A Modified Mediterranean Diet Reduces Unhealthy Visceral Fat
There is ever-growing evidence that achieving a healthy diet and healthy amounts of body fat are more nuanced than simply accounting for calories or body fat percentage. Recent research has found that polyphenols, contained in plants, likely contribute to the health benefits provided by a healthy diet, specifically aiding in reduction of unhealthy visceral fat.
2022 OFAS Report of Directors
As the year comes to a close, we at the Orentreich Foundation for the Advancement of Science (OFAS) wish to thank our friends around the globe for their continued support. The 2022 Report of the Director is available for download.
Cellular Reprogramming, a Viable Means of Lifespan Extension
A single short interval of cellular reprogramming can provide a robust and lasting systemic improvement to both the rate of aging and the function in numerous tissues.
A Bunch of Grapes a Day Might Keep the Doctor Away
Nutrition is vital to maintaining health and promoting longevity. The consumption of grapes has long been thought to impart health benefits, and numerous studies have attempted to uncover the phytochemicals responsible for this; however, the search for one or more specific molecules responsible for the putative benefits of dietary grapes has remained elusive. A recent study focuses on the consumption of whole grapes, providing evidence that dietary supplementation with grapes has the potential to improve the quality and duration of life.
Key Feature of Ant Longevity Revealed
In an attempt to understand secrets of longevity, researchers are focusing on the peculiar lifespan of ants, specifically queen ants. The typical lifespan of a worker ant is a modest 1 to 2 years; queen ants, however, can live up to 30 times longer. New research reveals the mechanism responsible for this extreme lifespan extension.
Pharmaceutical Targeting of Mitochondria to Extend Lifespan
Research is increasingly producing novel pharmaceutical interventions to improve the quality and duration of human lifespan. Recent research explores a novel class of compounds designed to help sustain mitochondrial function in an effort to improve both lifespan and healthspan.
Cannabis-Derived Compound Extends Lifespan through Common Pro-Longevity Pathway
Evidence has emerged that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-hallucinogenic compound derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, extends the lifespan of specific animal models. A recent study examines the mechanisms by which it works.
2022 Norman Orentreich Award for Young Investigator on Aging
OFAS presented the third Dr. Norman Orentreich Award for Young Investigator on Aging to Maximilian Schmid-Siegel, a Ph.D. candidate at the Medical University of Vienna Institute of Medical Genetics (Vienna, Austria). The award was presented at the 15th International...
An intermittent form of methionine restriction protects against obesity and may extend lifespan
An intermittent variation of the dietary intervention methionine restriction protects against obesity and provides additional metabolic health benefits to mice, according to a study from the Johnson Laboratory, recently published in Aging Cell.
Compound Found in Traditional Chinese Medicine Extends Lifespan
Recent examination of crude extracts from plants utilized in traditional Chinese medicine has identified the herb Psoralea corylifolia to have potential lifespan-extending properties. Further analysis demonstrated a single compound, corylin, to be responsible for improving lifespan; it was shown to function through the mTOR pathway, a well-defined pathway known to modulate lifespan in a multitude of organisms.
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