HYPOTHALAMUS IS THIS THE KEY TO ANTI-AGEING?

An interesting article in the 'DAILY MAIL' today about the hypothalamus, I've written quite a bit on here on this amazing area of the brain. The Hypothalamus is our most primitive area of the brain and the home of our moods and emotions, it is also the area of the brain that controls homoeostasis in the body, in other words, it regulates every thing that goes on in the body, balances body chemistry, hormone levels etc. so it stands to reason how it could be involved in ageing. It will be interesting to see further research on this amazing area of the brain.

Is this the key to eternal youth? Scientists find the brain region that controls ageing - paving the way to turn back the clock

• Signal pathway in the hypothalamus controls ageing throughout the body
• Signalling can be altered to slow ageing process and increase longevity
• Hormone made in the hypothalamus also slows ageing so injecting it into mice increases their lifespan

Scientists are a step closer to finding the key to eternal youth after discovering a single region of the brain may control the ageing process

For generations, we have tried, and failed, to find the key to eternal youth.
But scientists think they may now be one step closer to unlocking the secret.
New research has found that a single region of the brain may control the ageing process.
Researchers believe that the hypothalamus – the area of the brain which controls hunger, thirst, body temperature and fatigue - may be the ‘fountain of ageing’, controlling how the body declines over time.
They say they have discovered a specific age-related signalling pathway which opens up new strategies for combating diseases of old age and extending lifespan.
Senior author Professor Dongsheng Cai, at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the United States, said: ‘Scientists have long wondered whether ageing occurs independently in the body's various tissues or if it could be actively regulated by an organ in the body.
‘It's clear from our study that many aspects of ageing are controlled by the hypothalamus.
‘What's exciting is that it's possible - at least in mice - to alter signalling within the hypothalamus to slow down the ageing process and increase longevity.’
The hypothalamus, located deep within the brain, is known to play fundamental roles in growth, development, reproduction and metabolism.

 

Professor Cai suspected that the hypothalamus might also play a key role in ageing through the influence it exerts throughout the body.
He said: ‘As people age you can detect inflammatory changes in various tissues.
‘Inflammation is also involved in various age-related diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, neurological disease and many types of cancer.’

Researchers believe that the hypothalamus - the area of the brain which controls hunger, thirst, body temperature and fatigue - may be the 'fountain of ageing'

Over several years, Professor Cai and his research colleagues showed that inflammatory changes in the hypothalamus can give rise to various components of metabolic syndrome - a combination of health problems that can lead to heart disease and diabetes.
To find out how the hypothalamus might affect ageing, they decided to study hypothalamic inflammation by focusing on one protein complex.
Professor Cai said: ‘Inflammation involves hundreds of molecules, and this one sits right at the centre of that regulatory map.’
In the latest study, the team showed that activating the protein complex pathway in the hypothalamus of mice significantly accelerated the development of ageing, as shown by various physiological, cognitive and behavioural tests.
He said: ‘The mice showed a decrease in muscle strength and size, in skin thickness, and in their ability to learn - all indicators of ageing.
‘Activating this pathway promoted systemic ageing that shortened the lifespan.’

Researchers found that blocking a pathway in the hypothalamus (shown in red) increased longevity in mice by about 20 per cent

However, they also found that blocking the pathway in the hypothalamus of mouse brains slowed ageing and increased longevity by about 20 per cent.
The researchers also found that activating the pathway in the hypothalamus caused declines in levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is made in the hypothalamus.
Suspecting that reduced release of GnRH from the brain might contribute to whole-body ageing, the researchers injected the hormone into aged mice and made the striking observation that the hormone injections protected them from the impaired neurogenesis – creation of new neurons - associated with ageing.
When aged mice received daily GnRH injections for a prolonged period, the therapy exerted benefits that included the slowing of age-related cognitive decline, probably the result of neurogenesis.
Professor Cai said preventing the hypothalamus from causing inflammation and increasing neurogenesis via GnRH therapy are two potential strategies for increasing lifespan and treating age-related diseases.

BLOOD (ANATOMY FOR BEGINNERS)

Blood is divided into two parts cells 45% and plasma 55% although mostly water it carries nutrients, such as minerals, proteins, glucose, hormones and oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body. The three main type of cells are erythrocytes (red blood cells) leucocytes (white blood cells) and platelets (thrombocytes) The red blood cells main function is to carry oxygen to the body's cells, these contain haemoglobin (which contains iron) that helps these cells bind to the oxygen molecules to carry it around the body. White blood cells function is mainly defending the body from infection and platelets are tiny little fragile cells that when damaged as in an injury release substances to cause the blood to clot thus stemming the flow of blood.

There are 4 main groups A, B, AB and O and these can be either Rh positive or Rh negative so blood can be one of 8 types

The ABO system

Blood groups are defined by the ABO system.

