Hacking the Biological System with Restorin
Until recently, the idea of delaying aging was considered unrealistic and fanciful. However, scientists have begun to discover how to mimic the age-delaying effects of diet and exercise.
In the context of diet, caloric restriction — consuming fewer calories — is the most well-described and potent intervention for prolonging the lifespan of multiple organisms. When it comes to preventing age-related diseases like cardiovascular disease, dementia, and diabetes, there is no better intervention than exercise.
Caloric restriction and exercise trigger a host of biological changes that delay the aging process. Geoscientists now have a firm grasp on how to induce these biological changes with aging intervention technologies, namely drugs and nutraceuticals. One key factor that remains to be optimized is combining these intervention technologies to maximize their full potential. With that being said, Seragon Biosciences may have done just that with Restorin. However, first, it may be better to become acquainted with the hackable cellular systems.
Table of Contents
Hacking Cellular Systems
Our ancestors would have trouble consuming the amount of food many modern humans eat day after day. The overconsumption of food leads to obesity, which increases the risk of many age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. These diseases are among the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. The most effective and healthy method for reversing obesity is to consume fewer calories and increase physical activity levels.
However, geoscientists have devised ways to hack the biological system, forcing cells to behave in a manner congruent with different aspects of caloric restriction or exercise. They have done so by using intervention technologies that target specific cellular systems. Our cells do not have a mind of their own but respond to a multitude of stimuli. The nutrients we consume provide powerful stimuli that alter the behavior of our cells to varying degrees. If dosed properly, these nutrients can modulate the cellular systems that control biological aging.
mTOR
The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is involved in sensing specific nutrients, most notably amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. mTOR modulates the cellular growth system and is activated most effectively by branched-chain amino acids. However, geoscientists have found a trade-off between growth and longevity (living longer), whereby increasing growth mitigates longevity. Moreover, mTOR signaling becomes constitutively active during aging, leading to accelerated aging.
Researchers have found that inhibiting mTOR prolongs the lifespan of model organisms, including rodents. Inhibiting mTOR also counteracts age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Thus, intervention technologies that target and inhibit mTOR are capable of hacking the cellular growth system, counteracting the overconsumption of nutrients.
Autophagy
Our cells are like microscopic machines with parts that inevitably break down or are erroneously made. Autophagy is the cellular system that degrades and recycles unwanted cellular material such as broken or erroneously made parts. When nutrients cannot be found, such as with fasting, autophagy is activated. Autophagy is also activated when glucose is low or when mTOR is inhibited. Studies have shown that activating autophagy is particularly beneficial in counteracting Alzheimer’s disease because it helps to clean up erroneously made proteins, namely amyloid-beta, the accumulation of which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s dementia.
Mitophagy
Mitophagy is a particular form of autophagy with its dedicated name emphasizing its importance. Mitophagy is the cellular system that gets rid of broken mitochondria, the structures in our cells that produce energy. The importance of mitophagy is rooted in the importance of mitochondria. When mitochondria are broken, not only do they produce less energy but they also generate age-promoting molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). By removing broken mitochondria, mitophagy supports a cellular environment conducive to efficient energy generation and low ROS levels, both of which promote a slower aging trajectory.
Energy Metabolism
Mitochondria are of paramount importance because the energy they generate keeps our cells alive, keeping us alive. Considering their key role, multiple cellular systems support their optimal function and health. In addition to mitophagy, the NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) system contributes to mitochondrial efficiency. Without NAD+, our mitochondria would be unable to make energy from the nutrients that we consume.
Furthermore, when the NAD+ system is properly balanced, it supports the activation of enzymes called sirtuins. Sirtuins not only trigger the expression of genes that modulate mitochondrial health but also genes that protect against cellular stress and activate cellular survival systems. Sirtuins also play a role in DNA damage repair and the suppression of inflammation. Both DNA damage and inflammation are biological drivers of aging.
Senescence
While not yet fully understood, the senescence system may be involved in the protection against cancer. That is, when our cells encounter DNA damage, they enter senescence and become senescent cells. Since DNA damage can lead to genetic mutations that promote the growth of cancer, senescent cells may halt the progression of cancer. However, with age, senescent cells accumulate due to a dysregulated immune system response that results in chronic inflammation. Compounds called senolytics can eliminate senescent cells and subdue chronic inflammation, which is associated with many age-related diseases.
Restorin
It’s tough to mimic all the biological changes that occur with caloric restriction and exercise. This is demonstrated by the multitude of hackable cellular systems described above. However, with these cellular systems identified, geoscientists can now develop the optimal complement of intervention technologies. This achievement is something that Seragon Biosciences, known for pioneering research in aging intervention technologies, has been working on using patents from top institutions, including Harvard University, Mayo Clinic, and Scripps Research.
The latest edition of Restorin is based on Seragon’s SRN-901, which was shown to increase the remaining lifespan of mice by one-third, one of the greatest extensions of lifespan achieved in animal models. This crowning achievement will likely be reflected and improved upon in Restorin. While more studies will be needed to confirm the age-delaying effects of Restorin in humans, Seragon’s reputation for excellence demands trust.