David Sinclair, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School; Director of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Molecular Biology of Aging
 
Molecules that extend lifespan: the possibility of radical new medicines

View Dr. Sinclair's PowerPoint Presentation

View the recent article by Dr. Sinclair and Lenny Guarente in Scientific American

Questions Dr. Sinclair answers in this talk:

• What are longevity genes?
• Do humans possess them?
• Is anyone developing true drugs that extend lifespan?
• Is it economically viable?
• How far will we extend lifespan?
• In our lifetime will we see such drugs?
• Is this a cost-effective approach to medicine?
• Are we going to see people spending half their lives in nursing homes?
• If it is so promising, why isn't more money being spent on this research?
• Will these drugs have side effects?

BioAgenda Innovator David Sinclair became ill shortly before the Summit and was unable to attend. He recently sent BioAgenda the PowerPoint presentation he had intended to present. Click here to view it. Sinclair made world headlines two years ago when he announced that he had isolated a molecule produced by red grapes, called resveritrol, that appears in red wine and acts to repair cells and extend their lifespans. Resveritrol is produced when grapes and other plants are stressed -- something that is intentionally done to grapes when they are being grown to use in wine. Plants under stress produce the molecules, called sirtuins, to ramp up the cells' defenses. Humans and other animals do not produce sirtuins, but Sinclair's research suggested that we retain the cell machinery that is activated by them. So drink up!
 

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