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In an astonishing breakthrough, scientists in India have <keyword id="23249685" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="genetically-engineered-bacteria" source="keywords">genetically engineered bacteria</keyword> capable of performing <keyword id="23249686" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mathematical-operations" source="keywords">mathematical operations</keyword>. Researchers from the <keyword id="23249687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saha-Institute-of-Nuclear-Physics" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics">Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics</keyword> (SINP) in Kolkata have demonstrated that clusters of bacterial cells can add, subtract, and even identify prime numbers between 0 and 9. This accomplishment marks a crucial step toward the development of biocomputers—computational devices made from <keyword id="23206086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="living-cells" source="keywords">living cells</keyword> that could revolutionise how we think about computing in the future. <h2>A history of <keyword id="23249688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="biological-computing" source="keywords">biological computing</keyword> </h2>The concept of using living cells for computation is not entirely new. Over the past two decades, researchers worldwide have explored the potential of biological systems to perform computational tasks. The first major breakthroughs came in the early 2000s when scientists developed synthetic biology techniques to engineer cells with logic gates—the fundamental components of digital computers. These biological logic gates allowed simple operations such as "AND," "OR," and "NOT," mimicking the operations seen in silicon-based processors. Following this, scientists advanced by using various microbes, such as <keyword id="22608696" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="E-coli" source="keywords">E. coli</keyword> and yeast, to perform basic mathematical operations like addition and subtraction. Researchers were able to construct networks of genes and proteins within the cells, programming them to respond to specific chemical inputs. While these early studies were promising, the computational tasks performed by cells were relatively simple and far from rivalling the capabilities of modern microprocessors. However, SINP's latest research takes a significant step forward by using a more sophisticated approach. The integration of artificial neural network concepts with genetic engineering enabled these bacterial cells to solve more complex and abstract problems, such as identifying prime numbers — tasks traditionally considered the domain of human brains or advanced computers. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="103532224" title="Scientist engineered bacteria to generate electricity from wastewater" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Turning <keyword id="6376020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bacteria" source="Orion">bacteria</keyword> into living machines </h2>The research team modified the E. coli genomes, incorporating 14 distinct genetic circuits, to create different bacterial types. These bacteria can be combined and arranged in liquid environments to execute various computational functions. In one set of experiments, the scientists were able to get them to add, subtract, and solve ten different computational problems, including determining prime numbers between 0 and 9. The bacteria's ability to answer yes-or-no questions, like "Is 4 a prime number?" or "Is 7 a prime number?" was particularly astonishing. When the bacteria were questioned chemically, they responded by secreting proteins that indicated their answers — green for "yes" and red for "no." This development underscores their capacity to function as living computers. The implications of this research are immense, not only for computational science but also for fundamental biology. “Mammalian cells make decisions all the time, and we currently have very little understanding of this decision-making process,” said Mohit Kumar Jolly, assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. This study offers fresh insights into biological decision-making and could open new avenues for understanding how living organisms process information. As scientists continue to explore the computational power of living cells, the possibilities are endless. Bacteria, once considered simple organisms, may well hold the key to the future of computing. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="110909568" title="A living computer? This AI made from interconnected &amp;quot;mini-brains&amp;quot; requires a million times less power than ChatGPT!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Did you know that genetically engineered bacteria can do math?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Weight-loss injections may slow down the biological aging process, researchers have said.</li><li>Studies found that semaglutide reduced inflammation regardless of whether users lost weight, The Times of London reported.</li></ul>The viral <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ozempic-healthcare-weight-loss-stocks-investment-opportunity-wegovy-pharmaceutical-industry-2024-8">weight-loss drug</a> semaglutide, which is available under the commercial names <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/ozempic">Ozempic</a> and Wegovy, may help slow down the biological aging process, researchers have said.A number of studies presented on Friday at the European Society of Cardiology conference found that the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/weight-loss-drugs-ozempic-cost-more-in-america-than-uk-2023-5">pricey drug</a>, which was initially marketed as a diabetes treatment, reduced inflammation regardless of whether users lost weight, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/ozempic-weight-loss-drug-fix-heart-problems-7tzlbfrp9">The Times of London</a> reported.According to the report, Harlan Krumholz, a professor of medicine at Yale University who edits the Journal of the American College of Cardiology where the studies were published, said that the drug was "somehow quieting inflammation," adding that the benefit was "broad… there's not a group that doesn't seem to be benefiting.""Is it a fountain of youth… I would say if you're improving someone's cardiometabolic health substantially, then you are putting them in a position to live longer and better," he continued."It's not just avoiding heart attacks. These are health promoters. It wouldn't surprise me that improving people's health this way actually slows down the ageing process," he added.Experts also suggested that the drug could be used to treat a number of conditions linked to inflammation, including cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, per The Times of London.The studies were part of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=166301">Select trial</a> that tracked 17,604 adults aged 45 years or older for up to five years as they were given a once-weekly injection of 2.4 mg of semaglutide or a placebo.The participants were overweight or obese and had cardiovascular disease but no history of diabetes.Researchers found that those who took the drug died at a lower rate from all causes, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce81j919gdjo">BBC</a> reported.Danish company Novo Nordisk, the maker of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-economy-faster-growth-ozempic-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-2024-2">Ozempic and Wegovy</a>, had already announced headline results from the study in August last year, saying that semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% in overweight or obese adults in the trial.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/semaglutide-wegovy-ozempic-weight-loss-healthcare-airlines-economy-productivity-2023-11">Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic</a>. It functions by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone produced by the gut that helps balance blood sugar and that makes you feel full.Weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic come with a risk of severe <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ozempic-wegovy-semaglutide-weight-loss-drug-side-effects-pooping-pants-2023-5">side effects</a>, including vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.Some physicians have warned against buying and taking such drugs without medical supervision.Vicky Price, an acute physician and president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, previously said that some of the more dangerous potential side effects of weight-loss drugs bought online included "serious, life-threatening complications" such as "inflammation of the pancreas gland and alterations in blood salt levels," per <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/young-women-buying-ozempic-beach-body-ready-end-up-a-and-e-9rjjrpghn">The Times of London</a>.Stephen Powis, the National Health Service (NHS) England medical director, also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-doctor-warns-against-taking-ozempic-get-beach-body-ready-2024-6">warned people against using such drugs</a> as a "quick fix" to get "beach body ready.""We know these new drugs will be a powerful part of our arsenal dealing with obesity, but they should not be abused. Buying medication online without a doctor's supervision can lead to complications and dangerous consequences," he said in June.

