🌞 Happy Friday!
We’re shooting for the stars this week, both literally and in the longevity space. 💫💫💫 First, with the Orionid Meteor Shower happening right now, and you may be able to see ‘shooting stars’ up until November 7. Speaking of, we’re also breaking down astroimmunology, the space-longevity collab we didn’t know we needed.
🌙 Quick Poll
Vote now. As the universe expands, so does our knowledge about living longer and better.
What is your favorite TV show or film about space?
Spotlight
🌟 Astroimmunology: confronting biological limits in space to extend life on earth
How studying spaceflight reveals the immune system’s role on aging.
Did you know that astronauts show signs of aging faster in space than people on Earth?
Within days, Inflammation, cellular dysfunction, and DNA damage can appear. On earth, the same wear and tear could take decades, Longevity.Technology writes. ⏳
That’s partly why, in a new review Nature Reviews Immunology, researchers announced the formalization of astroimmunology, an emerging field of medicine examining the impact of space stressors on the immune system.
This could revolutionize how doctors treat aging in the stars, and on Earth.
“Astroimmunology is more than a new branch of space medicine – it’s a natural extension of geroscience into orbit,” Longevity.Technology writes.
✨ Space: the ultimate stress test?
As we age, immunity slows and our natural defenses start to weaken: cells lose the ability to generate energy, repair DNA, and combat disease. These same mechanisms drive aging on Earth, says lead author Huixun Du, PhD.
Extraterrestrial stressors: From radiation to microgravity, astronauts face numerous threats to their immune system that can accelerate the hallmarks of aging.
🧫 Mitochondria dysfunction
🧬 DNA damage
⚡️ Chronic inflammation
🦠 Lower immunity for fighting disease
Out of this world immune strategies:
Immune monitoring: continuous monitoring of immune markers.
Targeted vaccinations: Space can activate dormant viruses, so regular vaccination schedules may counter disease.
Nutraceuticals: Antioxidants, such as quercetin, supports immune health altered-gravity simulations.
🌠 In a galaxy not so far away….Understanding how our immune systems respond to stress could lead to new research on immune resilience, aging, and new drugs that combat immune-related aging and disease.
Wellness Watch
A new drug combo boosts male mouse lifespan by 70%
This one is for the boys. 💪
Whether it’s intermittent fasting or cold plunge temperature, research continues to show that men and women don’t respond to longevity practices the same way.
Drugs are no exception. 💊 In an innovative study published in the journal Aging, older male mice with frailty experienced more than a 70% increase in lifespan after being treated with a drug combo of oxytocin (the happy hormone) and an Alk5 inhibitor (being investigated as an anti-tumor drug).
Not only did they look healthier, but their likelihood of dying was three times lower than that of untreated older mice.
The combination rejuvenated muscle, liver, and brain in seven days.
Unfortunately, female mice didn’t get a longevity boost! Both sexes initially experienced a youthful rebound, but only male mice experienced sustained benefits.
Why it works: 💓 Oxytocin supports healthy muscles, bones, and metabolic regulation, while A5i blocks a signaling pathway called TGF-β. When we age, TGF-β becomes overactive and drives systemic inflammation.
One size does (not) fit all
Because these drugs did NOT have the same life-extending effects on female mice, it suggests that biology impacts the effectiveness of longevity treatments.
Big picture: ⚖️ This combo favored males, but other longevity drugs might be more promising for females. Take rapamycin, shown to increase lifespan by 15.1% in female mice and 9.4% in male mice.
In Other News 📣
Is royal jelly the Queen Bee of natural health products? 👑🐝
In a world where few natural compounds show real promise in slowing aging, royal jelly might reign supreme.
🍯 Distinct from honey or bee pollen, this creamy substance (also produced by honeybees) is fed to baby honey bees (larvae) in their first three days of life.
Only the queen bee exclusively continues to feast on royal jelly, and she experiences a “significantly longer” lifespan with higher fertility than the worker bees, authors write in a new study.
👑 Royal honey has antimicrobial, anti-tumor, and anti-diabetic, and even anti-aging properties. Early studies also suggest it may also protect against Alzheimer’s disease, and support skin regeneration and collagen production.
More research is needed, but royal honey may be among nature’s most potent anti-aging foods.
Quick Hits
Fermented dairy vs. type 2 diabetes: A new study shows that probiotic fermented milk reduces insulin resistance and inflammation, improves HbA1c, and may prevent metabolic conditions.
The artificial colon: UC Irvine researchers have developed a bioelectronic-integrated artificial colon that can screen drugs and trial treatments for colon cancer.
Pumpkin cup latte: People are bringing hollowed out pumpkins to use instead of cups at Starbucks. Dietitians say don’t.
LONG-LEVITY
Aging is beautiful. In France
What we can learn about embracing natural aging from the French.
Strength training, microsurgeries, and hormones are helping women defy aging stereotypes, yet the French are still beacons for aging gracefully, with beauty, allure, and confidence. 🇫🇷✨
What’s their secret? Mindset.
Be comfortable in your are. As an American in Paris learned, “by your 40s, you look like you have a story, but that story can become part of your allure,” she says.
Beauty is ‘seeing a person’s humanity’: Aging makes us look unique and individual. Embrace it.
Older women are considered sexy. 🔥 Where older women may become ‘invisible’ in the US, French culture celebrates aging and desirability, says supermodel and pro-aging advocate Paulina Porizkova in The Telegraph.
French women still face aging pressures and stereotypes. But surveys suggest they care more about maintaining health and independence, and supporting their aging journey in whichever way works best for the individual, according to French YouTuber Lucile.
Longevity We’re Loving
IV hydration spas are making a big splash. What experts are warning people about this supposed fast path to longevity.
The science of staying sharp: Build your SHEILD to reduce brain inflammation and help prevent dementia.
We asked, you answered:
Are you a tea-drinker?
Almost 50% of you drink tea of any variety. Check out this little chart to choose your next brew!
🍵 Green Tea — Brain boosting. Grassy notes with earth finish.
🌼 Chamomile — Sleepy time hero. Sweet, light, and calming.
🌺 Hibiscus — For the heart. Tart, red, and floral.
🍂 Oolong — Fat-burning and metabolism-boosting. Floral and roasted.
🌿 Peppermint — Soothes the gut. Cooling and fragrant.
Thanks for reading!
The information provided about wellness and health is for general informational and educational purposes only. We are not licensed medical professionals, and the content here should not be considered medical advice. Talk to a doctor before trying any of these suggestions.
