Posted on 04/04/2023 7:01:39 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Cold activates a cellular cleansing mechanism that breaks down harmful protein aggregations responsible for various diseases associated with aging. A research team has now unlocked one responsible mechanism.
Professor Dr. David Vilchez used a non-vertebrate model organism, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and cultivated human cells. Both carried the genes for two neurodegenerative diseases that typically occur in old age: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington's disease. Both diseases are characterized by accumulations of harmful and damaging protein deposits—so-called pathological protein aggregations. In both model organisms, cold actively removed the protein clumps, thus preventing the protein aggregation that is pathological in both ALS and Huntington's disease.
A key finding was that the proteasome activity can also be increased by genetic overexpression of the activator. That way, disease-causing proteins can be eliminated even at the normal body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius.
It has long been known that while extremely low temperatures can be harmful to organisms, a moderate reduction in body temperature can have very positive effects. For example, a lower body temperature prolongs the longevity of cold-blooded animals like worms, flies or fish.
Even in humans, a correlation between body temperature and lifespan has been reported. Normal human body temperature is between 36.5 and 37 degrees Celsius. While an acute drop in body temperature below 35 degrees leads to hypothermia, human body temperature fluctuates slightly during the day and even reaches a cool 36 degrees during sleep. Interestingly, a previous study reported that human body temperature has steadily declined by 0.03 degrees Celsius per decade since the Industrial Revolution, suggesting a possible link to the progressive increase in human life expectancy over the last 160 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
That which doesn’t kill us really does make us stronger.
It helps if one has been gradually conditioned to the cold weather. I’ve seen many photos of young mothers in Norway out for a stroll with Little Eric, the 5 month old infant. For that matter, I experienced a form of early elexposure to cold myself while growing up in Detroit, Michigan. Back then, Snow Days, where the schools were closed due to heavily iced streets, was as rare as a Robin sighting before Groundhog Day.
Agreed
That’s nice......
NOT.
Exactly. However, having the air temperature too warm does not help. We set the thermostat to about 63 at night and breath better in the cooler night air, but the electric mattress pad keeps my nice and comfy.
My mom once told me that ever since I was a baby, I slept best when I was hot. MY grandmother would want to remove the blanket because I was sweaty and my mom told her that I slept best that way.
I sleep under several layers of blankets and quilts topped by a fuzzy blanket and my nice warm cat. Without Daisy as the top layer, I don’t sleep well at all..
I love heat, never turn on A/C until it’s over 96. But here I am 100 miles from the
Canadian border. Life is unfair.
They just want old people to sit in cold homes during the Winter to help the “Go Green” efforts...it’s a scam.
If a husband is past 70, it is a very good thing to shrink it!
Some “things” are not meant to carry on.
Hahahahahaha
Grew up in Florida but hate the heat. 70 feels too hot when I'm working or playing outside. Even Maine gets too hot in Summer. But that's what the lake is for. ;^)
And women are better looking in FL than MN.
HAHAHAHAHAHA to you as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.