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic could help slow biological aging, researchers say     

Going vegan for eight weeks was found to be linked to lowering <keyword id="20730859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="biological-age" source="keywords">biological age</keyword>, according to a study published in the journal BioMed Central (BMC) Medicine. Researchers looked at the molecular effects of the <keyword id="20041126" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="plant-based-diet" source="keywords">plant-based diet</keyword> that abstains from consuming animal food products, such as dairy. The diet largely includes eating fruits and vegetables, along with grains, beans and nuts. The researchers, including those at <keyword id="20089812" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Stanford-University" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Stanford University" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Stanford University">Stanford University</keyword>, US, found that consuming the plant-based diet was related with changes in how a gene expressed itself, or gene behaviour, without changing the DNA itself. Specifically, they looked at <keyword id="21419638" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="DNA-methylation" source="keywords">DNA methylation</keyword>, known to be able to "turn off" or "silence" a gene, thereby not allowing it to express itself. Higher levels of DNA methylation is associated with a higher biological age. It is one of the epigenetic processes, which affect the behaviour of a gene by altering its environment. For eight weeks, the team followed 21 pairs of adult identical twins -- one half of each pair consumed an omnivorous diet, including meat, eggs and dairy, while the other consumed a vegan one. Identical twins share a significant amount of their genetic makeup. On average, the participants were aged 40 years and had a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight category. About 77% of the group were women. After eight weeks, the researchers observed a 'younger' heart, liver, inflammatory and metabolic system among the participants consuming the <keyword id="20703587" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vegan-diet" source="keywords">vegan diet</keyword>. These changes were not seen in those eating the omnivorous diet. However, the authors cautioned that the extent to which these changes could be attributed to their diets was unclear. They noted that on average, the individuals on the vegan diet lost two kilograms more compared to those on the omnivorous diet. The results suggest that the weight loss could have contributed to lowering of the biological age in the vegan group, the researchers said. Reacting to the study, Tom Sanders, a professor emeritus of Nutrition and Dietetics at King's College London, and not involved in the study, said that the findings might be favourable for vegans in terms of ageing. However, the diet can come with <keyword id="21204758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="micronutrient-deficiencies" source="keywords">micronutrient deficiencies</keyword>, which often take years to exert harmful effects, Sanders said. "For example, unless a vegan diet is supplemented with vitamin B12 they develop vitamin B12 deficiency that causes chronic and often insidious damage to the nervous system," Sanders said. Long-term studies of vegans also find adverse effects on bone density, probably caused by very low calcium and barely adequate protein intakes, Sanders said.

Eight-week vegan diet linked to lower biological age, study finds

A sperm or <keyword id="22773682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="egg-donor" source="keywords">egg donor</keyword> has no legal right on the child, and cannot claim to be its <keyword id="22773683" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="biological-parent" source="keywords">biological parent</keyword>, the Bombay <keyword id="19900812" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="high-court" source="keywords">High Court</keyword> held on Tuesday, while allowing a 42-year-old woman visitation rights to her five-year-old twin daughters. The woman, in her plea, said her daughters, born via <keyword id="20302787" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="surrogacy" source="keywords">surrogacy</keyword>, were living with her husband and younger sister, who was the egg donor. The petitioner's husband had claimed since his sister-in-law was the egg donor, she had a legitimate right to be called a biological parent of the twins, and that his wife had no right over them. A single bench of Justice Milind Jadhav, however, refused to accept this contention, citing that though the petitioner's younger sister was the egg donor, she has no legitimate right to claim that she is a biological parent of the twins. The court said the role of the younger sister is that of an egg donor, rather, a voluntary donor, and at the most, she may qualify to be a genetic mother and nothing more. An advocate appointed to assist the court in the matter informed it that since the estranged couple's surrogacy agreement took place in 2018, when the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 had not come into force, the guidelines issued by the <keyword id="19914690" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Council-of-Medical-Research" source="keywords">Indian Council of Medical Research</keyword> (ICMR) in 2005 would regulate the agreement. As per a rule of the guidelines, the donor and the surrogate mother have to relinquish all parental rights, the court noted, adding that in the present case, the twins would be the daughters of the petitioner and her husband. "Under the guideline, it is clearly stated that the sperm/oocyte (egg) donor shall not have parental rights or duties in relation to the child and in that view of the matter, the younger sister of the petitioner can have no right whatsoever to intervene and claim to be the biological mother of the twin daughters," the high court said. As per the plea, the couple could not conceive naturally, and the petitioner's sister volunteered to donate her eggs. In December 2018, the babies were conceived by a surrogate woman and the twin girls were born in August 2019. In April 2019, the sister and her family met with a road accident, and her husband and daughter were killed. The petitioner lived with her husband and twin daughters from August 2019 to March 2021. Following a marital discord in March 2021, the husband moved into another flat with the children without informing his wife. The man claimed that his wife's sister (the egg donor) had been depressed after the road accident and started living with him to take care of the twins. The petitioner filed a police complaint and an application before a local court, seeking interim visitation rights to her daughters. The local court rejected her application in September 2023, following which she approached the high court. The wife said her sister had only donated her eggs and was not the surrogate mother, and hence, she had no legal right or role in the lives of the twins. The high court, in its order, noted that the surrogacy agreement of 2018 between the intending parents, the surrogate mother and the doctor is signed by the petitioner, her husband and the doctor. "It is seen that the petitioner (wife) and Respondent No. 1 (husband) are recognised as the intending parents. At least to a naked eye, there is no ambiguity whatsoever while observing and even concluding that it is the petitioner along with Respondent No. 1 who signed the surrogacy agreement as intending parents," it said. Justice Jadhav held that the lower court order denying visitation rights to the wife was passed without proper application of mind and is unsustainable and quashed it. The court directed the husband to give physical access and visitation rights of the twins to the petitioner for three hours every weekend.

