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Healthy aging: is smaller better? - a mini-review.
1Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, 62794-9628, USA. abartke@siumed.edu
Gerontology
|January 21, 2012
Summary
Smaller body size, often influenced by growth hormone (GH), is linked to longer lifespans and reduced disease risk. Modifying diet may help extend human healthspan and lifespan by lowering growth-stimulating hormones.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gerontology
- Genetics
Background:
- Hereditary dwarfism is associated with protection from diabetes and cancer.
- Smaller body size in various species, including humans, correlates with increased longevity.
- Growth hormone (GH) significantly influences adult body size and aging processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the link between growth, body size, aging, and longevity.
- To understand the mechanisms connecting GH, body size, and age-related diseases.
- To investigate potential dietary interventions for extending healthspan and lifespan.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies on hereditary dwarfism and longevity.
- Analysis of research on growth hormone (GH) and its receptor's effect on lifespan in mice.
- Examination of epidemiological data on body size and disease incidence across human populations.
Main Results:
- Absence of GH or its receptor in mice markedly extends longevity.
- A negative correlation exists between body size and lifespan in many species and human populations.
- Mechanisms linking growth pathways to aging and disease are being identified.
Conclusions:
- Growth hormone plays a critical role in regulating body size, aging, and susceptibility to age-related diseases.
- Reducing growth-stimulating hormone levels may be a viable strategy for enhancing human healthspan and lifespan.
- Dietary modifications could potentially influence hormone levels to promote longevity.
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