Treating old age
Could your doctor prescribe drugs to assure a healthy lifespan, even in our older years? You just might be able to buy them in a decade or so. Laura Niedernhofer, MD, PhD, who leads the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism, explained the new field of geroscience during UMRA’s January 2024 Living Well Workshop. She is a biochemist and physician who works with five other faculty and a large team of graduate students to identify and determine treatments for the biology of aging.
Why does this matter? Most people 65 and older have multiple chronic conditions. For the first time in our history, there will soon be more people over the age of 65 than under, and they will need an increasing number of people to care for them. If we solve a single disease, such as cancer, there are still enough other diseases that it wouldn’t make a dent in the overall picture.
Instead of focusing on one disease, Dr. Niedernhofer and her research team are targeting the risk factor common to most of these conditions, which is age, itself. For example, age is the greatest risk factor in heart disease. Their goal is to increase the healthspan of older adults, not necessarily the lifespan (total number of years lived.)
Senescent cells play a causal role in aging
The team’s focus is on senescent cells, cells that stop replicating or dividing and play a causal role in aging. Senolytics are drugs that are aimed at removing senescent cells. These include many natural products as well as drugs that are already FDA-approved and could be repurposed as gerotherapeutics. At least 40 clinical trials are now in progress nationally to test different senolytics. Dr. Niedernhofer is developing a statewide clinical trial network in Minnesota.
It still is important to eat well (and less, or at least over a shorter time period each day), exercise, avoid smoking, and follow other common healthy living advice.
To learn more about this innovative research into therapeutic approaches to aging, watch the video recording of the webinar. In addition, Dr. Niedernhofer provided a list of books, articles, and podcasts she thinks are valuable.
—Julie Sweitzer, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair
Therapeutic approaches to aging
Tue, January 16, 2024, at 11am
Laura Niedernhofer, MD, PhD
Director
U of M Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism
Event to be held via Zoom.
For many of us enjoying retirement, too often our daily lives are interrupted by aches and pains (or worse) that we attribute to age. The aging process seems inevitable. In fact, Laura Niedernhofer, MD, PhD, the guest speaker for UMRA’s January 2024 workshop, says “Being old is the greatest risk factor for most chronic diseases.”
But what if you could take a pill to stop the negative effects of aging?
It may seem like science fiction, but University of Minnesota researchers are exploring therapeutic interventions to treat aging and prevent age-related diseases. Niedernhofer leads the Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism and the Biology of Aging Medical Discovery Team, both in the Medical School. Her research is focused on DNA damage and repair. She and her colleagues are working to extend the period of time we are healthy and independent by slowing or reversing the aging process, itself.
For UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on January 16, Niedernhofer will share her work on the fundamental mechanisms of aging, and the future of pharmaceutics to lessen age-related conditions.
Please register for this webinar via Zoom and join us to learn more. It just might change your life!
—Julie Sweitzer, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair
Upcoming Events
UMRA's special event for this winter will again be a celebration of brighter days and the approaching end of winter. We'll have food, fellowship, and music provided by Urban Sound, one of the U of M’s premier student a cappella ensembles.
Our February 3 hike will be around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, with an option to add Bde Maka Ska, weather permitting. No matter how far we hike, let’s go to Isles Bun & Coffee for treats after the hike. Their buns are delicious!
Cabinets of Curiosity will seek out the University of Minnesota Herbarium on the St Paul Campus. Collections Manager Tim Whitfeld will share his knowledge of that amazing collection and explain its critical importance in the 21st century. Botanists study these pressed plants, individually and collectively, to establish a history of plant life, often over centuries, because they contain compelling evidence of the ever modulating geographical distribution of plants and evidence of how climate, pests, and other factors have changed species over time.
"Things that drive me crazy" will be the theme when the UMRA Photo Club meets on February 11. Newcomers are welcome.
Many life challenges that get in the way of quality of life and good health at home have little to do with medical issues. Cathy Lauring, our presenter for UMRA’s February 18 workshop, will explore a variety of resources to assist in keeping us healthy at home—including physical, emotional, cognitive, and financial services.
John Bantle will lead the discussion of A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson when the UMRA book club meets via Zoom on February 21.
Join UMRA members to watch two of the best hockey teams in the nation. UMRA has negotiated a discounted ticket price of $33.
Barbara Klick, RN, MBA, the presenter for UMRA’s February 25 Forum, has decades of experience working in human and veterinary medicine, and will bring her wisdom and perspective to our discussion about what we can learn from our pets about facing end-of-life challenges and decisions.
The Fourth Friday Book Club will meet via Zoom on February 28 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CST to discuss The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
Will Craig discusses using local sources for family history.
The UMRA Hiking Club will explore wildlife along the Mississippi River in Fort Snelling State Park. The 3.9-mile Pike Island Loop is generally considered an easy route and takes just over an hour. Hikers can leave at that point, or stay to add another short loop. The trail is located below the bluff on which the historic fort sits. The last time we were there we saw a lot of deer, and the river always provides fascinating views.
The University of Minnesota Archives, with its major holdings largely tucked away in two huge underground caverns along the Mississippi River under the West Bank campus, holds the essential records of our University of Minnesota’s past. University Archivist Erik Moore will explain the holdings and role of our extensive university archive and bring out a sampling of what it holds. At the end of our visit, he will conduct a tour of the literally cool caverns (Minnesota Library Access Center), revealing where these precious materials are housed, including the original tapes of KUOM, now Radio K.