Sperm or egg donor has no legal right on child, can't claim to be biological parent, says high court

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Before having a biological child, I was a stepmom to twin girls.</li><li>Being a stepparent can be hard, especially because there are so many negative stereotypes.</li></ul>I used to lie in bed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stepdad-shares-how-he-became-part-of-his-stepchildrens-lives-2022-7">with my stepdaughters</a>, rubbing their backs as they drifted to sleep, feeling the delicate ridges of their spines through their pajamas. Paper stars decorated their walls, and a yellow halo of light shone around their door, cracked open so they wouldn't feel scared.Technically, I was a "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jd-vance-defended-his-childless-cat-ladies-comment-2024-7">childless cat lady</a>," but I didn't feel like one.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twins-traveled-us-wales-see-taylor-swift-live-2024-7">The twins</a> are 11 now — tall and lanky and somehow, incredibly, heading to middle school — but I met them when they were 2 and still in diapers.For nine years, I've helped feed, clothe, and shelter them — not as their mom or dad, but as a parent nonetheless.<h2 id="8fbf577f-7219-46c2-8228-69467138786a">Being a stepparent can be hard</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/common-mistakes-stepparents-make-2021-9">Being a stepparent has never been easy</a>. A standard marriage contract requires partners by law to support any children they create, and while, as a society, we recognize and celebrate both biological and adoptive parents, the role of a stepparent is murky — even tinged with suspicion.You're not recognized legally as a parent and have no official say in the children's care. No one buys you cards or flowers once a year. Plus, you may have to contend with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stereotypes-of-americans-usa-2018-6">negative stereotypes</a> like "Were you the other woman?" And "Do you even like your stepkids?" (No, and usually!)That sometimes indifferent, sometimes skeptical gaze of society can be wearying. But I have always cared for and about my stepdaughters anyway — finding food that would nourish them and not be flat-out rejected (a challenge), squinting to read the right dosage of pink medicine to pour into little plastic cups when they were sick, giving them books and answering their shy questions about sex.While being a stepparent is complicated, love isn't. My stepdaughters and I love each other.<h2 id="195ba013-2fa8-4f41-9c13-763a984589ec">I became a biological mom</h2>Three years ago, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/differences-between-us-germany-giving-birth-2024-4">I gave birth</a> to a girl who consumes, delights, inspires, and exhausts me. We are obsessed with each other in a very particular way. So I can say this with conviction: being a stepparent and being a biological parent are different — but they're both valid. Both roles shape children's lives. All those years I spent dispensing medicine, researching camp options, and planning birthday parties — that was, and still is, parenting.To call a woman with stepchildren like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doug-emhoff-jd-vance-kamala-harris-childless-cat-lady-response-2024-7">Kamala Harris "childless"</a> is both to erase her family's reality and also, worse, to perpetuate a deeply flawed, deeply limited understanding of what family means.If you think stepparents are not "real" parents, you fail to understand that family is not something owned solely by blood but something built, with or without relatedness.<h2 id="3fbc02ff-f844-4285-b4c8-9318d2f3f788">Families can be complicated regardless of how they are made up</h2>When their little sister was born, the twins brought her gifts and drew her pictures. Now, if she has a nightmare, they sometimes beat me to her bedside, and I find them murmuring soothing words. Because of them, my daughter is fearless on her scooter and slightly better at sharing. Because of her, the big girls know what it is to be eternally cool. They are all surrounded by more love.I know all stepfamilies are unique and that some are unhappy. I also know that the perfectly "blended" family is a myth, that sometimes I want to throttle everyone in my house, and that families like mine (like everyone's, maybe) are complicated and require constant negotiation, whether logistical, financial or emotional — and that sometimes this is terribly difficult.But that negotiation also strengthens us; our bonds are repeatedly tested and frayed, then reknit and fortified. This was true before my daughter was born, and it's true today.

