Latest Developments in Our Understanding of Mitochondrial Function and The Physiology of Aging

In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, Dr. Joseph Baur and I chatted about his research in the field of aging. We discussed his graduate work on the role of telomeres on the prospect for cell immortality, and his more recent research on the role of NAD on cellular aging. Dr. Baur outlined his breakthrough discovery of a specific gene responsible for the NAD synthesis. He also discussed the role of intermittent fasting and other lifestyle activities that have been linked to slowing or reversing the aging process. 

Dr. Joseph Baur is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism and the Department of Physiology at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. He is considered as one of the world’s leading NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) researchers who made key contributions to the understanding of how metabolism and dietary factors influence longevity. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas where he studied mechanisms that limit the lifespan of cultured animals. 

Moving into Harvard University, Dr. Baur trained as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. David Sinclair where he developed a strong interest in the regulation of aging and metabolisms by sirtuins. Together with his team at The Baur Lab, he currently studies metabolic and signaling pathways by which nutrient intake can influence longevity, with a particular emphasis on NAD and mTOR.

He has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications, including seminar papers in Nature and Science. Findings from his work have been reported by leading news media, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

You can find more about his team’s research and work on their website:

https://www.med.upenn.edu/baurlab/index.html

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

source