Aging is a lot like a crumbling marriage, researchers are saying. In both cases, steps can be taken to turn things around.


Certain events on a molecular level help facilitate communication between the cell nucleus and the mitochondria[1] , the cell's energy source. Now researchers at the University of New South Wales [2] have pinpointed the communication breakdown as the cause of aging. "The aging process we discovered is like a married couple-- when they are young, they communicate well, but over time, living in close quarters for many years, communication breaks down," Harvard University[3] -based lead investigator David Sinclair said in a release.


But as with marriage, restoring the lines of communication can nurse the cells back to health. The communication breakdown is caused by lower levels of a chemical called NAD, which decreases with age. Prior to this study[4] , the only known ways of slowing the decrease were to have a low-calorie diet and regularly exercise.


In this study, researchers used a compound that mimics the benefits of diet and exercise on mice. In two-year-old mice, the compound helped reduce insulin-resistance and inflammation, making them nearly as healthy as mice that were just six months old. "It's something like a 60 year old being similar to a 20 year old on some measures," Sinclair said.


The older mice were also found to have muscle strength comparable to the younger mice after the compound was administered for just one week. What's more, even the younger mice showed benefits from the compound, making them "supercharged" above normal.


Similar studies on mice have shown certain compounds can certainly have an anti-aging effect. Reservatrol [5] has been touted as an elixir of youth after research showed it could have a protective benefit on blood vessels and reduce inflammation[6] , a key factor in many age-related diseases.


Researchers at UNSW plan on starting human trials next year and say they still need to study the long-term effects of the compound. Sinclair says they're hopeful that the age-reversal capabilities of the compound could help treat various age-related diseases including type-2 diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and even cancer.



Earlier on HuffPost50:




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  • Red


    <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/554.html">Lycopene</a> is what gives tomatoes and watermelon its red hue, as well as its antioxidant properties. The substance has been linked to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/09/tomatoes-stroke-risk-foods_n_1948289.html?utm_hp_ref=fifty&ir=Fifty">lowering stroke risk</a> and preventing heart disease.




  • Orange


    The beta-carotene found in sweet potatoes, squash, carrots and corn have <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/antioxidants.html">antioxidant properties</a>, protecting your body from cell damage wrecked by free radicals.




  • Orange-Yellow


    You can reduce inflammation in your body thanks to the flavonoids found in citrus fruits, Dr. Heber said. The anti-inflammatory substance has also been linked to <a href="http://www.realage.com/food/flavonoids">repairing cell damage and keeping arteries healthy</a>. Also the <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/420509-best-vitamins-for-anti-aging/">vitamin C found in these fruits helps produce more collagen</a> in your skin to help with the outer signs of aging: wrinkles.




  • Yellow-Green


    Load up on avocado, spinach and other yellow-green vegetables, Heber says. "These foods have lupene, which goes to the macula, the part of the retina that is exposed to the most ultraviolet lights. A common cause of blindness for people over 65 is age-related <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-t-miller/macular-degeneration-help_b_1812726.html?utm_hp_ref=fifty&ir=Fifty">macular degeneration</a>. It’s believed the antioxidant [lupene] localizing there prevents further damage to the eye."




  • Green


    Vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, bok choy, mustard, wasabi and horseradish are in this family, according to Heber. "They have isothiocyanates in them, which have a lot of preventative and detoxifying effects in the body."




  • White-Green


    Onion, garlics, chives and asparagus... They're all rich with the antioxidant allyl sulfide, says Dr. Heber.




  • Red-Purple


    Grapes, blackberries, blueberries, pomengranates and cranberries are rich in polyphenols, which are anti-inflammatory.




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