I was a stepmom before I became a biological mom. It's different, but both roles are important.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A 60-year-old says she's essentially been aging in reverse for about the past four years.</li><li>One "biological age" test she recently did said her body is 35.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tina Woods, a 60-year-old healthcare entrepreneur and the CEO of Business for Health in London. It's been edited for length and clarity.I just turned 60, and I've never felt better.I've got the strength of an ox, dance moves to rave all night, and I radiate renewed joy for my marriage and my job.I made a conscious decision to change the way I live a few years back. I was in the midst of quitting the corporate world, watching my kids enter adulthood, and starting hormone replacement therapy. I decided this would be a good time to embark on a very simple — but remarkably effective — longevity quest.<div type="image" title="tina smiling, 20 pounds heavier" height="553" width="983" msid="111837343" hostid="261" sizebytes="28986"></div>It all started when I was researching my 2020 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.packtpub.com/en-us/product/live-longer-with-ai-9781838646158">book</a>, "Live Longer with AI," and I began seeking out the advice of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-improve-longevity-supplements-vs-exercise-and-diet-2024-3">longevity</a> experts all over the world. At that point, longevity science was still pretty fringe, so there were a lot of fairly out-there characters I spoke to who wanted to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-escape-velocity-what-is-it">live forever</a> and who touted <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/raadfest-cheat-death-longevity-loma-linda-blue-zone-2023-9">radical life extension</a> as something within our grasp.But even among the most die-hard immortalists I spoke with for the book, I started to notice a trend. Most of the stuff they were actually doing day in and day out to stay young is pretty simple and cheap. It usually involves some form of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intermittent-fasting-benefits-and-risks-for-longevity-weight-loss-cancer-2024-4">caloric restriction</a>, a healthy diet composed of lots of plants, decent exercise, and good sleep. In short, the basics. Stuff your grandmother could have recommended.<h2 id="23577da2-b66e-4a38-8056-cdaaa90fafc0">I reduced my 'biological age' by 10 years — here's what that means</h2><div type="image" title="Tina woods hiking in Patagonia with husband, smiling in front of snow-capped mountains" height="1440" width="1920" msid="111837362" hostid="261" sizebytes="421136"></div>Tests I took on my 60th birthday this spring suggest my brain is aging like that of a 35-year-old, my heart health is mid-40s, and so is my metabolism.It's amazing to realize that in just four years, I've reduced one key measure of biological aging by a decade — my GlycanAge has plummeted from 46 to 35, while I've aged from 56 to 60. (The GlycanAge test is a finger prick that's meant to track the level of chronic inflammation in your body, which directly predicts a lot of age-associated decline.)It drives me crazy when people wear these kinds of one-off "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-experts-keep-biological-age-young-anti-aging-2023-5">biological age</a>" stats like some sort of badge of honor. As if any of the new tests being used for aging are definitive or validated.I find that what they can do is help provide an overall snapshot of our health. Taken together, along with daily data from my smartwatch and various <a target="_blank" href="https://www.humanity.health/">apps</a> I use to <a target="_blank" href="https://muhdo.com/">track my health</a> over time, my GlycanAge provides a single datapoint that goes hand in hand with how I feel, which is fantastic.<div type="image" title="tina and friends, sweaty after workout" height="1575" width="2100" msid="111837344" hostid="261" sizebytes="174570"></div>If I hadn't been doing research for my book, and meeting with experts offering to let me try out all this longevity medicine tech for free, I probably wouldn't have ever paid for a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/im-36-biological-age-test-tally-health-said-almost-42-2023-3">biological age test</a>. It costs hundreds of dollars just for one. Do I really need a test to tell me that I have never felt this good? Regular checkups, blood tests, and scans at the doctor are one thing, but I wouldn't pay 300 pounds just to brag about a biological age result. (Though it is cool to see.)<h2 id="4e37ed9c-bfff-4aa2-8f2e-10f3e068fcb8">4 simple changes I made to stave off aging</h2><div type="image" title="app screenshot says &quot;you're getting younger&quot;" height="971" width="1096" msid="111837352" hostid="261" sizebytes="34990"></div><ul><li>Supplements: I do take some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/5-supplements-for-longevity-and-anti-aging-expert-recommendations-2023-12">supplements</a>, but I don't expect them to perform miracles.Like a lot of longevity-seekers, I make sure to pop some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vitamin-d-and-longevity-anti-aging-2023-9">vitamin D</a> every day, and then there's B12, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blue-zones-expert-shares-cheap-longevity-supplements-beans-walnuts-2024-5">omega-3s</a>, and collagen for my joints — which are definitely not what they used to be, I'd probably rate them my oldest body part, biologically speaking.A bone scan I did as part of my recent longevity workup in Poland has proved to be diagnostically useful, and has convinced me to start supplementing a bit of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vitamin-d-calcium-supplements-good-for-aging-reduce-cancer-risk-study-2024-3">calcium</a> as well. I do enjoy eating Swiss cheese on my non-fasting days, and I also try to prioritize proteins like chicken and fish in my diet, as well as lots of plants. I make a mean lentil soup, and I snack on seeds and nuts, generally avoiding <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-processed-foods-lead-to-weight-gain-nih-study-2019-5">ultra-processed foods</a>.</li></ul><div type="image" title="tina holding handful of seeds, including pumpkin and sunflower" height="2800" width="2100" msid="111837346" hostid="261" sizebytes="238304"></div><ul><li>Caloric restriction: Four days a week I stick to only eating <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intermittent-fasting-meals-for-busy-schedule-protein-fiber-healthy-fats-2024-3">one meal a day</a>, and — though it's still somewhat controversial — I'm convinced this is one of the big keys to healthy aging. It was a conversation with geneticist and longevity doctor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-promising-anti-aging-drugs-that-already-exist-2024-3">Nir Barzilai</a> in New York that really pushed me over the edge on this idea, as he explained how, mechanistically, it makes sense that a little caloric restriction, and specifically, some fasted time each day, might be good for human longevity. (We already know this is great for flies, worms, and mice, and there is enough anecdotal evidence of a benefit in people that many longevity scientists already practice some form of caloric restriction or fasting themselves.)</li></ul><ul><li>VO2 max: I also hold a religious devotion to exercise — I enjoy Zumba class twice a week, plus strength training at home in the cellar (my "gym") and YouTube videos for some conditioning. My <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vo2-max-explained-what-is-good-how-improve-2024-3">VO2 max</a>, a <a target="_blank" href="https://businessinsider.com/longevity-trainer-fitness-markers-to-watch-for-a-longer-life-2024-7">key measure of heart health</a> and fitness, is off the charts!<div type="image" title="iphone vo2 max screenshot" height="562" width="1139" msid="111837357" hostid="261" sizebytes="11612"></div>All this regular training keeps me fit as a fiddle and ready to rave all night with my husband at some of London's grooviest clubs. Being on the dance floor absolutely electrifies me, and it has also rekindled aspects of my relationship with my husband which I'd lost during early menopause, bringing us closer together in a funny sort of way. I feel like music is my lifeblood. I even DJ now — I recently turned tables at the world's first longevity rave (held at a vegan cafe, of course).</li></ul><ul><li>HRT: One of the most pharmacological ways I've changed my biological age since I started this journey is hormone replacement therapy for menopause. It's been an eye-opening experience. I'd always been pretty fit and relatively healthy, but I noticed during menopause that I was starting to gain some weight, and I felt just generally kind of low-energy, not like myself. Low sex drive, urinary issues. Yuk, I thought. This is a bit boring.My doctor suggested I try HRT — I started with a patch version, but that didn't work very well. My current regimen is a few pumps of estradiol gel, which is rubbed into the skin, plus progesterone capsules and a tiny bit of testosterone gel I take off-label (I monitor my hormone levels very closely with regular blood tests, and make sure my testosterone sachets are brand name, not sourced from a dodgy online pharmacy.) It took a while for me to find the dose that worked well for me, but now I absolutely love it, and I'm convinced that it's played a big part in my recent biological age reduction (along with eating healthier, losing about 20 pounds, finding my joy, and everything else!) I was initially worried that the testosterone might hurt my heart health, or mess with my cholesterol levels, but I'm pleased to report everything seems to be going really well.</li></ul><h2 id="6485f521-97d7-49f7-a946-25ba457d65f1">Joy is a key component of my longevity</h2><div type="image" title="tina in okinawa by the beach" height="1440" width="1920" msid="111837365" hostid="261" sizebytes="275738"></div>I do hope that more effort is placed on measuring how happiness and optimism can change our lives and help improve our longevity. There's already been some study of how big stressors and health events — like a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408150449.htm">pregnancy</a> — can temporarily speed up biological aging. And we know that happier, more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1900712116">optimistic people tend to live longer</a>.Scientific studies on flies, worms, and mice won't ever give us better insights into how happiness, purpose, and joy affect human health. I'm looking forward to seeing how we might better study this in people, gathering biological age data that will illuminate the simple, low-cost things we can all do to live more fruitful and, yes, longer lives.I know the longevity <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-buettner-blue-zones-lifestyle-habits-diet-exercise-2023-8">Blue Zones</a> have gotten a lot of attention as beacons of healthy aging, and a lot of the techniques their backers espouse do make sense. But I'd like more solid, scientific data to inform what the rest of us can do moving forward to make the most of our days, in a relatively cheap and simple way.It's amazing to see the impact of all this basic stuff: nutrition, fitness, purpose, joy. I'm not getting any IV blood transfusions, stem cell treatments or any of that other biohacking stuff that costs an arm and a leg, I'm doing all of this pretty low-cost. I'm now convinced that hope and happiness will outdo any pill when it comes to improving biological aging. That's just my opinion for now, but it's based on what I've seen in myself.

