Lifeboat Foundation

As we turn our attention from the front of the eye to the back, we also look to the future. Many studies have combined oculomics with AI tools to predict biological age from retinal biomarkers, such as retinal vasculature [1, 6], and even linked this to chronic disease risk, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer [7]. High resolution imaging tools also enable direct visualisation of the neural layers within the retina, which can show signs of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease [1, 6], Parkinson’s disease [8], multiple sclerosis [6, 9], and even rare conditions, such as Lafora disease [10]. In many cases, the oculomic signs are present before symptoms arise. For example, it has been shown that proteins related to Alzheimer’s disease (such as amyloid-beta) accumulate at least one decade prior to cognitive decline [11] and these proteins also accumulate in the retina [12]. This is particularly pertinent to clinical research and drug development, as it enables identification of those who may benefit from intervention before irreversible damage has taken place.

Advances in imaging technology mean that we can now detect biomarkers at cellular resolution. We are continually finding new applications for imaging techniques to detect disease before it takes hold, providing the opportunity to intervene and potentially avoid disease altogether. It’s definitely an exciting time for oculomics research!

Crystallomancy has come a long way since Ancient Roman times, and it makes one wonder whether the scryers of the past could have predicted the transformation of orb-gazing from a mystical art to a rigorous science. Not only does Oculomics enable us to look into your past and present, but also has the potential to look into your future, providing you the opportunity to change your “fate”. Although we cannot be sure what form the advancements in imaging and AI tools will take over the coming years, we can be sure of one thing – that oculomics has a promising future in the quest for longevity.

CryocrastinationDescription: Biostasis techniques such as cryopreservation, which allow recently-living organisms to be stored indefinitely without deteriora…

Fresh from announcing positive Phase 1 trial results for its inflammation-targeting drug candidate, Utah-based biotech Halia Therapeutics is now pursuing Phase 2 studies in a range of indications. The Salt Lake City company’s lead compound is an inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a known driver of systemic chronic inflammation, which is linked to conditions including fibrotic disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and many others.

Halia is taking a unique approach to the NLRP3 inflammasome by targeting the protein NEK7, which plays a key role in gene’s activity. In preclinical models, the company has shown its approach disrupts the formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and promotes its disassembly once activated, reducing the overall inflammatory response. In its recent Phase 1 trial, in addition to showing positive safety and tolerability data, Halia’s drug demonstrated positive effects in blood samples taken from healthy volunteers, showing “over 90% suppression of multiple NLRP3-mediated cytokines and chemokines.”

Longevity. Technology: Chronic inflammation is a frequent topic of discussion in longevity circles. The term “inflammaging” refers to the increase of inflammatory cytokines in our bodies as we age, which is linked to chronic morbidity, disability, frailty and premature death. While there is no doubt that Halia believes that its approach can potentially impact many diseases, does the company have aging itself in its sights? We caught up with CEO Dr David Bearss to find out.

Restricting calories is known to improve health and increase lifespan, but much of how it does so remains a mystery, especially in regard to how it protects the brain. Buck Institute for Research on Aging scientists have uncovered a role for a gene called OXR1 that is necessary for the lifespan extension seen with dietary restriction and is essential for healthy brain aging.

“When people restrict the amount of food that they eat, they typically think it might affect their digestive tract or fat buildup, but not necessarily about how it affects the brain,” said Kenneth Wilson, Ph.D., Buck postdoc and first author of the study, published in Nature Communications. “As it turns out, this is a gene that is important in the brain.”

The team additionally demonstrated a detailed cellular mechanism of how dietary restriction can delay aging and slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The work, done in fruit flies and human cells, also identifies potential therapeutic targets to slow aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Retro Biosciences, a startup with $180 million from Sam Altman, has a simple and audacious goal: Add 10 good years to your life. And until now, we haven’t had a glimpse of its best ideas.

The research builds on a recent body of work that suggests that #mitochondria are social organelles that can talk to one another even when they are in different tissues.

Biologists discovered that mitochondria in different tissues talk to each other to repair injured cells. When their signal fails, the biological clock starts winding down.

Summary: Scientists are using epigenetic clocks to reveal our biological age, a true marker of health.

A new study delves into the immune system’s role in understanding and improving the accuracy of these clocks. Their innovative approach sheds light on the relationship between immune cell composition and biological age, with a focus on the balance between naïve and memory immune cells.

This research has significant implications for aging insights, health interventions, and targeted cancer treatments.

German researchers are developing an algorithm to help decode ancient cuneiform tablets — including those containing the oldest known work of world literature.

Ancient poem: The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Babylonian poem first written in cuneiform characters on clay tablets around 4,000 years ago. It tells the story of Gilgamesh, the king of the city of Uruk, and his quest for immortality.

Continue reading “AI is helping decode the oldest story in the world” »

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