A fascinating article at ScienceBlog looks at the work of Christiaan Leeuwenburgh into the biochemical mechanisms of aging in the heart. “We discovered that within the heart [mitochondria], there were large increases of the antioxidant defenses … When you are younger, those antioxidants act like the supermen of your life to eliminate the free radicals. With age, the free radicals begin to win the battle … In future studies, we want to look at lifelong calorie restriction and lifelong moderate exercise to prevent the breakdown of the [mitochondria]. The reason we are alive is mitochondria. Discovering how they break down is the first step to understanding the mechanisms of aging.”
View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/node/6754
Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/
http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/view_news_item.cfm?news_id=1452
