Is Aging Reversible? A Scientific Look with David Sinclair | David Sinclair | TEDxBoston

Summary

The speaker discusses the revolutionary advancements in aging and longevity science, suggesting that humans can potentially live beyond 150 years. He introduces the idea that aging is a reversible condition tied to changes in the epigenome, which controls gene expression. By reprogramming genes and using compounds like NAD boosters, researchers have reversed aging in mice and even regrown damaged nerves. The speaker envisions a future where age reversal will extend not just physical longevity, but also cognitive function, reshaping human life and health in unprecedented ways.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Aging science has made revolutionary progress over the last 25 years, changing the way we think about longevity and aging.
• 📅 The speaker believes that the first person to live to 150 years old has already been born, and recent advancements make even longer lifespans plausible.
• 👨‍👦 The speaker contrasts the fates of his grandmother and father: while his grandmother aged traditionally, his father is thriving at 82 due to advancements in health and longevity practices.
• 🧠 The speaker argues that aging should be treated as a medical condition, not a natural and unchangeable process.
• 🧬 A new theory of aging centers around the epigenome, which controls gene expression and loses its effectiveness over time due to 'scratches' that accumulate, similar to a scratched CD.
• 🔄 Sirtuins, a group of genes that sense environmental stressors like fasting and exercise, play a crucial role in defending against aging by maintaining the epigenome.
• 🧪 Experiments in mice have shown that it's possible to accelerate aging by damaging the epigenome, but also to reverse aging by resetting it.
• 🐁 Mice treated with NAD boosters or sirtuin-activating molecules demonstrated improved health, including cardiovascular rejuvenation and extended vitality.
• 🔧 The Yamanaka factors, which can reprogram adult cells into a younger state, have been used to successfully reverse aspects of aging in animal models, like nerve regeneration.
• 🔮 The speaker envisions a future where humans can regularly reset their biological age, potentially reversing age-related conditions and radically extending healthy life spans.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker's field of study?

The speaker's field of study focuses on Aging Science and Longevity Science, which aims to understand and potentially reverse the aging process, moving beyond just treating diseases commonly associated with aging.

Why does the speaker avoid the term 'anti-aging'?

As a scientist, the speaker avoids the term 'anti-aging' because it is not commonly used in the scientific community. They focus more on the biological understanding of aging and longevity rather than the commercialized notion of 'anti-aging.'

What is the speaker's prediction about human longevity?

The speaker predicts that the first person to live to 150 years has already been born, and new developments in the last five years suggest that the potential for human longevity could extend even further, with no clear limits in sight.

What personal experiences shaped the speaker’s perspective on aging?

The speaker was raised by their grandmother, who lived through World War II and the Great Depression. Their grandmother's difficult aging process, contrasting with their father’s more successful aging due to modern science, influenced the speaker’s passion for improving human longevity.

How does the speaker challenge conventional views on aging?

The speaker challenges the conventional view that aging is a normal, inevitable process by arguing that aging should be treated as a medical condition, just like cancer or heart disease, and that efforts should be made to extend healthy life.

What are the three main biological defenses against aging mentioned by the speaker?

The three main defenses against aging are MTOR (responding to fasting), AMPK (responding to low energy and lack of sugar), and sirtuins (responding to adversity, exercise, and fasting). These defenses help protect and maintain the body's health.

What is the Information Theory of Aging?

The Information Theory of Aging suggests that aging is caused by the gradual loss of the body's ability to properly read and maintain the epigenome, which controls how genes are expressed in different cells. Aging is compared to scratches on a compact disc that disrupt the ability to play music correctly.

What role do sirtuins play in the aging process according to the speaker?

Sirtuins are a group of genes and proteins that protect the body by maintaining the epigenome. When activated, they help repair and defend against damage caused by aging, potentially slowing or even reversing some aspects of the aging process.

How does the speaker describe the potential to reverse aging?

The speaker describes the potential to reverse aging by resetting the epigenome, essentially ‘polishing the CD’ to restore the original information and function. Experiments in mice have shown that it is possible to reverse aging in organs such as the eyes and brain, leading to restored function.

What are the implications of the speaker's research for the future of human health?

The speaker believes that the future of human health lies in controlling aging itself. By resetting the aging process and maintaining a healthy epigenome, humans may one day be able to significantly extend both lifespan and healthspan, potentially slowing or reversing aging-related diseases.