A major milestone in understanding aging

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Scientists are one step closer to rewinding the clock on aging By Alice Park Senior Health Correspondent Even if there isn’t a fountain of youth, scientists are getting closer to figuring out the biology behind what drives aging—and, ultimately, how to reverse it. Yesterday, David Sinclair, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, and his team published findings that represent an important advance in understanding what causes cells to age. Yes, the work involved mice, but what the group described in the study is intruiging: a clock that can accelerate aging in the animals and then reverse it through gene therapy that makes the aged mice biologically youthful again. Here are the highlights of the work: The underlying idea is that epigenetic changes—that is, changes in how DNA is activated in different cells by environmental as well as other factors—can, over time, go awry and make cells age faster. Sinclair’s team injected mice with certain genes that seem to partially reset the epigenetic instructions in the older animals’ cells—a process somewhat similar to the way computers shed corrupt connections with a reboot. Whether the same process can work safely in human cells isn’t clear, but the team is now testing it in the lab. READ THE STORY.

What else to read Essay: How I Found My Desire to Live After My Wife Died By Matthew Salesses Novelist Matthew Salesses needed wonder more than ever after his wife died Read More » Why You Shouldn't Exercise If You're Feeling Sick By Markham Heid Exercise won't make you better, but it could make your illness worse. (Originally published in 2018.) Read More » Why Saunas Are So Good for You By Amanda MacMillan Research shows that time in a hot, dry sauna reduces people's blood pressure and has a direct effect on heart health. (Originally published in 2018.) Read More » How to Avoid Getting Sick on a Plane, According to Science By Jamie Ducharme Choosing the right seat may be the simplest way to stay healthy on your next flight. (Originally published in 2018.) Read More » 5 Steps to Take to Become a Morning Person By Angela Haupt Seeking out natural light, sticking to a consistent schedule, and easing in gradually can help. Read More »

ONE LAST READ Recognizing the signs of seasonal affective disorder Millions of Americans suffer from winter-pattern seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, triggered by dark, dreary weather. In a visual piece for the Washington Post, Lindsey Bever and Lauren Tierney describe the symptoms, including a change in sleep habits and craving carbs, as well as treatment options. Read More »

A quick programming note: The Health Matters newsletter will be off on Monday Jan. 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, click here. Today's newsletter was written by Alice Park and edited by Angela Haupt.

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