A 60-year-old CEO says she lowered her biological age to 35 with 4 simple changes

Eminem has one biological child and two adopted kids. Here's everything to know about them.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An OpenAI report found there's only a slight chance GPT-4 could be used to help create biological threats.</li><li>The report is from OpenAI's "preparedness" team, which studies potential "catastrophic" risks of AI.</li></ul>OpenAI thinks there's only a slight chance that ChatGPT could be used to help create biological threats.The AI startup <a target="_blank" href="https://openai.com/research/building-an-early-warning-system-for-llm-aided-biological-threat-creation#design-principles">said in a new report</a> that its GPT-4 model provided "at most a mild uplift" in the ability to create biological weapons, but warned that future models could be more helpful for "malicious actors" looking to use chatbots to help make bioweapons.Experts have warned that AI could be used to facilitate biological terror attacks, either by helping terrorists create biological and chemical weapons or by helping them plan their attacks.A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/oct/16/ai-chatbots-could-help-plan-bioweapon-attacks-report-finds">major report from the Rand Corporation</a> last year found that large language models (LLMs) could be used to help plan biological attacks, though it said that they could not provide specific instructions for actually creating bioweapons.Others within the tech industry have also expressed alarm. In Senate committee hearings last year, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said that AI models <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/28/ai_senate_bioweapon/">could soon be able to provide instructions for advanced bioweapons</a>, and Mark Zuckerberg was confronted by claims that Meta's Llama 2 model provided a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-senate-ai-forum-llama-2-gives-anthrax-instructions-2023-9">detailed walkthrough of how to create anthrax</a>.The report from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-chatgpt-forms-team-address-nuclear-biological-cybersecurity-threats-ai-2023-10">OpenAI's "preparedness" team</a>, which was formed last year to study potential "catastrophic" effects that could arise from the development of advanced AI, aimed to investigate those concerns.Researchers assembled a group of 50 biology experts and 50 students who had taken at least one college course in biology, and randomly assigned them to a group with access to GPT-4 or a control group with access to the internet.Both were tasked with attempting to answer a series of questions relating to bioweapon creation, including how they would synthesize the highly infectious Ebola virus. The GPT-4 group was given access to a research-only version of the model that, unlike ChatGPT, has fewer "security guardrails in place" it said. The study found that while those with access to GPT-4 did see a small increase in accuracy and detail over the group using just the internet, the boost was not statistically significant enough to indicate any real increase in risk."While this uplift is not large enough to be conclusive, our finding is a starting point for continued research and community deliberation," OpenAI said. It also clarified that given the current pace of innovation in AI, it is possible that future versions of ChatGPT could "provide sizable benefits to malicious actors."OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

