Rebeccah Mercado MS CHES Aging is hard to study Many factors involved Not sure why we die incrementally Only have probabilities certainty is a mirage Planned obsolescence Ways to study aging ID: 684223
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Slide1
June 3, 2015
Moving with the Cheese
Rebeccah Mercado, MS, CHES Slide2
Aging is hard to study – Many factors involved
Not sure why we die incrementally Only have probabilities,
certainty
is a miragePlanned obsolescence Ways to study aging:Extreme human conditions (Everest base camp, Space Station, Saskatchewan) Longitudinal studies
We Are all agingSlide3
DNA / GeneticsA blueprint
A starting pointEpigenetics – switching on and off of gene expression
Everything that happens to us is potentially life altering
“We think longevity is probably 70 – 75% lifestyle” – Dr. Brooks-WilsonNature or NurtureSlide4
Daily metabolism creates cellular garbage, eventually can’t sweep it all away
Oxidative damageStress
Inflammation
Chronic diseaseOrgan failure or system failureAging or rustingSlide5
CancerCardiovascular disease
Alzheimer’s diseaseDiabetesPulmonary disease
According to the CDC, the average 75 year old suffers from at least 3 of these
Only 2% of 85 year olds have dodged all 5Big 5 KillersSlide6
Chronic stress is harmful
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, I
mpaired immune function
High blood pressureInhibited DNA repairIncreased risk of dementiaElevated blood-glucose levelsWidespread inflammationPerceived lack of control = added stressBritish study of office workers“The dominant baboon enjoys untroubled sleep”Robert
Sapolsky
, Stanford
Neuroendocrinologist
Chronic stressSlide7
Perceived lack of control = added stressBritish study of office workers
“The dominant baboon enjoys untroubled sleep”
Robert
Sapolsky, Stanford NeuroendocrinologistWe’re no longer stressed by predators, now we’re stressed by psychosocial hassles from our own speciesNo ControlSlide8
Acute stress is good for usChallenge yourself – master something
difficultAdversity Theory: “resilience is learned by facing hardship and overcoming it”
“mild version” = suffering often leads to growth
“extreme version” = we MUST suffer to reach the pinnacle of human flourishingSaskatchewan EffectOptimal time (sensitivity) for this type of growth – late teens through early thirtiesAcute StressSlide9
Chronological age
Biological age – “what you can still do?”Biological clock
Protein cap that seals the end of the chromosomes = telomere
Telomeres protect the DNAEvery cell division slices off some of the capEventually the cell dies = age related diseaseTelomere length is set at birthLife circumstances can change the “burn rate”
What is your Age?Slide10
“All natural blessings are either mental or physical” – Galen
Bodily fitness & mental fitness work together – the goal is to bring them “into tune” – PlatoNeuroplasticity
Brain can rewire/retrofit
Mental rehearsalMindfulnessMeditationThe brainSlide11
Sleep
Sleep deprivation guts working memory & shortens lifeStudy of 15,000 US nurses (2012)
Sleep/stress aids
Diet NutrientsFatty acidsNo refined sugars, processed foods, etc.Hydration
What can we do?Slide12
Travel
“Enriched” environmentSensory stimulation (taste, smell, sound, customs)
Orienteering challenge – navigating a new place, going new ways
Leaning languagesExercise Heavy artillery against cognitive declineSudoku is a shovel vs. exercise – Dr. Vaillant
The whole brain blooms
“It adds life to your years”
Makes every other good habit more potent – “synergy effect”
What can we do?Slide13
Grierson, B. (2015). What makes Olga run?: The mystery of the ninety-something track star and what she can teach us about living longer, happier lives
. New York, New York: St. Martin's Griffin. Levine, J. (2014).
Get up!: Why your chair is killing you and what you can do about it
. New York, New York: Palgrave MacMillan. Swanson, L., & Vernikos, J. (2014). Scared sitless: The office fitness book. Seattle, WA: Elless Media, LLC.
ReferencesSlide14
Rebeccah
Mercado, MS, CHESResearch Coordinator, General Pediatrics
Program Coordinator, Center for Digital Health & Wellness
PhD Student, College of Health & Human Performance(407) 383-8919rebeccahmercado@ufl.eduContact Information