Is the animal that lives to 200 the key to a long life? – humanpeople

What do sirtuins do in the body?

It is important to recognise that sirtuins’ activity is not just about DNA repair. They are also linked to metabolic control (how the body creates energy), apoptosis (the process by which we get rid of old worn-out cells), cell survival, cell development, our immune system and inflammation. It is no wonder that sirtuins are now considered such key regulators of healthy ageing and lifespan. They help to manage our metabolism whilst also reducing our risk of producing tumourous cancers. That could mean less cardiovascular and heart disease, less dementia and less cancer, the three leading causes of death in the UK.

As we age, we encounter a bit of double of whammy:

1. DNA damage accumulates. A bit like a car with 100,000 miles on the clock, it still works, but there are more dents and worn-out parts that require more attention.
2. The repair machinery, the sirtuins, starts to slow down and become less efficient.

Why do sirtuins slow down? Well, the clue is in the name, NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-6. Sirtuins are dependent on NAD and, as we age, NAD levels drop to around 50% by middle age (7).