One of the most complex processes in biology is undoubtedly the ageing of an organism. Eating less, thus lowering daily calorie intake, might be the key to slowing down this mysterious process.
A study by Shaun et al., published in the scientific journal Cell, revealed promising results within the ageing field.
These researchers have created a detailed map showing how a low-calorie diet can cause specific genes in different body parts to change with age. It’s the first time that such a comprehensive map has been made. This map could help us understand how these genes affect specific cell types as we age.
According to the authors, “Aging causes a functional decline in tissues throughout the body that may be delayed by caloric restriction (CR).”
The scientists analysed more than 210,000 single cells from nine body tissues (fat, heart, kidney, liver, skin, bone marrow, brain, and skeletal)—the tissues obtained from young and old rats fed without restriction and old rats subject to CR. The different tissues underwent single-cell genetic sequencing to study ageing and the effect of CR at the molecular level in a mammal animal model.
Cells change as they get older. This ageing process causes specific biological pathways in the body to become more active, like those related to inflammation, the immune response, processing fats, and controlling cell death.
The study used older rats, equivalent to 70 human years, and younger rats, equal to 16 human years.
By restricting the number of calories the old rats consumed, researchers found that their maximum lifespan was extended. This happened because the calorie restriction helped reduce the changes associated with ageing in the composition of cell types, gene expression, and synthesis of critical regulatory proteins.
In comparison, the continuously fed rats did not experience the same benefits.
Inflammation happens when the body’s defences are activated to fight off germs or repair damaged tissues. But too much inflammation for a long time can cause health problems.
Chronic inflammation has different causes, including eating more calories than needed. As we get older, our bodies make more immune cells, which can lead to long-lasting inflammation in other parts of the body. Eating less food can help fix the imbalanced immune system that comes with ageing.
The findings from this investigation have provided a wealth of information about gene expression and its relationship to ageing and metabolism. This information has become a valuable resource for researchers in ageing and metabolism, offering a comprehensive and helpful tool for further study.
“Thus, our study, along with previous reports, unveils the impact of CR on immunomodulation and emphasises that metabolic interventions may affect the global immune response, which is strongly linked to the health status and lifespan of organisms,” wrote the authors.
This study has been published when fasting to improve wellbeing is gaining momentum in the scientific community and on social media.
Improving health, increasing lifespan, and reversing the signs of ageing are undoubtedly in the minds of many of us who care to live well and to the fullest. After consulting your doctor, one small lifestyle change like eating less may do that… after all, as the old saying goes, “Eat to live, don’t live to eat!”