Yup. Obsessed with this whole anti-aging thing. When you start to get creaky and droopy, you will too.
So in my Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal issue on anti-aging, they had a nice summary of what exactly is aging at the cellular level. I know this is very science-y and boring, but when you want to figure out how to reverse aging at a cellular level, you need to understand all the issues and try to knock them off, one by one, if you can. Aging isn’t a simple equation. It is a complex multifaceted thing. You can explore our past anti-aging blogs to learn more about the topic.
What does aging skin look like?
It makes less collagen and elastin. The extracellular matrix degrades. The skin thins, turns over more slowly, and can’t regenerate as well. Wounds heal more slowly. Pigmentation forms. There are less blood vessels.
So how can we address these?
- Genomic instability —-> try to do effective DNA repair
- Telomere shortening —->Telomere reactivation
- Epigenetic alterations —> Epigenetic reprogramming to a more youthful state
- Loss of proteostasis —-> Activate autophages to removed damaged proteins
- Deregulation of nutrient sensing —-> Compounds to mimic favorable energy sensing
- Mitochondrial dysfunction —> Remove the dysfunctional mitochondria
- Stem cell exhaustion —-> Stem cell therapies
- Altered intercellular communication —> reduce chronic inflamm – aging
How can we do this?
One approach is NAD+. There is loads of evidence that NAD+ helps keep enzymes for cellular repair and longevity. It is a key for cellular signaling. We know it decreases as you age. Low NAD+ is seen in accelerated aging disorders and age-related disease.
Mice studies show when you return NAD+ to youthful levels, you can see cardiovascular improvement and reversal of metabolic conditions. Muscle function, endurance, regeneration after injury, rescue vision, improved cognition. There is even some thought it may help fertility.
In this journal article “NAD+ in Regenerative Medicine”, it identifies studies showing NAD+ addresses all the cellular issues listed above.
More to come.