Eat a healthy diet. Exercise. Reduce Stress. Don’t smoke. We get a lot of advice about how to delay or slow the aging process, but our bodies still get the better of us in the end. True, we are living longer than our ancestors but eventual decay and illness seem to be hard wired into our genetic code. Lifestyle choices may gain us a few years — but what if science could take us ever farther?
Just a century ago living to 60 was a “ripe old age”. Today, it’s not even retirement age. In 2011, the average life expectancy for Canadians is about 81 years, according to estimates from the CIA World Fact Book. Remember, that’s just an average: women can expect to live a little longer — about 84 years — while men lag behind at just under 79 years.
However, read the obituary section and you’ll realize these numbers don’t tell the whole story — more people are living well into their eighties, nineties and beyond. And when experts talk longevity, the numbers get much higher than that.
Here’s a quick look at some of the innovations that may soon extend people’s lives from a century to well beyond.
Caloric restriction
It may be hard to swallow, but caloric restriction (or CR for short) has been found to contribute to longer life spans in animal studies. Contrary to what you might think, the diet regime doesn’t simply mean eating less — adherents do consume fewer calories, but nutrition is never sacrificed. (For instance, followers eat nutrient dense foods like vegetables and lean proteins but forgo simple sugars and flours.)
While research in humans is still ongoing, some studies have found extra benefits in addition to longevity, like reduced risks for heart disease and improved memory. One recent British study even found that eating as little as 600 calories a day for a short period of time can actually reverse type 2 diabetes in some patients. In most cases, CR is a life-long commitment — and one that should only be undertaken with expert supervision.
However, more research still needs to be done. Animals have a shorter lifespan than humans, so it’s easier to see the effects of CR — but the results may not necessarily apply to people. Current research is also looking at different types of dietary restrictions, such as restricting certain kinds of protein to help fight cancer. It could be a long while yet before experts full understand the benefits — and potential pitfalls — of CR in humans.
Like to learn more? For more information, visit the CR Society website.
Gene therapy
Some people age faster than others — but why? And what can we do about it? Genes make a big difference, but we aren’t just talking about the genetic material we inherit from our family. Instead, scientists are taking a close look at the genes that affect aging — or rather, the processes that affect these genes.
