds Sinclair. “This is the first study showing that we can have precise control of the biological age of a complex animal; that we can drive it forwards and backwards at will.” The findings show that a breakdown in epigenetic information causes mice to age and that restoring the integrity of the epigenome reverses those signs of aging. The findings also support the hypothesis that mammalian cells maintain a kind of backup copy of epigenetic software that, when accessed, can allow an aged, epigenetically scrambled cell to reboot into a youthful, healthy state. Of course, medical applications are a long way off and will take extensive experiments in multiple cell and animal models. But Sinclair is persuaded that scientists should think big and keep trying in order to achieve such dreams. The scientists were able to rejuvenate cells in mice. But will the process work in humans? That, as reported by Time Magazine, is Sinclair’s next step. The scientists are already testing the system in non-human primates. “We don’t understand how rejuvenation really works, but we know it works,” concludes Sinclair as reported by Time Magazine. “We can use it to rejuvenate parts of the body and hopefully make medicines that will be revolutionary. Now, when I see an older person, I don’t look at them as old, I just look at them as someone whose system needs to be rebooted. It’s no longer a question of if rejuvenation is possible, but a question of when.”