Have all the warnings about potential risks got you hiding from the sun this summer? Rethink the duck and cover routine. Research shows that the vitamin D benefits we get from sensible sun exposure far outweigh the dangers.

A growing body of evidence implicates vitamin D deficiency in a host of age-related ailments and disorders, ranging from bone diseases and diabetes to cardiovascular problems, increased risk of many forms of cancer, suppressed immune function, and even depression. Studies indicate that as many as two thirds of US adults and teens are actually deficient in this crucial nutrient, and many experts say the trend to avoiding the sun is making matters worse.

Sun exposure is actually the most important source of the vitamin, which is often referred to as “the sunshine vitamin” because though dietary sources of it are limited, the sun’s ultraviolet-B rays triggers the body to produce its own supply; it’s believed that given adequate sun a healthy human body can synthesize as much as 90% of the amount it needs. By avoiding the sun we could be eliminating one risk only to incur many greater ones.

A joint study by U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory and Norway’s Institute for Cancer Research in Oslo concluded that the health benefits from some sun exposure are far larger than the skin cancer risk. As little as 20 minutes of sun exposure to the face and hands daily can trigger the synthesis of the vitamin, and exposure that limited is highly unlikely to result in the development of skin cancer or premature aging.

A combination of sun-limiting lifestyle and a natural decrease in the aging body’s ability to synthesize the vitamin make D vitamin deficiency a major health hazard for older people. Sufficient amounts of the vitamin are believed to boost aging health in many ways, including the following:

Helps prevent hip and other bone fractures A 2009 study by the University of Pittsburgh determined that low levels of the vitamin can increase post-menopausal women’s risk of hip fracture by as much as 70%. One of D vitamin’s primary functions is to regulate the absorption of calcium, making it crucial to the prevention of bone softening diseases such as osteoporosis.

Protects against cancer The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that a four-year clinical trial involving 1,179 healthy post-menopausal women showed that improving calcium and vitamin D levels substantially reduced risk of all cancers in postmenopausal women.

May help prevent and treat depression It is known that the vitamin plays a key role in a number of neurological and hormonal processes, and feelings of depression are identified as one of the symptoms of D vitamin deficiency. Research indicates that low levels of the vitamin are distinctly related to depression.

Boosts energy and improves physical performance A recent Wake Forest University School of Medicine study found that physical performance of people over 65, including walking speed, grip strength, and ability to rise from a sitting position to standing, was 10 percent lower among participants with deficient blood levels of the vitamin.

May help prevent autoimmune diseases Research has shown unmistakable associations between deficiencies of the vitamin and autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The study authors, reporting their results in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, said that while high levels of the vitamin correlated with high scores on cognitive function tests, more clinical tests are needed to fully interpret their findings.

Though the study clearly demonstrated the correlation between D vitamin levels and cognitive function/processing speed, the findings stopped short of identifying the vitamin as a treatment for aging brains. Instead, the researchers noted that the association could be simply a “risk marker”, indicating a risk for cognitive decline.

The study concluded that in light of the findings and the fact that vitamin D deficiency is common among older adults, more research is warranted to determine whether supplementation could aid in minimizing age-related cognitive decline.

The European study is the latest of many research projects to investigate the association between levels of D vitamin – often referred to as the sunshine vitamin because sun exposure triggers its production in the body – and brain health.

The vitamin is known to play a significant role in brain biochemistry. Nuclear receptors for the vitamin exist in the brain, and it is involved in the biosynthesis of neurotrophins, protiens responsible for neuron growth and development. Because neurotrophins can also repair damaged neurons, some believe they have potential for use in reversing age-related brain disorders including Alzheimer’s Disease.

In addition, recent studies have revealed that insufficient levels of the vitamin are strongly correlated with incidence of depression.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive and devastating brain disorder that effects more than 26 million people worldwide. 5.3 million people in the US alone have the disease, including thirteen percent of adults over 65 and more than half of all US adults over 85. The Alzheimer’s Association makes the chilling prediction that every 70 seconds, someone in the US develops AD. By the middle of the century, that rate is expected to increase to one new case every 33 seconds.

The disease impairs memory, cognitive function, and physical ability. Though the severity of symptoms varies, it is characterized by dementia – brain impairment severe enough to interfere with everyday activities and social relationships. A high percentage of people with the disease eventually need full-time care. The Alzheimer’s Association data shows that 69 percent of all nursing home residents and 65 percent of people in assisted living have dementia resulting from the disease.

