What makes us old?
Scientists at the MPI for Molecular Genetics supply model of the molecular basis of aging
Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have managed to deliver through the study of age-related changes in gene activity of mice an explanation for the cause of aging. In the journal Biogerontology the researchers explain that the aging of an organism depends on how stable is his metabolism. Scientists provide a model before, describing the molecular mechanisms of aging and is in a position to explain individual and species-specific differences in life expectancy (Brink et al., Biogerontology 2008, DOI 10.1007 / s10522-008-9197-8).
Why do we age, is a frequent subject of research.
Several theories deal with the mechanisms underlying biological processes underlying aging. Meanwhile, there are a number of findings that allow a first insight into the process of aging. These insights are the prerequisite to treat age-related diseases such as adult-onset diabetes, Alzheimer's and certain forms of cancer effectively.
Hitherto, a large number of scientists assumed that aging primarily by an increase in free radicals is associated in the organism. These are extremely reactive molecules that arise in various metabolic processes and are required by the body, among other things for the defense against infection. However, if very many of these free radicals which can cause damage to the cells. By contrast, says a "theory of metabolic stability" developed Institute for Molecular Genetics of Lloyd Demetrius, a mathematician in the Department of Bioinformatics at the Max Planck that the aging of an organism is determined not by the increasing number of free radicals in the cell, but by their ability stable by various regulatory mechanisms to obtain balanced concentrations of free radicals and other metabolic products upright.
To investigate this, found the theorist Demetrius and the molecular biologist James Adjaye, head of a research group at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, together and analyzed total 25.000 genes of mice. They noted that change activity and regulation of about 700 genes with increasing age of the animals. Thus, in older mice decreases the activity of those gene networks, which are involved in the metabolism of food components or of the production of energy for the cells. In contrast, the activity of the networks or Genverbünde that are responsible for the homeostatic control of the production of free radicals increased. Their findings refute the assumption that only the increase of free radicals responsible for the classic symptoms of aging. Instead, the scientists believe that the ability to maintain a consistent level of free radicals upright - the researchers call homeostasis - the most important feature for the biological age of a cell.
Accordingly should attempt to slow the aging process, not be to take high doses of antioxidants influence on the production of free radicals. The aim should rather be to stabilize the metabolic networks of an organism and thus the homeostasis. A diet, as recommended by the nutrition research, with a balanced level of unsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins, moderate alcohol consumption and physical activity are the best way to preserve the stability of metabolic networks and slow down the natural aging process of the body.
Original work:
Brink, TC, Demetrius, L., Lehrach, H., Adjaye, J .: Age-related transcriptional changes in gene expression in different organs of mice supports the metabolic stability theory of aging. Biogerontology 2008, 10.1007 DOI / s10522-008-9197-8
Source: Berlin [MPI]
