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Unlocking the Science of Longevity: Latest Research & Insights

What’s new in longevity news February 2025?

In our latest longevity newsletter, we cover new longevity studies on extending lifespan of humans, anti-ageing news into proteins and ways to improve health and healthspan, as well as new insights into longevity.

Receiving Care in Preferred Language Extends Longevity

A new study suggests that people with hypertension who receive care in their preferred language are less likely to experience major heart issues or die.  

The longevity research highlights the importance of effective communication between doctors and patients.  

Language barriers in immigrant-rich countries like the US and Canada make medical communication difficult for many people.  

In a study of over 100,000 patients, researchers found that those who spoke languages other than English or French were 36 per cent less likely to experience serious heart problems when treated in their preferred language.  

The study also showed a 27 per cent lower rate of hospitalisation and a 28 per cent lower rate of death for those who received care in their preferred language.  

Addressing language barriers in healthcare could significantly improve patient outcomes, emphasising the need for healthcare systems to collect patients’ preferred languages to match them with the right providers.  

AI technology, particularly large language models, is emerging as a promising solution to bridge language gaps in healthcare, with some studies showing AI can outperform human doctors in communication.

Using Plasma to Reduce Inflammation After Surgery 

A new study shows that plasma proteins from young donors can reduce inflammation after surgery.  

The trial tested a plasma fraction called GRF6021 on older patients undergoing hip or knee replacements.  

The plasma came from young donors, with an average age of 35, and was administered four times around the surgery.  

The study found that GRF6021 significantly affected inflammation pathways, reducing inflammatory factors in the immune system after surgery.  

Patients who received the treatment used less opioid pain medication, especially those who experienced more pain.  

While the trial did not show major improvements in patients' overall recovery, there were signs of faster pain relief and less fatigue.  

This trial demonstrates the potential of young plasma proteins as a treatment for inflammation, but further research is needed.

Further Reading: The Best Anti-Inflammatory Supplements

Reevaluating Drug Combinations to Treat Dementia

A recent review has suggested reexploring drug combinations to address the complex nature of dementia. 

The study examined 14 research papers involving 139 million people to identify patterns in how drugs affect dementia risk.  

Some medications, like antimicrobials, vaccines and anti-inflammatories, were found to reduce dementia risk, possibly by addressing infections or inflammation.  

Other drugs, including antipsychotics and diabetes medications, were linked to increased dementia risk, though some associations may be due to reverse causation.  

The study also found conflicting results for drugs like antihypertensives and antidepressants, where some data suggested they might increase or decrease dementia risk.  

The researchers believe their findings can help prioritise medications for future studies aimed at repurposing them to treat or prevent dementia.  

However, they noted limitations in the data, such as missing information on dosage, over-the-counter medications, and potential confounding factors.  

Further Reading: Improve Cognitive Health with Nootropics

Improving Tendon Health with Specific Proteins

A new study reveals that cochlin, a protein that decreases with age, is essential for tendon health.  

Researchers found that mice lacking cochlin had weaker tendons that were less able to handle stress, with tendons in cochlin-less mice having wider collagen fibrils and decreased stiffness, especially as they aged.  

Although the tendons could not withstand as much load, the mice's ability to heal tendon injuries was not affected.  

Gene analysis shows that the absence of cochlin impacted various cellular functions, including protein conversion and RNA metabolism.  

The study suggests cochlin is necessary for tendon maturation but does not directly influence healing, with the researchers believing cochlin affects tendon health by binding to collagen and influencing its structure.  

Future research will explore how cochlin and other proteins related to the extracellular matrix affect ageing and degeneration.

Using a Protein to Treat Brain Decline

Researchers have found that overexpressing a protein called Hevin in middle-aged mice boosts cognitive abilities.  

Hevin, a molecule produced by brain cells called astrocytes, helps with the formation of new synapses.  

The study shows that Hevin is downregulated in Alzheimer's patients and Alzheimer's mouse models.  

Injecting mice with a virus that increases Hevin production improved their cognitive performance in various tests.  

Both Alzheimer’s mice and healthy mice with increased Hevin showed better memory and learning abilities compared to their control groups.  

While Hevin did not affect amyloid beta deposits in the brains of Alzheimer’s mice, it did alter other brain proteins involved in cognition.  