The cause of AD remains unknown and there is no cure for it, though there are some drugs that are believed to slow its progression. However, some of the most exciting new research is indicating that beefing up the body’s natural defenses is an effective therapy, and some very common nutrients could have uncommonly successful results in fighting and even treating the disease.

CoQ10: Coenzyme Q10, a natural substance found in every cell, delivers a one-two punch to the Alzheimer’s-related conditions that cause brain cell damage and death. Blood levels of the coenzyme are typically low in Alzheimer’s patients.

Crucial to the production of energy at the cellular level, CoQ10 enhances immune function and boosts the body’s resistance to damage. And as a powerful antioxidant it is capable of neutralizing and even repairing damage done by free radicals, which are believed to be the source of the harmful protein-based plaque typically observed between brain cells in Alzheimer’s patients.

Vitamin D: Long known for its importance in bone health and strength, the sunshine vitamin is now also recognized as extremely important to mood, memory, and cognitive function. Vitamin D is involved in the biosynthesis of neurotrophins, proteins responsible for neuron growth and development. Because neurotrophins can also repair damaged neurons, some believe they have potential for use in reversing age-related brain disorders including Alzheimer’s Disease.

Levels of the vitamin are typically low to very low in Alzheimer’s patients. A major European study involving 3,300 men between 40 and 80 years of age clearly demonstrated the correlation between D vitamin levels and cognitive function/processing speed, though the findings stopped short of identifying the vitamin as a treatment for AD. Instead, the researchers noted that the association could be simply a “risk marker”, indicating a risk for cognitive decline.

Vitamin B3: Animal tests indicate that high doses of nicotinamide, a readily-available form of vitamin B3, effectively prevented memory loss in mice with Alzheimer’s disease. The research, performed by UC Irvine, concluded that vitamin D had “a very robust effect on neurons”, preventing memory loss in mice with AD and actually enhancing cognitive function in the control group mice, which did not have the disease.

The research results were so compelling that clinical trials with human AD patients are currently underway.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that’s crucial to the body in many respects; it’s needed for tissue growth and repair, healing of wounds, and to produce healthy cartilage, bones, and teeth. It’s not stored in the body so it must be constantly replenished through a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which are the most important sources of the vitamin.

Though vitamin C was not identified and isolated until the 1930s, it’s protective properties have been known for centuries. In the 1700s the British navy discovered that adding citrus fruits to sailors’ diets effectively prevented scurvy, a debilitating and often fatal disease that is the direct manifestation of severe vitamin C deficiency. In addition, the vitamin has also been shown to be effective at preventing the common cold.

But recent research is indicating that vitamin C is important to health in many more ways, including the treatment and prevention of a wide range of age-related diseases and disorders.

A Powerful Antioxidant
One of the most exciting discoveries about vitamin C is its antioxidant capability. Antioxidants are substances which can prevent and repair cellular damage caused by free radicals, unstable molecules formed during the natural but potentially harmful process of cellular oxidation. Free radical damage is closely associated with many age-related diseases, so antioxidants are one of the first lines of defense in anti-aging therapy.

Vitamin C For Heart Health
A growing body of research indicates that vitamin C is crucial to heart health. Low levels of the vitamin are directly associated with increased risk of coronary and cardiovascular disease, with some studies showing that supplemental vitamin C lowered the risk for men by as much as 42% and for women by 25%.

In addition, studies have shown that supplemental vitamin C may actually be cardioprotective. The Nurses’ Health Study, a 16-year project monitoring more than 85,000 women, showed that higher levels of the vitamin were associated with a 27-28% reduction in coronary heart disease risk.

Vitamin C for Cancer Prevention
One of the most exciting aspects of the vitamin is its potential as a cancer preventative. Both case-control and prospective studies show that a substantial boost in vitamin C intake (amounts greater than 83 mg per day) significantly lowered the risk of a wide range of cancers, including cancers of the cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus. stomach, colon, rectum, and lung.

Raising vitamin C levels has also been shown to lower risk of breast cancer, with studies indicating risk reductions of more than 60% in women who consumed more than 200 mgs of the vitamin daily.

Vitamin C for Brain Function
Getting enough vitamin C can be important to brain function, mental alertness, and mood, particularly in older people. One of the vitamin’s most important tasks is to help in the body’s synthesis of norepinephrine, a crucial neurotransmitter. In addition, Vitamin C’s potent antioxidant properties help protect brain cells from free radical damage and can help prevent depression, increase learning capability, and enhance motor skills.