ChatGPT probably won't help create biological weapons, OpenAI says      

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Biostatistician Steve Horvath figured out how to use spit to measure aging in 2011.</li><li>He says you shouldn't take "biological age" calculators too seriously — they're still experimental.</li></ul>Steve Horvath was the first person who figured out that you could use DNA from spit to determine, roughly, how fast a person's body is aging."At the time it was a very curious finding that you <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-scientifically-reduce-body-age-2023-8">spit in a cup, and you measure the age</a>," the biostatistician previously told Insider.Simply put, his original clock — developed at UCLA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uclahealth.org/news/ucla-researchers-lead-groundbreaking-studies-mammalian-aging">in 2011</a> — could predict, with a fair amount of accuracy, how quickly a person's body was marching toward death, regardless of their chronological age.That was at least a decade before the term "biological age" started floating around in popular conversation, and well before private companies were charging people hundreds of dollars to mail in their spit in return for a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/im-36-biological-age-test-tally-health-said-almost-42-2023-3">biological age calculation</a>."The aspiration is that it will be clinically useful, so that people will get this test as part of the annual physical," Horvath, whose "GrimAge" biological clock is widely regarded as the best in the industry, said. "I emphasize 'aspiration,' because we are not there yet."For now, he says <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-biological-age-is-reverse-aging-possible-2023-2">biological clocks are more of a novelty</a> — a fun measurement that people shouldn't take too seriously.But, in his own life, Horvath has found that the clock may serve as a useful reminder to course-correct bad habits. In his 50s, Horvath tried his own GrimAge clock out on himself, just for fun. He was shocked to find that his Grim biological age was about five years older than his real age. Horvath took the test as a sign that he could be taking better care of his body."Everything you know about a healthy lifestyle does seem to affect these biomarkers," he said.<h2>4 changes Horvath made that reduced his biological age, from diet to medication</h2>These four changes <a target="_blank" href="https://insider.com/cheap-affordable-effective-longevity-hacks-anti-aging-2023-9">weren't easy to achieve</a>, but Horvath was hopeful that the sacrifices might move the needle — and he observed that they did:<h3>1. He cut down on bread and pasta, and started eating more frozen vegetables</h3><div type="image" title="brussel sprouts being picked " height="1227" width="1473" msid="104221817" hostid="261" sizebytes="203952"></div>"Consequently, many of my meals now primarily consist of microwaved vegetables," he told Insider. "It takes a lot of inner strength to eat Brussels sprouts for breakfast."Vegetables like leafy greens, crunchy sprouts, beets, and asparagus are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/anti-aging-foods-brain-heart-health-better-immunity-longevity-2023-9">nutrient rich foods</a> that can naturally reduce inflammation, staving off a whole host of age-related diseases, including cancer and diabetes.<h3>2. Horvath increased his dosage of a cheap cholesterol drug that many doctors say can help out with healthy aging</h3>Horvath had already been on a low-dose statin, but he switched to a stronger prescription.Studies have consistently shown that statins can have a decent effect on healthy aging, in people who are at risk of having heart issues. They can lower a person's risk of stroke, or heart attack, and act to remove bad cholesterol from your blood."Statins should not be put in the water for everybody," Dr Neil Stone, a cardiologist from Northwestern University, told Insider. "We're very clear that statins work to do two things: They lower LDL [bad cholesterol] and they also lower inflammation, and that's a very powerful combination — in people at risk."<h3>3. He started taking at least 5 different supplements, including vitamin D</h3>"The scientific evidence for some of these supplements is only very weak," Horvath cautioned. "I don't endorse the use of any of these."He takes <a target="_blank" href="https://insider.com/vitamin-d-and-longevity-anti-aging-2023-9">vitamin D</a>, which is a favorite of many other longevity scientists and investors, for its ability to improve the way our bodies absorb calcium.Horvath also takes <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/cold-flu-remedies-that-work-doctor-approved-2022-11">zinc</a> (well known among doctors to be good for both preventing and shortening the duration and intensity of common colds.)He also regularly pops fish oil, garlic, and a cruciferous vegetable supplement.<h3>4. And he takes a brisk, uphill walk for about 20 minutes every night after dinner</h3><div type="image" title="A man walking his sheep in an abandoned town of Sardinia." height="1395" width="2100" msid="104221818" hostid="261" sizebytes="621060"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/brisk-walking-slow-signs-aging-16-years-study-2022-4">Brisk walking</a> is a great longevity-boosting exercise, and hiking uphill may be even better than cruising around on flat ground.People living in the world's longevity <a target="_blank" href="https://insider.com/blue-zone-lifestyle-sardinia-nicoya-longevity-rest-social-happy-hour-2023-8">Blue Zones</a> of Sardinia, Italy and Loma Linda, California often take their walks up into the hills, whether while tending to sheep, or hiking with family and pets.<h2>In just 9 months, he shaved 4 years off his biological age — whatever that means</h2>About nine months into this tiny (and very unscientific) experiment, Horvath checked his GrimAge again. He was pleasantly surprised to discover his biological age had decreased by 4 years — lining up near perfectly with his real, lived age."However, it's crucial to highlight that this information is purely anecdotal," he cautioned. "A sample size of one lacks adequate validation."Still, many of the simple principles he followed on his biological age-reducing quest are straightforward, cheap things that we already know can, in fact, slow down aging. (Adding more vegetables into your diet, taking more walks, or getting a prescription for cholesterol-lowering drugs, if that's what you need, are all science-backed interventions that help with healthy aging.)The good news is there's no biological age test required to start doing more of these healthy behaviors. Just get moving, and eat more veggies.

4 ways a top biological age expert reversed his own biological age by 4 years

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A biology professor told Business Insider why you shouldn't be scared of spiders.</li><li>While a rare few can cause harm, most spiders won't hurt humans, she said.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sara Goodacre, a professor of evolutionary biology who studies how spider silk can be used in medicine and engineering. It has been edited for length and clarity.You should always question a spider scare story.Recently, I read about a man who went on holiday and said a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-passenger-said-spider-laid-eggs-in-toe-experts-unlikely-2023-11">spider had laid eggs in his toe</a>.The man clearly had a serious problem with his toe, but spiders have never been known to lay eggs inside a human body, and the wound responded to antibiotics, which do nothing against spider venom. Biologically, it didn't make sense.What annoys me is how many people are misled by such spider stories in the news.We shouldn't be devoting any of our energy to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/safe-accessible-modes-video-games-tackle-fears-spiders-deep-water-2023-5">fearing spiders</a>.Some very rare spiders can cause harm to humans, but, as I tell my children, spiders are far less likely to hurt you than cars or people.But if you are scared of spiders, here's what you should know.<h2>Venom</h2>One misconception is that all spider venom causes harm to humans.Some spiders are indeed venomous to humans, and you should make yourself aware of any spiders that could hurt you in your area — for instance, in the US you want to know how to spot a brown recluse and what to do in the rare case of an encounter.But the overwhelming majority of spiders evolved to use their venom on insects. It simply doesn't work on humans.<h2>House spiders</h2>Secondly, when a big spider comes into your house, it's not out to get you, it's a teenage male spider looking for a female.You're better off feeling a bit sorry for him. This gangly youngster can't sprint very far and is terrified of your shadow, which it probably thinks is a bird coming to eat it. If it darts your way, it is not following you — it's just trying to stay away.If you see a spider in your bathroom, you're better off just leaving it alone.It doesn't want to use energy to escape from you, so unless you scare it, it's unlikely to fall on your head. It will just sit there until night when it will go eat the mosquitoes on your window sill.I always suggest that people name the spider under their sofa. We always used to call ours Christopher. It's really hard to squash a Christopher.<h2>Swallowing spiders</h2>The idea that you swallow a certain number of spiders every night is also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/10/31/swallow-8-spiders-sleep/">an urban myth</a>.Yes, spiders walk around at night, but why would they deliberately venture into a weird, warm, humid mouth?A few probably do get eaten by humans from time to time, just as people will sometimes swallow a passing fly, but it's the exception rather than the norm.Lastly, spiders <a target="_blank" href="https://australian.museum/learn/animals/spiders/spider-facts/">don't seem to harm that many people globally</a>, and there are antivenoms for dangerous spiders such as the funnel-web spider or the black widow spider, which greatly reduces the risk of dying after a bite.Next time you see a spider, ask yourself if the injury could have been caused by a cut infected by microbes instead and check your facts with a local reputable society of arachnologists. We're not afraid to say it exactly as it is.

