- 著者
- Daniela SHIGA Takuji SHIRASAWA
- 出版者
- 高社研
- 雑誌
- バイオフィリア (ISSN:21868433)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.1, no.4, pp.4_20-4_20, 2011-09-29 (Released:2012-10-20)
When we discuss advances in longevity research during lectures and seminars, the question of the deciding factor for longevity often comes up. Even without looking at examples of research in molecular biology research, it is obvious to most that genetics play a major factor in longevity. The longest-lived human recorded was a French woman named Jeanne Calment, who died at age 122. All her family was long-lived. The quest for the identification of longevity genes by studying centenarian families has been explored for a decade, but no bona-fide longevity gene was identified. The environmental factors influencing the lifespan of human beings, such as nutrition, physical exercise, and mental relaxation play an important role in the determination of an individual lifespan. The mortality rates of lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer becoming getting higher and higher in Japan as well as in western countries where much of the population is graying. The preventive measures for lifestyle-related diseases such as nutritional intervention or regular physical exercise should be introduced for further extension of the healthy lifespan. Caloric restriction in experimental animals has been shown to extend the lifespan of animals with the decreased frequency of age-related diseases. Regular physical exercise stimulates the adipose tissues to secrete beneficial adipose hormones, such as adiponectin that suppress the progression of atherosclerosis and insulin resistance in type II DM and metabolic syndrome. In my presentation, I will focus on the Japanese-style diets, physical exercises, and challenging spirit towards life, of the people living in the Nagano prefecture village, which were enrolled in the study. Interestingly, the telomere length of the people in this village is significantly longer than the people living in other parts of Japan. The reason is, in my opinion, the fact that these villagers live in a pristine environment, at high altitude, having the walk up and down the slopes every day, thus doing a very healthy exercise without them even knowing. Most of them are involved in agriculture, mainly growing apples and grapes, as well as growing their own organic vegetables and gardening. The stress level of daily life is close to zero. The water source is clean springs coming off the top of the mountains; the air is clean and full of minus ions coming off the surrounding forests. These environmental factors may play an important role in the extension of healthy lifespan in longevity village in Japan.
- 著者
- Mikiyuki Katagiri Akira Satoh Shinji Tsuji Takuji Shirasawa
- 出版者
- SOCIETY FOR FREE RADICAL RESEARCH JAPAN
- 雑誌
- Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition (ISSN:09120009)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.51, no.2, pp.102-107, 2012 (Released:2012-08-30)
- 参考文献数
- 34
- 被引用文献数
- 44 70
In this study we tried to confirm the effect of an astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract on cognitive function in 96 subjects by a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study. Healthy middle-aged and elderly subjects who complained of age-related forgetfulness were recruited. Ninety-six subjects were selected from the initial screen, and ingested a capsule containing astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract, or a placebo capsule for 12 weeks. Somatometry, haematology, urine screens, and CogHealth and Groton Maze Learning Test were performed before and after every 4 weeks of administration. Changes in cognitive performance and the safety of astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract administration were evaluated. CogHealth battery scores improved in the high-dosage group (12 mg astaxanthin/day) after 12 weeks. Groton Maze Learning Test scores improved earlier in the low-dosage (6 mg astaxanthin/day) and high-dosage groups than in the placebo group. The sample size, however, was small to show a significant difference in cognitive function between the astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract and placebo groups. No adverse effect on the subjects was observed throughout this study. In conclusion, the results suggested that astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract improves cognitive function in the healthy aged individuals.
- 著者
- Akira Satoh Shinji Tsuji Yumika Okada Nagisa Murakami Maki Urami Keisuke Nakagawa Masaharu Ishikura Mikiyuki Katagiri Yoshihiko Koga Takuji Shirasawa
- 出版者
- SOCIETY FOR FREE RADICAL RESEARCH JAPAN
- 雑誌
- Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition (ISSN:09120009)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.44, no.3, pp.280-284, 2009 (Released:2009-04-25)
- 参考文献数
- 23
- 被引用文献数
- 72 96
Astaxanthin (Ax), a carotenoid ubiquitously distributed in microorganisms, fish, and crustaceans, has been known to be a potent antioxidant and hence exhibit various physiological effects. We attempted in these studies to evaluate clinical toxicity and efficacy of long-term administration of a new Ax product, by measuring biochemical and hematological blood parameters and by analyzing brain function (using CogHealth and P300 measures). Ax-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extracts equivalent to 4, 8, 20 mg of Ax dialcohol were administered to 73, 38, and 16 healthy adult volunteers, respectively, once daily for 4 weeks to evaluate safety. Ten subjects with age-related forgetfulness received an extract equivalent to 12 mg in a daily dosing regimen for 12 weeks to evaluate efficacy. As a result, no abnormality was observed and efficacy for age-related decline in cognitive and psychomotor functions was suggested.
- 著者
- Nakaba MURATA Kazuma MURAKAMI Yusuke OZAWA Noriaki KINOSHITA Kazuhiro IRIE Takuji SHIRASAWA Takahiko SHIMIZU
- 出版者
- Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
- 雑誌
- Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry (ISSN:09168451)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.74, no.11, pp.2299-2306, 2010-11-23 (Released:2010-11-23)
- 参考文献数
- 61
- 被引用文献数
- 63
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and the formation of senile plaques. Silymarin, an extract of milk thistle, has long been used as a medicinal herb for liver diseases. Here we report marked suppression of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) fibril formation and neurotoxicity in PC12 cells after silymarin treatment in vitro. In vivo studies had indicated a significant reduction in brain Aβ deposition and improvement in behavioral abnormalities in amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice that had been preventively treated with a powdered diet containing 0.1% silymarin for 6 months. The silymarin-treated APP mice also showed less anxiety than the vehicle-treated APP mice. These behavioral changes were associated with a decline in Aβ oligomer production induced by silymarin intake. These results suggest that silymarin is a promising agent for the prevention of AD.