Vitamin C for Better Vision
As a strong antioxidant, vitamin C excels at protecting the eyes against age-related diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Cataracts, a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes opaque, are a common and widespread age-related disorder found in more than half of all people over age 65. Research on how vitamin C effects cataracts is ongoing, but early studies show tremendous potential for cataract prevention.

A Tufts University study of 247 women indicated that long-term vitamin C supplementation could dramatically lower the risk of cataract development. According to the study, women who had taken supplements of the vitamin for 10 years or more had a 77% lower risk of early lens opacities and an 83% lower risk of moderate lens opacities than women who did not take supplements.

A lower risk of macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of blindness, has also been associated with increased vitamin C levels. A major clinical trial sponsored by the National Eye Institute showed that supplementation reduced the risk of moderate or severe AMD-related vision loss by as much as 25 percent.

Coenzyme Q10, commonly known as CoQ10, is a vitamin-like substance that occurs naturally in every cell of the human body and is used in the production of energy at the cellular level. It plays two important roles, serving both as an energy producing catalyst and as a powerful antioxidant.

Function One: How CoQ10 Helps Cells Produce Energy

CoQ10 plays an integral part in the production of energy at the cellular level. Cells produce energy by combining fats and carbohydrates with oxygen in a part of each cell known as the mitochondria. The actual biochemical reactions that produce energy occur along electron transport chains within the mitochondria.

The energy produced by these chemical reactions is converted to chemical energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP molecules. ATP is the source of energy the body relies on for all its inner workings, and it also represents the reserve energy in your muscles.

CoQ10 serves a unique function in this process. Because it is fat-soluable, CoQ10 is mobile within the cellular membrane and it serves as a “messenger link”. Each pair of electrons in the transport chain must first interact with CoQ10, which provides the “spark” for the chemical reactions that make up the energy-producing process.

Without CoQ10, there is no “spark” to trigger the biochemical reactions that lead to the production of energy, and no ATP is produced. The body only stores enough ATP to sustain vigorous activity for a few minutes at a time, so ATP must be produced constantly. And in order for this to happen, there must be an adequate supply of CoQ10 to keep production going.

Function Two: CoQ10 as Antioxidant

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant and as such can counteract the damaging effects of free radicals, chemically active molecules that are created during the normal but potentially harmful process of cellular oxidation. Free radicals have an uneven number of electrons, which makes them unstable. They scavenge the body in the effort to correct this instability by giving or take electrons from nearby cells, and can create massive cellular damage in the process.

An antioxidant is a substance which gives up electrons easily, and thus can function to neutralize free radicals and prevent them from damaging cells. As an energy carrier, CoQ10’s molecular structure makes it an ideal antioxidant. It is constantly going through a cycle of oxidation and reduction, during which it easily gives up one or both electrons and is an effective free radical neutralizer.

Both Functions Crucial to Health

Together, CoQ10’s antioxidant properties and crucial role in the production of energy create a host of benefits in disease treatment and prevention. In addition, they work together to make it a potentanti-aging tool. Many of the diseases, disorders, and health problems associated with aging are directly associated with free radical damage.

CoQ10 supplements are often prescribed to aid in recovery from heart surgery, and there is a mounting body of evidence that CoQ10 can play a substantial part in preventing  heart disease as well as in the treatment and prevention of a number of age-related disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Ongoing research is currently evaluating the use of CoQ10 in the treatment of migraines, asthma, breast and prostate cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

Need for supplemental COQ10 increases with age

Extensive research has shown that adequate amounts of CoQ10 are necessary to healthy metabolism and organ function, but the older we get, the less we produce. Normal aging can reduce the CoQ10 levels in the heart by as much as 72%. In addition, statin drugs a group of  drugs knows as statins (used to reduce LDL and cholesterol levels and frequently-prescribed for older people) also deplete CoQ10 levels.

The side effects of CoQ10 are mild (nausea, diarrhea, and heartburn) and rarely reported, though CoQ10 supplementation has been known to interfere with the action of some prescription drugs such as blood thinners and beta-blockers.

For people who are middle-aged or older, supplemental CoQ10 can be crucial to maintaining good health. While CoQ10 has been shown to be an effective form of treatment for some disorders, the most dramatic reseach results have been in the area of prevention. Not only is maintaining good CoQ10 levels a requisite for ongoing heart health throughout middle age and beyond, it is also believed to be among the keys to the prevention of an assortment of age-related disorders including Alzheimer’s disease.

