Annie Wilson

List of Longevity Genes – A Must Read for Longevity

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Scientists are trying to pin point the genes responsible for longevity. There are about 200 genes that are directly associated with longevity. Twenty of them are very prominent. Out of these 20 longevity genes, IGF-1, FOXO3A, NF-kB, AMTP, CETP, SIRTUIN are most prominent. We think that, out of these six, SIRTUIN and FOXO families have major impact on longevity. In this article we will discuss more about these six prominent genes.

Aging has normally been thought to be due to ‘wear and tear’. However, this view has changed. The interaction between genes, metabolism, and natural variations in longevity is an enormously complex subject. We all know that genetics, environmental risks, lifestyle, and strong social bonds are the major factors that helps people to live longer. Longevity has a strong genetic component. However, this view is also gradually fading away. The genetic underpinnings of longevity are real — it’s just that they’re far richer and more complex than we anticipated. The aging process is likely the result of tens, or hundreds, or even thousands of closely intertwined genetic factors. Here is the list of longevity genes.

Effect of Meditation on Cortical Thickness of the Brain

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Scientific evidence suggests that meditation alters the functional and structural plasticity of the brain. In the milestone study, Sara Lazar, et al. in 2005, demonstrated that meditation increases the cortical thickness of the brain. Since then a large number of studies, mostly with varying sample sizes are conducted to identify the relationship between meditation techniques and development of cortical thickness in different brain areas. The results have been remarkably consistent. There is increasing evidence that the insula undergoes structural refinement through meditation. Meditation stops insular cortical thinning process. Insular cortical thinning occurs due to age and depression. In this article we focus on the impact of meditation on overall cortical thickness of the brain. Advancements in developmental biology, neuroscience, and medical imaging have brought us closer than ever to understand the effect of meditation on brain.

There are several meditation methods, such as Yoga, Om meditation, Zen, mindfulness, breathing awareness, and Samatha. Specially, Om chanting and meditation has several benefits. The chanting of Om improves the somatic relaxation and the meditation on the meaning of Om increase cognitive relaxation. Special cognitive relaxation of Om meditation and somatic relaxation of Om chanting improves the cortical characteristics of the brain. Moreover, the practice of Om improve immune competence, especially in older populations who often experience a loss of immune function. Om mantra stabilizes the fight-and-flight response of the amygdala. Which improves the gyrification and cerebral characteristics.

Meditation for Beginners

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Welcome to the meditation for beginners Quick-Start Series. In this first series of lessons we are going to help you learn meditation. If you already have experience with meditation this series will help you to go into deeper aspect of meditation.  Everyone has their own reasons for meditation. Some people do meditation for physical well-being. Some … Read more

Yoga Poses to Improve Immune System Through Lymph Drainage

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Ten yoga poses for the lymphatic system and immunity improvement are discussed. These yoga poses improves the immune system through lymph drainage. The lymphatic system plays a vital role by removing wastes and toxins from the body and in maintaining its immunity against pathogens. It does this by moving the lymph fluid towards the neck. Lymp is a water like fluid containing water, proteins and other substances. It drains the excess interstitial fluid, excess proteins and toxic substances from between the cells. Yoga poses help to move and drain out the excess lymph. The healthy functioning of the lymphatic system can be hindered or stopped due to factors such as venous insufficiency, stress, chemical overload, injuries, age, lack of activity and increased consumption of food additives. These ten yoga exercises with healthy lifestyle improves the flow of lymph and enhances the immune system.

Yoga Poses to Boost Immune System

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Yoga poses work both at cellular and molecular levels to boost immunity system of our body. NF-kB system is the master regulator of our immunity. Yoga exercise inhibit NF-κB signaling at various control points to enhance immune system. Thymus gland is responsible for building strong immune system. Proper yoga exercises strengthen and stimulates the thymus activities. Dynamic yoga poses are the best way to improve immunity. Exactly how yoga poses and breathing exercises inhibit NF-KB activities and improve immunity is under scientific investigation. In this review we will focus on the yoga poses that have direct impact on immunobiology. Physical and mental stress increases the release of cortisol and adrenaline and decreases immune system’s ability to fight infection. However, moderate levels of yoga practices reduces the stress hormones and increases the immune system’s ability to fight against infections like cold and flu.Most of the decline in immune system function is a direct result of degradation of the thymus gland. The shrinking of the thymus gland with age, resulting in changes in the architecture of the thymus and a decrease in tissue mass. Thymus gland is the master of the hormones and the immunity booster. Yoga stimulates the thymus gland which builds immunity and massages the lungs, heart, bronchial tubes. Yoga practice can help our cells to fight against harmful microorganisms and viruses by boosting our immune system, reducing stress and strengthening our body functions and systems. Here are five user-friendly yoga poses to increase your immunity.

