Why? Dr. Sebastiano has demonstrated in his laboratory that epigenetics, and primarily DNA methylation, is hierarchically dominant over all other hallmarks of aging. This is extraordinary. He has demonstrated in his laboratory (using Yamanaka factors) that when DNA methylation patterns are made more youthful, the other downstream hallmarks of aging also become more youthful.
As functional practitioners, we’re compelled to understand the intricate changes in the aging journey that fuel the diseases we strive to prevent. The emergence of omics data, particularly metabolomics, marks a pivotal moment, and I’m thrilled to welcome back Dr. Betsy Redmond, a senior education specialist at Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory and a cherished friend, to New Frontiers. In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of metabolomics, emphasizing pathways over isolated metabolites for profound insights and more effective interventions. Welcome to Medicine 3.0, where we correct imbalances, identify metabolites linked to healthy aging, mood, gut health, and more, providing actionable steps to enhance both healthspan and lifespan. Plus, we’ll unravel some surprising insights from my own results! Join us for a wealth of valuable pearls to use in your practice. ~DrKF
This blog was written by Romilly Hodges MS CNS CDN IFMCP Last month I was honored to be invited to speak at the American Nutrition Association annual summit on the topic Targeting Biological Age with Diet and Lifestyle. Not only was it a much-appreciated opportunity to connect face-to-face with colleagues, but it was also…
Over 270,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the US. And while BRCA mutations often get the most press, there are other, potentially more critical factors we can address. Today, Dr. Ruth Hobson joins us to delve into the realm of breast health, shedding light on both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, and sharing real-life strategies for supporting our patients. We dive into a range of essential topics, from dietary and lifestyle influences to the ongoing debate around Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and venture into the world of functional tests to evaluate hormones and metabolites crucial for comprehensive breast health. We’ll uncover the intricate connection between gut health and breast health – Did you know that breast tissue has its own microbiome?!? – and examine how inflammation, peripheral fat, and methylation impact cancer risk. Bring a pen and paper, this is a deep dive into the hormones and breast health that you won’t want to miss. ~DrKF
I’m thrilled and honored to have Dr. Randy Jirtle join us again today on New Frontiers. Dr. Jirtle’s groundbreaking Agouti Mouse Study has shaped what we know about the influence of early life exposure on methylation and epigenetics. His (current work?/more recent work?), which involves mapping out the imprintome could be the key to understanding how our imprinted genes will influence aging and every known disease and disorder, providing hope that a clear pathway on how to optimize our health for better outcomes is in our future.
I am particularly interested in nutrient responsive genes, especially for altering the risk for and course of conditions such as breast cancer. Nutrient responsive genes, as their name implies, are those whose expression responds to their environment – specifically the nutrients we ingest. This effect is mediated via epigenetic alterations induced by those nutrients. This…
Over the last decade, there has been an explosion of research looking at bioenergetics (energy metabolism) and the role our energy generators – the mitochondria – play in human health and longevity. In functional medicine, we’ve long been aware of bioenergetics – the need to “tend to our patient’s mitochondrial health,” and as such, we readily employ a litany of nutrients – from CoQ10 to carnitine and lipoic acid and others – whenever we deem them indicated. There have not been, however, many nutrients to blast onto the bioenergetics center stage with quite the impressive force as the postbiotic rock star Urolithin A. With studies published in top-tier journals such as Nature and Cell – and with 11 (yes, eleven) compelling human clinical trials – if this compound hasn’t made it to the top of what you’re using for patients (and taking yourself), read on.
Midlife is an extremely active time epigenetically. Pro-inflammatory genes tend to become hypomethylated and get ramped up, tumor-suppressor genes can become progressively more silenced, genes that code for antioxidant and detoxification enzymes such as glutathione transferase (which also happens to be an important tumor-suppressor gene!) also get dialed down, and genes that promote cancer (known…
This is a quick and simple way to get in a large amount of your epinutrient-rich foods for the day and is my go-to breakfast and lunch combo. You can absolutely customize this to accommodate what you have in your fridge—I’ve included a base template below, before the actual recipe, so that you can see…
Last month, I was awarded the Rosalind Franklin Society Special Award in Science for my research on using a diet and lifestyle program to favorably change DNA methylation and reverse biological aging. I’m humbled and honored to receive this award, which is given to the top papers of the year written by women or underrepresented…