Hyperfunction & Programmatic Theory of Aging and Critique of the Hallmarks of Aging | Dr. David Gems

Live Longer World Podcast #13

Live Longer World Podcast Episode #13 has been released!

My guest today is Dr. David Gems who runs the C. Elegans Aging lab at the University College London. We had a fascinating discussion talking about emerging paradigms in the theories of aging.

We discussed the hyperfunction theory or the programmatic theory of aging which gives a better integrated understanding of the different theories of aging that have been presented such as damage accumulation, evolutionary, antagonistic pleiotropy. It has been assumed that molecular damage is always the cause of aging, but the programmatic theory of aging shows that that might not be the case. We also discussed his critique of the hallmarks of aging and how there should be a better paradigm for the aging field.

Lastly, we also discussed how research from his lab on C. Elegans might explain some of the conflict around whether sirtuins affect lifespan and how C. Elegans also show versions of this programmatic theory of aging, which can give us a better understanding of how to study aging.

Note: There is a point in the conversation (40:41) where David pulls up some slides to better explain the multifactorial model of aging. So if you are listening to the audio version, you might want to refer to YouTube or the slides in the show notes below.

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Time Stamps:

00:00 Live Longer World

00:25 David Gems Intro

1:47 History of the theories of aging

12:23 Hyperfunction / Programmatic Theory of Aging

24:57 Programmatic Theory of Aging in C. Elegans

36:59 Hyperfunction theory of Aging in Humans

40:41 Multifactorial Model of Aging

50:32 Mutation in C. Elegans affecting Sirtuin research?

59:57 Sirtuin research in humans & conflicting sirtuin research

1:04:44 Metformin affects the gut microbiome

1:07:41 Critique of the Hallmarks of Aging

1:16:12 Disruption in Early Life could lead to Aging related diseases

1:24:23 Support, share, and follow Live Longer World

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David Gems Research Discussed:

• 2022 The hyperfunction theory: An emerging paradigm for the biology of aging

• 2021 The hoverfly and the wasp: A critique of the hallmarks of aging as a paradigm

• 2021 Reproductive Suicide: Similar Mechanisms of Aging in C. elegans and Pacific Salmon

• 2022 Preprint C. elegans hermaphrodites undergo semelparous reproductive death

• 2018 C. elegans Eats Its Own Intestine to Make Yolk Leading to Multiple Senescent Pathologies

• 2019 A fln-2 mutation affects lethal pathology and lifespan in C. elegans

• 2013 Metformin retards aging in C. elegans by altering microbial folate and methionine metabolism

• 2017 Two forms of death in ageing Caenorhabditis elegans

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Multifactorial Model of Aging Slides (40:41):

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I hope you enjoy the episode and until next time,

Aastha