• Blood group A has A antigens on its red blood cells and anti-B antibodies in its plasma.
• Blood group B has B antigens and anti-A antibodies in its plasma.
• Blood group O has no antigens but both anti-A and anti-B antibodies. This means that group O red cells can safely be given to anyone. It is the most common blood group in the UK.
• Group AB has both A and B antigens but no antibodies, otherwise it would destroy itself.

Receiving blood from the wrong ABO group could be life-threatening because antibodies in a person with group A blood will attack group B antigens and vice-versa.

The Rh system

Red blood cells sometimes have another antigen, a protein known as the RhD antigen. If this is present, your blood group is RhD positive. If it is absent, you are RhD negative. This means that you can be one of eight blood groups:

• A RhD positive (A+)
• A RhD negative (A-)
• B RhD positive (B+)
• B RhD negative (B-)
• O RhD positive (O+)
• O RhD negative (O-)
• AB RhD positive (AB+)
• AB RhD negative (AB-)

Around 85% of the UK population is RhD positive.

96% of us rely on the other 4% to give blood. Please don't leave it to someone else.
DO SOMETHING AMAZING TODAY GIVE BLOOD

Register as a blood donor
Receive an information pack, containing all you need to know about giving blood.

Maggie Brown (Author)

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ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS "THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM"

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM PART ONE

DIAGRAM OF THE ENDOCRINE GLANDS

It is often said that it is the Pituitary Gland that controls the Endocrine system however this is not strictly true although it plays a big part in it. It is the area of the brain known as the Hypothalamus that maintains homeostasis (balance) within the body and one of its functions is to regulate the pituitary gland. You can see from the diagram above the Endocrine system organs which are known as ductless glands meaning their hormones (chemical messengers) are excreted directly into the blood and not through a duct. 

As the Hypothalamus is trying to maintain balance within the body it is constantly check our blood analysing what's needed to help it function at its best so if it detects a fall in certain hormones it will send a message to the pituitary gland say and that pituitary gland will send a hormone to its target organ for example Thyroid Stimulating Hormone that is then excreted into the blood stream to target the Thyroid gland to produce Thyroxine, the Hypothalamus will be constantly checking levels of Thyroxine in the blood and when the levels are correct, it will send a message to the pituitary gland to stop secreting Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and if the levels drop again the same thing happens all over again. This is known as a 'Feedback System' and that is basically how our hormone levels are maintained.

Obviously the subject matter of the Endocrine system is vast and I am only giving the basics and keeping it simple but one thing that affects us all is stress and the endocrine system really is worked.

CORTISOL OFTEN KNOWN AS THE 'STRESS HORMONE' 

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced within the adrenal cortex in the adrenal glands, these are cone shaped organs sitting on top of the kidneys. It's a very important hormone and responsible for proper glucose metabolism, helping regulate blood pressure, has a part to play in insulin and blood sugar levels and is part of the inflammatory response. It's often known as the stress hormone but as you can see that's only part of its functions, and this is because it's secreted in higher levels as part of the 'Fight or Flight response'. When secreted in short bursts its beneficial to the body as due to it's actions, it helps mobilise energy reserves, heightens memory and lowers response to pain. This is how and why it's beneficial in the 'Fight and Flight response', it acts quickly and helps survival, however today's stresses are not the same as yesteryear and therein lies the problem.

When there is prolonged secretion of this hormone, when stress is on going, it causes blood sugar imbalances, affects bone density, causing it to decrease and also causes a decrease in muscle tissue. It raises blood pressure affects the body's immune system making us more susceptible to infection and leads to poor healing. It also causes shifts in body fat by increasing more fat around the abdominal areas and leads to higher levels of cholesterol.

The Hypothalamus & the Relationship to the Endocrine System in ‘Stress’

Below the flow chart illustrates how our minds' emotions and feelings trigger a reaction in the Hypothalamus to instigate what happens in the 'Fight or Flight' response. The Hypothalamus then in turn influences both the Autonomic Nervous System and the Endocrine system. This is fine short term it helps us cope in dangerous scenarios and was designed as a protective response, however the stresses of today are not those of yesteryear. No harm comes to our bodies in the short term, this is not the case in long term stress. All is not lost for there are ways we can influence the Hypothalamus to prevent the long term damaging effects of stress on our health. I shall be exploring this under Holistic Therapies. 

Maggie Brown (Author)

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SIMPLE ANATOMY URINARY SYSTEM

The Urinary system's function consists of two kidneys two ureters leading down to the bladder and the urethra leading to the external body. The function of the kidneys is to filter the blood through tiny specialised structures known as nephrons. These are very delicate structures than can be damaged through continuous high blood pressure. The kidneys regulate electrolytes (salts) within the body and remove waste such as urea, they also help regulate blood pressure. They excrete this waste as urine. Incidentally urine is sterile until it leaves the body when bacteria acts upon it. The urine then passes down the ureters to the bladder where it is stored until its convent to be emptied. They are placed at the rear of the abdominal cavity and are protected by an area of fat just below the waist.

Maggie Brown (Author)

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