Is it therefore possible to prevent ageing by leading an ascetic life? Is permanent fasting the key to eternal and healthy life? “This is not that easy,” said Baumeister. Increased life expectancy – a good side effect In this respect, humans are no different from worms. After the reproductive age, evolution no longer foresees the need to invest in expensive maintenance measures, for example the correction of genetic errors. This is done at the expense of the body’s own repair mechanisms that are only activated in real emergencies. Although modern humans often have different plans, the human body is still programmed to use its energy – as much as possible – for reproduction. On the other hand, high insulin activity switches off these repair mechanisms in order to save energy. They are sure that hunger activates an insulin-independent protection programme in the body. The Freiburg researchers are investigating the specifics of this complicated network at the Centre for Biosystems Analysis (ZBSA) using systems biology methods. Pulling on one thread moves virtually all the other threads,” said Baumeister describing the complex interaction of the genes. A complex genetic programme, of which about 150 genes are known, regulates the life expectancy of humans. Unfortunately, it is not enough to simply switch on or off these central genes in order to halt the ageing process.
However, it is no surprise that this switch was discovered in C. The fact that this switch governs completely different survival mechanisms than those previously associated with the hormone is regarded as a scientific sensation. In cooperation with scientists from the Harvard Medical School, the researchers from Freiburg have discovered another insulin-controlled switch that controls a whole genetic network, which protects the cells against their own “exhaust gases” and is thus able to prolong the lifespan. Already the first “ageing gene” discovered by Baumeister’s research group, has turned out to be key in recognising metabolic stress and in initiating protective measures, at least as long as enough insulin is available. Insulin and its signalling pathway not only regulate the metabolism, but also control the stress response in the body. The more active insulin in the body, the more mechanisms that would be able to repair the damage caused by the aggressive oxygen radicals are suppressed. This drives the metabolism, which leads to the generation of more and more damaging oxygen molecules. Abundance entails a vicious circle: the more calories in a meal, the more insulin is required.
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