ABSTRACT

The storage and retrieval of information is essential for all life. In biological systems, information is primarily archived in two distinct ways: the genome and the epigenome. Unlike the stable and digital nature of genetic information, epigenetic information is stored in a digital-analog format, making it susceptible to alterations induced by various environmental signals and cellular damage. The Information Theory of Aging (ITOA) posits that the aging process is driven by the progressive loss of youthful epigenetic information. According to this theory, the retrieval of this lost information through epigenetic reprogramming can enhance the function of damaged and aged tissues, thereby catalyzing the reversal of aging. The results of experiments to test this hypothesis will be presented, along with advances in genetic and chemical means to preserve and restore youthful epigenetic information.

About the Speaker:

David A. Sinclair, Ph.D., A.O. is a Professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, best known for his work on understanding why we age and how to slow its effects. Prof. Sinclair is known for his Information Theory of Aging, which states that information loss over time is the key driver of aging, a process that can be reset because there is a back up copy of youthful information in each cell. His lab was the first to identify a role for NAD biosynthesis in the regulation of lifespan, first showed that sirtuins are involved in CR's benefits in mammals, and showed aging can be controlled in both directions. He has published over 200 scientific papers, is a co-inventor on over 50 patents, co-founded numerous biotech and consumer companies, four of which have gone public, and is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don't Have To. He serves as co-chief editor of the scientific journal Aging and has received more than 35 honors including the Australian Medical Research Medal, the NIH Director's Pioneer award and was on TIME magazine's lists of the "100 most influential people in the world" and the "Top 50 people in Healthcare". In 2018, he became an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).