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Mitochondria: out with the old and in with the new, bloodsucking leeches, and more
Sharing knowledge to guide you toward making insightful decisions that support you on your path to health and longevity.
Issue 6 | May 10, 2024
Hello Livelongers,
Welcome to this week’s newsletter. The FDA just approved an atrial fibrillation (AFib; a condition characterized by abnormal heartbeat) detection tool on the Apple Watch, which will serve as a non-invasive biomarker test for evaluating estimates of AFib burden in clinical studies, according to the FDA. This is the first digital health technology to qualify for the FDA’s Medical Device Development Tool (MDDT) program.
The week is May 6. In today’s email:
If you got new mitochondria, would you become younger?
Blood-sucking leeches inspire new technology.
An orangutan becomes the first animal that was documented healing itself with a medicinal plant.
How much salt does the U.S. consume?
Apple cider vinegar—still confusing as ever.
And more…
We love to hear from our community. Please share your feedback, stories, questions, testimonials, ideas and more with us at [email protected].
Mitochondria (“the powerhouse of the cell”) are membrane-bound organelles that produce energy from the food we eat (they supply over 90% of all energy needed for your body’s cells). The energy they produce is delivered and used throughout the cell.
However, healthy mitochondrial DNA is damaged as we age, and we begin to lose mitochondria—in fact, up to 40% might be lost by the time we reach our 80s—which reduces energy and cell vitality, said Tom Benson, CEO of Mitrix Bio, in a recent interview.
What is mitochondrial restoration therapy?
The idea behind mitochondrial restoration therapy, sometimes called mitochondrial transplantation, is to use technology to add functional mitochondria back into the body— in essence, making you younger.
Where is the research?
Humans have already received mitochondrial transplants; however, these therapies were used for people with a rare disease—there has been little human research on using this therapy for aging, Benson said.
Animal studies show that it’s possible to add .25% to .5% of mitochondria with each treatment. The animals (mostly mice) who received a transplant had noticeably stronger and bigger muscles, and better cognition and immunity, as this therapy was shown to reverse aging phenotypes.
Why does it matter?
If more studies were to show the benefits of this therapy for aging in humans, it could have immense potential in slowing aging, or even reversing it, Benson said.
What else can improve mitochondria?
Gene editing technology could even be used to reduce the number of mutant mitochondrial DNA in the first place, which is what contributes to accelerated aging. Caloric restriction has also been shown to boost mitochondria, as well as supplements like metformin and resveratrol.
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In other news
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a proposal to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 drug. This would mean that 1) marijuana would be recognized as less dangerous with a lower risk for abuse, 2) it would be recognized as having medicinal benefits, and 3) it is still NOT federally legal for recreational use, so this rescheduling does not change certain state-level policies. Read more.
An orangutan in Indonesia treated a wound on its face using a medicinal plant (akar kuning [used to treat diabetes, dysentery and malaria among locals]). The orangutan, named Rakus, made a poultice from a plant that is rarely eaten by orangutans, and applied it to the wound for multiple days. This is the first documentation of a wild animal consistently applying a plant with medicinal properties to a wound. Read more.
UK Researchers have discovered 2000+ independent genetic signals that can be calculated into a polygenic risk score to predict blood pressure and risk of high blood pressure (hypertension), a condition that is often genetic and can cause cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and other conditions. Read more.
Leeches inspire new technology
Researchers with ETH Zurich developed a minimally invasive device to collect blood samples—its design is inspired by the leech, a type of hematophagous animal (meaning it feeds on blood) that uses a suction-like mechanism to attach to its host before piercing its skin and feeding on the blood.
How does the device work?
The device works similarly (albeit with less predatory intentions). The device contains a 2.5 cm suction cup lined with microneedles that punctures the skin when pressed into a person’s arm or back. After a few minutes, the suction cup will have created negative pressure that draws blood up and out of the puncture wounds (again similar to the leech, which cultivates negative pressure by swallowing).
Why does it matter?
Approximately 25% of adults may be afraid of needles (according to CDC data), but many tools that promote health rely on needles—including vaccines and blood tests.
In particular, blood tests are an increasingly valued tool among longevity experts and leaders of preventative care. Blood tests can measure biomarkers which reflect the state of your health, such as if you have a disease and/or your risk of getting one.
Big picture
This noninvasive device is affordable and more accurate than other diagnostic tools (i.e., finger pricks). It is also safe and cost-effective, supporting its use as an alternative to needles. Moreso, as more experts push for blood testing—and as more companies are starting to offer it—it would be interesting to see it used as an alternative with fairly accurate diagnostic capabilities.
Reach out to [email protected] with any questions or ideas for future content.
Brad Inman, founder of Livelong Media: As it is with health tips, it's tricky to figure out what is real. Take apple cider vinegar. Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, often called the "Father of Medicine,” used ACV to treat wounds. So for weeks, I found myself gulping an ACV shot each morning—and gagging every time.
I started to wonder if the literature proves there are health benefits to this supposed longevity remedy, but I found much of the research to be inconclusive.
Weight loss: The evidence is mixed.
Blood sugar control: Evidence, but no proof.
Heart health: More research is needed to confirm these claims.
Digestive health: There is limited scientific research to support this promise.
Antimicrobial properties: ACV contains acetic acid (which may inhibit the growth of certain bacteria), but you would need to consume a lot, which can be harmful in large doses.
I’ve decided to just start my day with water and a handful of blueberries, and chase it with some coffee. Hmmmm. But are blueberries overrated too?
Live longer, together
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“I've come to realize that, by embracing nutrition and holistic health practices, we can significantly alter the trajectory of our lifespan. As the youngest subscriber and an enthusiastic health advocate for the Livelong Summit, I am passionate about spreading this vital knowledge among my peers and the broader global community."
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Do you know someone (including YOU!) doing great work in the longevity, health, and wellness space? We’d love to shout them out! Please reach us at [email protected] to submit this person’s name and work, and we may feature them in a future newsletter.
Don’t miss next week’s newsletter:
We’ll be highlighting skin health!
Look good, feel better, live long,
Erin Hunter, head editor
About Livelong
Longevity science can feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland at times — it is a rabbit hole of intrigue, but laden with misinformation: where one magic pill claims to make you bigger, another makes you smaller. Our goal at Livelong is to provide you with credible and actionable information about health and longevity so you can live a longer and healthier life and guide you toward making insightful decisions that support you during your health and longevity journey.
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