The mechanism by which Hevin works seems to differ between Alzheimer’s and non-Alzheimer’s mice, suggesting diverse effects.  

Although the results are promising, more research is needed to determine if this could lead to therapies for human patients to increase healthspan.

A Link Between Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Type 2 Diabetes

A new study suggests that damaged mitochondria may contribute to type 2 diabetes by disrupting insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.  

Researchers found that mitochondrial dysfunction in these cells activates a stress response that causes beta cells to lose their ability to produce insulin.  

The study revealed that cells from diabetes patients had impaired mitochondrial function and defective quality control mechanisms.  

When mice with impaired mitochondrial function were studied, the same stress response was triggered, causing beta cells to become immature and ineffective.  

This dysfunction was also seen in liver and fat cells, suggesting the problem affects multiple tissues in the body.  

When the researchers blocked the stress response in mice, it helped restore normal beta cell function and insulin production.  

The findings open up new possibilities for treating diabetes by targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and the stress response, possibly leading to new therapies that address the root causes of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Further Reading: Can Diabetic Patients Take NMN?

New Insights into Stem Cells and Longevity 

A new study has found that some hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) remain youthful with age while others lose their ability to function.  

HSCs are responsible for creating blood cells but tend to mutate and lose function as animals age.  

Researchers discovered that younger HSCs performed better in blood cell production compared to older HSCs.  

When transplanting young and old HSCs into mice, the young cells produced more blood cells and improved the mice’s overall health.  

The team identified a specific marker, CD150, which could help distinguish between functional and non-functional HSCs in older animals.  

Cells with low levels of CD150 were able to produce more functional blood cells and improve the health of mice, while those with high CD150 struggled.  

Mice given the CD150-low cells performed better and lived longer, suggesting a potential treatment for age-related blood disorders.  

Future research may focus on removing dysfunctional HSCs in aged animals, possibly leading to new therapies for human age-related diseases.

How Genetics Play a Role in Eye Ageing

A new study reveals how genetic factors influence retinal ageing and degeneration, with potential links to brain health.  

The research analysed genetically diverse mouse strains to understand how genetics affect retinal ageing and found that genetic differences impact retinal cell function and survival, with two specific mouse strains showing significant age-related retinal degeneration.  

WSB mice showed early photoreceptor dysfunction, while NZO mice displayed changes similar to diabetic retinopathy.  

These findings suggest that genetic background plays a major role in retinal degeneration and may influence susceptibility to brain diseases.  

The study’s results may help identify new biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s but also emphasise the need for genetic diversity in natural ageing research to better understand neurodegenerative conditions.

Life Expectancy Growth is Slowing

Life expectancy improvements in Europe have slowed significantly since 2011 and experts warn that without stronger public health measures, younger generations may not live as long as their predecessors.  

The life expectancy research attributes this decline to rising obesity, poor diets, physical inactivity and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The longevity analysis covered data from over 160 countries, including the UK, showing varying trends in life expectancy and risk factors.  

England experienced the most significant slowdown in life expectancy, with deaths from cardiovascular diseases playing a major role.  

The need for healthier lifestyles and bold government interventions has been emphasised, with countries like Norway and Sweden, with their strong public health policies, maintaining better life expectancy trends.  

After 2011, major health risks such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol either worsened or stagnated across Europe.  

Deaths from cardiovascular diseases were the main driver of slowed life expectancy improvements from 2011 to 2019, with the COVID-19 pandemic further contributing to declines in life expectancy between 2019 and 2021.  

Despite setbacks, experts believe there is still potential for longer lives, especially with improvements in preventing early deaths.  

Countries with effective health policies, like Norway and Belgium, showed resilience to health risks, while the UK faced higher risks.  

The study calls for stronger government action to reduce obesity, poor diet, and inactivity for better long-term population health.  

End Note

That’s it for the February edition of our longevity research news. Each month, we prepare a longevity report on the science of longevity, so be sure to check out our previous editions here.

As always healthy living and longevity start with improving your lifestyle, such as having a healthy diet, exercising, getting enough sleep and reducing your stress, but staying informed about any new developments in the field of longevity and ageing is important too!

We write weekly blogs on matters surrounding your health to keep you informed and if you’re ready to start boosting your health outside of lifestyle changes, you can check out Xandro’s range of supplements!

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