Articles in Healthspan

What is CD38? An Exploration of NAD+ Consumption Uses and Functions of CD38

In this article, we’re going to introduce an indirect way of supporting NAD+. Rather than making more, this article will be teaching you about using less. Using less requires downregulating a protein called cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38 for short). When CD38 is not as active, less NAD+ is used by it. The result is higher NAD+ levels and greater NAD+ availability for important healthy aging uses.

Read More

Hormesis: Benefits of Training Your Stress Response

On the Collective Insights podcast, Dr. Aubrey de Grey, Dr. Dan Pardi, Daniel Schmachtenberger, and Dr. Dan Stickler share their insights on the difference between beneficial and damaging stress. We answer "What is hormesis?" and "How can we effectively manage stress?" Read on to understand how certain kinds of stress actually benefit the body, and which ones to avoid. 

Read More

Why Algae is a Powerful Longevity and Detox Hack - A Q+A With the Founder of ENERGYbits

As Neurohackers, longevity, in relation to both lifespan and healthspan, is a topic of great interest to us. Scientific understanding in these areas is advancing rapidly as are studies linking algae to longevity.

Read More

How is NAD+ Made? De Novo Synthesis

Most organisms have several alternatives for producing the NAD+ molecule. In humans, there are three major NAD+ biosynthesis pathways: the De Novo Pathway, starting from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan; the Preiss-Handler pathway, using niacin (nicotinic acid); and the Salvage Pathway from niacinamide (nicotinamide). In this article, we’ll be covering the De Novo Pathway.

Read More

Qualia Life: Putting the Healthy Aging Puzzle Together

We all age. But, we don’t all age at the same rate. From a bottom-up point of view, we are a complex colony of tens of trillions of individual cells. We care about what healthier cells allows the body to do better. Qualia Life is our solution to cell support for better aging. 

Read More

Mitohormesis: How Mitochondria Protect Themselves from Oxidative Stress

In this article, we’re going to learn about mitohormesis, the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as signaling molecules, and how and why ROS can be both beneficial and harmful. We will also discuss what leads to excessive ROS production and accumulation, how this associates with aging, and where antioxidants fit into the equation. Lastly, we’ll discuss nutritional strategies that can support the antioxidant defenses cells and mitochondria use to protect themselves against excessive ROS.

Read More

What Is Insulin? Understanding The Role of Insulin in Metabolism and Healthy Aging

Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas with a central role in the regulation of metabolism and cell energy reserves. The major metabolic action of insulin is to regulate blood glucose levels and to promote the storage of energy substrates as macromolecules that can be mobilized between meals or in contexts of high energy demand.

Read More

What Years of Being Obsessed With Mitochondrial Health Taught Me About Blue Light: A Q+A With Matt Maruca

Matt Maruca, CEO of Ra Optics, shares with us how light drives mitochondrial functions, the science behind blue light blocking glasses triggering melatonin secretion, explores the eye/brain connection, and gives us the 411 on blue light blocking glasses (spoiler alert: they’re not all created equal).

Read More

What is Glycolysis? Where Glycolysis Takes Place, Definition, and Steps of the Glycolysis Pathway.

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that breaks down the carbohydrate glucose to produce cell energy in the form of ATP. Glycolysis generates ATP directly, as a product of the pathway’s chemical reactions, and indirectly, using energy generated by electrons extracted from the chemical bonds of glucose. In the human body, glucose is the preferred fuel for the vast majority of cells.

Read More

What Is Oxidative Phosphorylation?

Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is the major pathway of ATP production. ATP is the energy-rich molecule that powers cellular processes that require energy input. OXPHOS occurs in mitochondria and uses energy extracted in the metabolism of cellular fuels, particularly in glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and the citric acid cycle, to power the production of ATP.

Read More