Theory of Karma in Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita

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Karma is a spiritual law of Hinduism. It is equivalent to Newton’s Third Law of Physics, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” In Sanskrit the word karma means “actions” or “deeds.” Good karma brings good result and bad karma brings bad result. That is the basic karma theory. Everything that you think, feel and do is recorded in the cosmic hard-drive. Hindu texts prescribed a number of activities, such as service to cow, service to wise person, service to the humanity, service for environment protection ( particularly rivers and trees), giving donation, giving foods and clothes to people, giving foods to animals, pilgrimages to holy places, taking bath at river Ganges, doing charity, and acts of devotion to God, that can reduce the effects of bad karma. Such positive actions are sometimes referred to as “good karma.” Hindu saints have developed many meditation techniques to kill or dissolve the effect of aagami Karma. In Bhagavad-Gita Lord Krishna said “Perform work that will give benefit of all, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world.” Meditation, fasting, caloric restriction, yoga postures, yoga breathing, om chanting, regular exercise, diet control, keeping clean environment, helping others are the normal practice for karma clearing.

How to Increases the Volume of the Hippocampus

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Hippocampus volume loss is the most common problem among older adults. However, there are many ways that can increase the volume of the hippocampus. Scientific studies observed that yoga, aerobic exercise training is effective at reversing hippocampal volume loss in late adulthood. As we age, the ends of our chromosomes — called telomeres — become … Read more

Meditation and the Default Mode Network

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Default Mode Network

Default mode network are a multilayer, hierarchical network of neurons not some isolated regions of the brain. Understanding how meditation and DMN work together is central for understanding deeper levels of meditation. Here we present a basic model of DMN and its role in meditation. The DNM is active when one is engage in internal tasks such as daydreaming, envisioning the future, retrieving memories, and thinking others’ perspectives.The DNM releases unresolved tensions in our lives. The default mode network is more active for creative people. During wakeful rest, the brain consolidates recently accumulated data, memorizing the most salient information, and essentially rehearses recently learned skills, etching them into its tissue. Normally, default mode of humans appears to be that of mind-wandering. In my earlier article I have discussed about the effect of meditation on brain structure. In this article I discussed the effect of meditation on default mode network.

Sirtuins for Restoring Youthfulness and Extending Longevity

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Emerging from current research on the sirtuins there is a growing appreciation that the sirtuins are playing major roles in regulating cell proliferation, cell survival and apoptosis (programmed cell death). Sirtuins block multiple key processes in neurodegeneration. Sirtuins restore protein homeostasis by reducing accumulation of toxic proteins, improve neural plasticity by elevating transcription of genes, enhance mitochondria function by reducing oxidative stress, and suppress sustained chronic inflammation with epigenetic mechanisms. In this article we review the role sirtuin genes for restoring youthfulness and extending longevity. Telomere attrition has been shown to be accelerated by oxidative stress and inflammation. SIRT3 expression increases by exercise, fasting and caloric restriction and decreased by high-fat diet. SIRT1 genes are linked in inflammatory responses. SIRT1 can block the neuropathogenic inflammatory loops.

How to Live Longer Life to the Fullest

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The science behind long, happy and healthy life is continuously emerging. The maximum lifespan of human being is about 120 years. How to increase that? How to add more life into those years? How can we preserve our youth? What cause aging? Can human bodies become immortal? These are the most fundamental questions in biology. Aging is almost universal, but the causes of aging are complex. The rate of aging also differs from person to person. Scientific evidence suggests that proper diet, regular exercise, regular learning and calorie restriction, during middle age and beyond is enormously effective to promote health and disease free life. Through discipline life, it is possible to make the rejuvenation and extend lifespan and possible to achieve stop senescence, reverse aging or at least significantly delay it.