Why you shouldn't be scared of spiders, according to a biology professor

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Biological age tests are becoming popular with biohackers and longevity seekers.</li><li>They're not perfect health indicators, but they may tell you a little something about your aging body.</li></ul>There are a lot of ways to spend a fair amount of money calculating your so-called "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-biological-age-is-reverse-aging-possible-2023-2">biological age</a>." As a longevity reporter who's been covering the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/a-guide-to-longevity-diet-fitness-drugs-tips-2023-11">science of aging</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loma-linda-blue-zone-longevity-secrets-of-seventh-day-adventists-2023-11">age-related diseases</a> for a few years now, I am well aware of the drawbacks and limitations of the various biological aging tests out there.TruDiagnostic, one of the most <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vegan-diet-better-for-health-than-omnivore-identical-twins-study-2023-12">widely used</a> and respected direct-to-consumer biological age tests, charges $500 to pump out a biological age estimate and a predicted pace of aging based on dried blood samples. David Sinclair's popular new startup, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/im-36-biological-age-test-tally-health-said-almost-42-2023-3">Tally Health</a>, is cheaper but less comprehensive. Tally analyzes cheek swabs for about $200, and often recommends pricey supplements afterwards that the company says can "help lower" your biological age.But I found a way to calculate my biological age that doesn't require any extra money — only some basic lab results that I got <a target="_blank" href="https://www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-adults/">for free at a recent annual exam</a>. With information that I already had stored in my phone, I discovered I may be — biologically speaking — about 9 years 'younger' than my driver's license suggests.I'm not shouting this information from the rooftops, or feeling smug towards my baby brother as a result. Instead, I'm taking this as a sign that I'm aging at a fairly healthy clip, and that I should probably continue executing four important and straightforward health-promoting moves as often as I can.<h2>My free biological age calculation estimated my risk of premature death or disease</h2><div type="image" title="blood test for creatinine" height="1400" width="2100" msid="107336277" hostid="261"></div>At its essence, any good biological age test is trying to capture the fitness of your body parts. It's interpreting information extracted from your blood, spit, or skin, and then using that information to try to assess how your body is operating. It's trying to pin down a number for how aged or youthful your body is really acting — regardless of the number of candles you put on the cake this year.There are several ways to calculate a biological age, and scientists don't yet agree on which is best. Some of the most respected biological age tests are epigenetic clocks, sometimes called DNA methylation tests. Other clocks incorporate external factors like smoking history, or chronological age into a biological age calculation.I did a "phenotypic age" test, which has <a target="_blank" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11739-023-03397-3#citeas">been shown to help predict</a> your odds of developing a broad array of health issues generally associated with aging and age-related decline, like heart and lung problems, cognitive issues, and Type 2 diabetes."It shows very strong associations with future risk of developing various chronic diseases — including heart disease," Dr. Nour Makarem, a cardiovascular epidemiologist at Columbia University who studies how sleep, diet, and exercise impact our heart health, told Business Insider.Makarem has used phenotypic age measurements in studies of thousands of US adults. She has shown that this type of biological age is not only predictive of future disease and early death, but that it can also be quickly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heart-healthy-habits-reverse-biological-age-study-2023-11">modified by what we do and what we eat every day</a>. Getting better sleep, eating a slightly healthier diet, moving just a little bit more, and stopping smoking can all have a serious impact on our phenotypic age.In <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/circ.148.suppl_1.17266">one study</a> published last November, Makarem showed that middle-aged people with good heart health were, on average, about five years "younger" than their real age, physiologically speaking. Those with poor heart health were biologically older than their years, aging faster than time.<h2>The benefits of free biological age testing</h2>Learning your own biological age is one simple way to approximate how well your body is weathering the test of time.At their best, biological age tests may help encourage people to do more of the things that will subtly improve their longevity — like eating healthy foods and moving enough — keeping us nimbler and sharper into later years. At their worst, these tests may <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-escape-velocity-what-is-it">embolden optimistic biohackers to assume they can cheat death</a> or prevent age-related diseases entirely.Experts also caution that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-scientifically-reduce-body-age-2023-8">biological age tests shouldn't be taken too seriously yet</a>, because they're not perfect indicators of your overall health. The science of biological aging is still a bit squishy, as it is a relatively new field.A biological age test can never know if you're about to get run over by a bus, and it may also miss important health issues on the horizon. Conversely, it could scare you into thinking you're in "older" shape than your age, even if you're in relatively good health. This is why the tests should always be taken into consideration in conjunction with other, more tried-and-true health indicators, like your waist circumference, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, for example.But, if this is your first foray into studying your own biological age, the free phenotypic version I did may be enough of a benchmark for you. With nine lab measurements from your annual physical, including your white blood cell concentration, and blood glucose, you can choose from one of several free online calculators, and have a first biological age estimate in minutes.<h2>These 4 behaviors can potentially lower your biological age</h2><div type="image" title="me in summer sunshine outside, and in winter snow" height="900" width="1800" msid="107336278" hostid="261"></div>While I'm thrilled that my biological age appears to be lower than my actual age, I don't think it's any <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-experts-keep-biological-age-young-anti-aging-2023-5">special pride point worth bragging about</a>. It's just a sign that my insides are aging in a relatively healthy way. If I change my habits to exercise less or eat more junk, my number could easily shift. To me, the test results are a gentle nudge saying "you're doing great, don't stop now."Makarem likes to remind herself that she doesn't have to make dramatic changes in her life to have a positive impact on her own biological age, either. Eating just a bit better, moving just a bit more, these actions can have a measurable impact on your biological age result."People get overwhelmed sometimes with those results because they think, 'oh, I just have to have a perfect diet and perfect physical activity,' and that's not actually how it is. Even if you make a small change, it can have a benefit," she said.Simple choices like getting up to take a quick walk, or choosing a healthier snack really can make a gentle, almost imperceptible but important difference over time.Longevity expert Steve Horvath, who pioneered the science of biological aging, and who has developed some of the most well-respected biological clocks around, has seen this firsthand. He found that when he made small, healthy tweaks in his life including eating more vegetables, and taking a brisk walk each night after dinner, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-tricks-longevity-expert-reduced-longevity-2023-10">his biological age measurement went down</a> by four years in just nine months."Everything you know about a healthy lifestyle does seem to affect these biomarkers," he recently told BI.

