In this episode, Dr. Gil Blander welcomes Dr. Haim Cohen to Longevity by Design to explore his revolutionary approach to understanding aging. Haim's team analyzed acetylation sites across 107 mammalian species, creating its most extensive comparative study. This computational approach revealed specific post-translational modifications that evolved exclusively in long-lived animals.
The research identifies critical pathways where evolution engineered longevity solutions. These acetylation changes affect DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and mitochondrial function. Unlike traditional aging research focusing on single pathways like mTOR or caloric restriction, Haim's unbiased screening simultaneously reveals multiple longevity targets. Evolution provided a natural laboratory for testing anti-aging modifications over millions of years.
The findings offer exciting therapeutic possibilities for human longevity. Haim's team is now creating transgenic mice to test whether mimicking these evolutionary changes can extend lifespan in the lab. This research suggests humans could potentially "accelerate evolution" by implementing modifications that nature has already proven effective in whales, elephants, and other long-lived species.
Guest-at-a-Glance
💡 Name: Dr. Haim Cohen
💡 What they do: Professor of Molecular Genetics focused on the biology of aging
💡 Institution(s): Bar-Ilan University (Israel); Founder & Director, Minerva Israel-Germany Center forBiological Mechanisms of Aging; Founder & Director, Sagol Center for Human Health and Longevity
💡 Noteworthy: Global leader in aging research; author of 75+ peer-reviewed papers, including work showing SIRT6 over-expression can extend mouse lifespan by ~30 percent
💡 Where to find them: Bar-Ilan University faculty page
Episode highlights:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:00] Dr. Haim Cohen background and SIRT6 research update
[00:05:50] Gender-specific effects in aging research
[00:07:40] Introduction to the groundbreaking Nature paper on acetylation
[00:08:30] What is acetylation and why study it
[00:11:40] Study design across 107 mammalian species
[00:15:00] Using evolution as a research laboratory
[00:19:00] Key findings and statistical approach
[00:28:00] Validating specific proteins - CBS and hydrogen sulfide
[00:31:30] Mitochondrial acetylation and metabolism
[00:34:10] DNA repair pathways and the Peto Paradox
[00:35:00] Cancer prevention mechanisms in large animals
[00:38:30] P53 tumor suppressor conservation
[00:40:50] Cat family longevity anomaly
[00:42:10] Therapeutic implications and drug development
[00:45:00] Targeting proteins versus modifications
[00:47:40] Study limitations and future validation
[00:49:20] Comparing effects to existing longevity interventions
[00:51:00] Implications for human longevity
[00:55:00] Dr. Cohen's top tip for longevity
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Longevity by Design