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, 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
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.