This test can calculate your biological age for free. Here's how it works &mdash; and how to interpret the results.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A diet that mimics fasting appeared to reverse people's biological age by 2.5 years in a study. </li><li>Participants who followed the regime had less abdominal fat and healthier immune cells. </li></ul>Following a diet that mimics fasting for five days a month appeared to reverse people's biological age by two and a half years on average in a study.The fasting-mimicking diet, developed by the lab of senior study author <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-diet-creator-valter-longo-eats-fasting-live-longer-2023-11">Valter Longo</a> at USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, is designed to mimic the effects of a water-only fast while providing necessary nutrients, a press release said. Water fasting involves drinking only water for 24 to 72 hours. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/signs-intermittent-fasting-unsafe-unhealthy-2019-7">Fasting is not safe for everyone</a>, but studies, mostly on cells and animals, suggest it may have health benefits, such as lowering the risk of certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.Fasting or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/restricting-calories-could-protect-against-aging-2018-8">restricting calories</a> is thought to induce what is known as autophagy, which is the body's process of clearing out old, damaged cells to make space for new ones. It begins when cells are stressed or deprived of nutrients and naturally decreases with age, meaning it plays an important role in slowing aging, according to The Cleveland Clinic.In the study, around half of the 100 participants were told to follow the FMD for five days a month for three months, and to eat their regular diet for the other 25 days. The other group just ate their normal diet. Participants were men and women aged between 18 and 70.Blood tests and MRI scans of the participants showed those in the FMD group were less likely to develop diabetes, and had lower levels of abdominal and liver fat, which are associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndromes, such as liver disease, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/what-is-heart-disease">cardiovascular disease</a>, and diabetes, the study said. It also increased their lymphoid-to-myeloid ratio — an indicator of a more youthful immune system. These factors can be used to measure biological age, the authors of the <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=aeb623f212201e8e6cee13e9ae788ec13d2b76439317b68cd7bdec242a3960de&amp;postID=65d6247c2b09cffef058f57e&amp;postSlug=reverse-biological-age-years-fasting-study-2024-2&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41467-024-45260-9">study</a> published January 20 in Nature Communications, said.While chronological age refers to how many years someone has been alive, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-the-maximum-age-of-humans-115-or-older-2023-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">biological age </a>is a measure of how well cells and tissues are functioning. However, the term is still debated among experts as younger cells may not necessarily indicate better health, and there is no "normal" way our cells should look at any given age, BI previously reported.<h2>Participants could eat foods including soup and energy bars while 'fasting'</h2>The FMD is a low-calorie diet that's high in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/saturated-vs-unsaturated-fat">unsaturated fats</a> and low in protein and carbohydrates. During the five-day-fast period, participants consumed vegetable-based soups, energy bars, energy drinks, chip snacks, tea, and a supplement providing high levels of minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids, provided by L-Nutra, a nutrition tech company founded by Longo. On day one of the FMD, participants ate around 1,100 calories, and around 720 on days two to five. They could eat at any time throughout the day.Longo said in a press release: "This is the first study to show that a food-based intervention that does not require chronic dietary or other lifestyle changes can make people biologically younger, based on both changes in risk factors for aging and disease and on a validated method developed by the Levine group to assess biological age."However, the study involved only 100 participants, the majority of whom were healthier than the average person in the US population, the authors said, meaning the results might not relate to a wider population."It would need to be rolled out to lots more people in different demographic and health groups to really understand how beneficial fasting is for everyone," professor Clare Bryant, who researches innate immunity at Cambridge University, UK, and was not involved in the study, told Business Insider.Previous studies have linked the FMD to stem cell regeneration as well as reducing the side effects of chemotherapy in studies on mice.David Clancy, a lecturer who studies the biology of aging at Lancaster University, UK, who was not involved in the study, told BI: "It's not unreasonable to think that, during ages 40 to 60 at least, this regime twice per year may add three to four years of healthy life, maybe more, in those with higher BMI, blood pressure, blood sugar etc."But he noted that the diet is "pretty harsh," and people may struggle to get through the working day towards the end. "Scheduling days four and five for weekend days would be sensible," he said.Cultivating a sensible exercise habit could achieve the same or even better results, Clancy said, and is maintainable into older age.

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Did you know that genetically engineered bacteria can do math?

BI India Bureau

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic could help slow biological aging, researchers say

Rebecca Rommen

Eight-week vegan diet linked to lower biological age, study finds

PTI

Sperm or egg donor has no legal right on child, can't claim to be biological parent, says high court

PTI

I was a stepmom before I became a biological mom. It's different, but both roles are important.

Megan Foley

A 60-year-old CEO says she lowered her biological age to 35 with 4 simple changes

Hilary Brueck

Eminem has one biological child and two adopted kids. Here's everything to know about them.

Callie Ahlgrim

ChatGPT probably won't help create biological weapons, OpenAI says

Tom Carter

4 ways a top biological age expert reversed his own biological age by 4 years

Hilary Brueck

Why you shouldn't be scared of spiders, according to a biology professor

Marianne Guenot

This test can calculate your biological age for free. Here's how it works and how to interpret the results.

Hilary Brueck

People reversed their biological age by almost 3 years on a diet that mimics fasting in a study. Here's what they ate.

Kim Schewitz

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