Once upon the time, there was a Greek hero named Achilles, who was dipped in a dangerous river named Styx by his mother.
This river flowed from the bowels of the earth into the realms of the underworld. The parts of his body that connected with the river became imperishable. It was his mother, Thetis, who foresaw his tragic untimely death, and wanting to grant him immortality, performed this ritual.
Now it so happened, that she held an infant Achilles by his heel as she did so, and thus the heel, which was in her grasp all along, remained untouched by the waters of Styx, and thus vulnerable. Achilles was killed during the Trojan War by an arrow shot by Paris that struck his heel. This is the origin of the term, ‘Achilles Heel’. A vulnerability that often comes with great strength and immense power.
This is one of the tales of caution that accompany the idea of longevity or immortality.
Since time immemorial, humans have wanted to cheat death.
Remember the story of ‘Amrit Manthan’ for Immortality? Or the Penance of the Asuras for boons? The search for the tree of life? The fountain of youth? Though humanity vilifies the vain attempts of Voldemort to make Horcruxes in his quest for longevity, are we any different?
The serums for our bodies, The detox juices, the intermittent fasting protocols, the fitness training, the shots and the botox, all in vain attempts to look and stay young. For as long as humans have told stories, they have sought to outrun death. What was once a quest for ambrosia is now what biotechnology engineers in its labs. What were once ancient mythological motifs are now the templates of modern genetics.
Let’s make ourselves familiar with a few of the new wonders in the scientific world.
1.The CRISPR Technology:
Let’s start with the latest!
There was a recent article about how a DNA technology called CRISPR helped ‘edit’ a faulty DNA in a baby with an inborn error of metabolism, with respect to the Krebs cycle, completely rewriting the script of her fate. This technology is being hailed as a giant step in uncovering the molecular pathways that shape the lifespan itself.
After extensive years, the scientists have discovered a genetic template of sorts, which monitor the cell growth cycles. This template may allow the researchers to pinpoint genetic factors that monitor and control the insulin signaling, mTOR, and sirtuins in a cell, making it possible to finetune the cellular maintenance, energy generation, enzyme production, free radical generation and thus influence our lifespan.
Theoretically, tapering with the CRISPR–Cas systems can edit a lot of faulty DNA scripts which hastens cell ageing and cell death.
- Internal Clock Theory and the telomeres:
We all have a circadian rhythm, which is controlled by the Suprachiasmastic Nucleus in our brains, amoung other factors. There are multiple genetic pathways which ultimately influence our cell behaviours – how our cells handle stress, how fast the telomere decay happens, etc.
Telomeres have been since long mentioned as the checkpoints of our cell metabolic pathways. Each telomere has a specific length, beyond which it cannot shorten. With each cell division, the telomere undergoes shortening, and with each shortening, the telomere becomes less stable. After a specified number of cell divisions, the cell is supposed to self destruct, via the genetic pathways (again inscribed in our DNA). If the Apoptosis fails to detect this overaged telomered cell, the resultant lines of this affected cell are prone to malignant changes.
There is a cluster of genes wired into our internal clocks : The Clock gene expression (e.g., CLOCK, BMAL1, PER, CRY) which express themselves strongly in the aging cells, thus controlling aging.
This checkpoint system weakens with age, and hence the aging is accompanied by an overall increased inflammation, and impaired mitochondrial function.
Stabilising the telomere via altering these pathways using the pharmacological clock modulators like melatonin can provide these pathways with a metabolic stability, and halt the telomere associated cellular breakdown.
- Epigenetics:
Epigenetics means simply switching the genes on and off, as per our current requirements. Unlike the genetic mutations, which are permanent, the epigenetic is a new branch of genomics that aims to switch on and switch on a single gene instead of a total genetic code. These genes can be (theoretically) switched on later as needed.
Via genetic modifications pertaining to the methylation of DNA or via the histone proteins, we can estimate the epigenetic age of a cell with remarkable accuracy.
With an accelerated epigenetic age—when biological age exceeds chronological age—there is a higher risk of diseases like cancer, dementia , and chronic diseases like cardiovascular problems. What is more interesting is that the aspects of the epigenetic clock can be reversed, suggesting aging may be modifiable.
4.Hormonal reversal of ageing ( The neuroendocrine Theory)
One of the oldest ideas relating to senescence suggests that the aging process is fundamentally driven by the decline in the function of the neuroendocrine system, which includes the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and other endocrine glands. The sarcopenia, the osteoporosis, the decline in thyroid and Insulin sensitivity weakens the cell functions and thus causes ageing. This is where the Osteoporosis Therapy, the HRT and the microdosing of hormones comes into play.
Are there any day to day lifestyle changes that can influence aging behaviours and improve longevity?
Naturally!
1 Metabolic health and diet:
Limiting the consumption of ultra processed foods, sugary food and simple carbs can reduce the glucose spikes, the formation of Advanced Glycated Proteins, that contribute to cellular stiffening and ageing. Consumption of food rich in polyphenols (The purple foods like black berries, aubergines, purple carrots, grapes) has known to improve metabolic health.
- Fasting:
Since ages, fasting has had religious significance. Recent research has shown that a daily fasting window of around 13-15h helps stabilise the metabolic imbalances and fine tunes the energy biochemistry. What’s more, it promotes autophagy, a controlled cell destruction, esp the mutant or damaged cells.
- Exercise:
Yoga for the mind, weight for the muscles and aerobics for the heart. The age of belief in exercising your way to health still holds truth. Multiple studies have shown that the Vo2 max and the muscle mass are the strongest indicators of longevity.
- Sleep like its a medicine:
Because it is! It encourages cellular repair, builds up the neurochemical pathways which eventually affect the internal body clock and cuts down the cortisol induced stress damage. A daily good quality sleep of 7-9h is a must for a long,healthy life.
Modern medicine will one day definitely achieve the holy grail – immortality, but at what costs? The ecological burden of an immortal population is too terrible to bear. Also immortality, without vitality, is a treacherous scenario, as we still do not know how our minds and souls adapt to living forever. The whole concept of ‘conquering’ death is against spirituality. We must take a pause and consider, for one must be very careful of what one wishes for, lest it come true.