For more in-depth information and the latest news on COQ10, visit COQ10 Benefits

* COQ10 benefits anti-aging
* COQ10 benefits energy and endurance
* COQ10 benefits heart health
* COQ10 benefits include the potential for being a cancer preventative or treatment

The decline in DHEA production correlates with a number of age-related changes, including loss of muscle mass and strength, reduced endurance, and lower glucose tolerance. In addition, low levels of DHEA have been observed in patients with a variety of diseases, ranging from diabetes and kidney disease to heart disease, some types of cancer, osteoporosis, and even AIDS.

Many small studies have looked at the association between declining DHEA levels and health problems, particularly those associated with aging. While some research supports the idea that DHEA supplementation can be an effective treatment, the results of all the studies are not universally positive.

DHEA for Depression: Depression is a common problem for aging people. A number of small studies on the use of supplemental laboratory-synthesized DHEA for depression indicate that it may have potential as a treatment, but as yet there are no statistics on long-term effects.

DHEA for Obesity: Obesity is both common among and very dangerous to aging people, significantly increasing the risk factor for many diseases. One of the few large-scale studies involving DHEA monitored over 900 men between the ages of 40 and 70. The research found that central obesity – fat localized around the abdomen – was associated with low levels of DHEA. A much smaller National Institutes of Health study, which monitored 56 participants aged 68 and over, found that participants taking supplemental DHEA had a minimal weight loss after six months while those taking a placebo had a small gain. Interestingly, loss of fat around the abdomen appeared to be positively effected by the DHEA.

But though these preliminary findings show potential, medical science warns that DHEA cannot be considered a tried, safe, and proven treatment for obesity until there is a larger body of research on DHEA and its effects.

DHEA for Sexual Dysfunction: Since DHEA is the precursor for sex hormones, it would seem obvious that declining DHEA levels in aging people would lead to sexual dysfunction and supplemental DHEA would correct that condition. However, the results of research on the use of DHEA to treat sexual dysfunction have been decidedly mixed. To date there is no large-scale, long-term study that proves supplemental DHEA is an effective treatment for sexual dysfunction.

DHEA for Bone Density: Loss of bone strength is one of the most devastating effects of aging. The results of some small and limited studies indicate that supplemental DHEA could possibly be of benefit to bone strength in older women, but it appears to have no positive effect on bone strength for men or younger women.

HGH is a peptide hormone, a natural substance produced by the pituatary gland. It’s primary function is to fuel growth during childhood and maintain tissues during adulthood, and its main clinical use is in the treatment of growth disorders.

It is also an anabolic agent which alters the metabolic process and can be used to artificially stimulate the production of muscle tissue. As such it has been banned by both the International Olympic Committee and the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

Accepted as treatment for specific diseases
Injectable synthetic HGH is approved for the treatment of adults with non-age-related growth hormone deficiency and for the treatment of the muscle wasting associated with AIDS/HIV. In those treatment scenarios, HGH is known to increase bone density and muscle mass and increase endurance and physical capacity.

In recent years HGH has been investigated as a potential tool in the anti-aging battle, but agreement on its anti-aging value is far from universal. Its proponents say HGH hormone replacement therapy has a broad spectrum of positive anti-aging effects, while others say there is little solid evidence that the effect of HGH has any real anti-aging value to otherwise healthy adults.

HGH advocates point to studies showing that the benefits of HGH therapy range from better skin tone to improved bone density, energy levels, and immune system function. At the same time, many medical authorities say these claims are based on a small number of small studies, and much more research is needed to determine their validity.

First considered as potential anti-aging tool in 1990
A small study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1990 broke ground in research on HGH for anti-aging. The study showed that 12 older men who were treated with HGH achieved significant increases is both lean body mass and bone density, while the control group experience no such increases. Though the authors of the study did not indicate that HGH reversed the aging process, the results sparked curiosity about the anti-aging potential of the hormone.

2006 Stanford University School of Medicine research measured the effects of HGH on elderly participants and found similar results, but further noted that the increased muscle mass didn’t translate to increased strength. The study findings suggested that HGH did not actually increase muscle growth, but rather induced the body to store more water in the muscles. This would explain the increase in lean body mass, the study said.

Possible side-effects a major concern
The possible side effects of too much HGH remain a key in the controversy over its effectiveness. According to the Mayo Clinic, the possible side effects of taking HGH may include swelling in the arms and legs, joint and muscle pain, and enlargement of the breast tissue in men.

It is also believed that unneeded HGH could contribute to the severity of existing unrelated conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. But because there are currently no extensive long-term studies on how taking HGH effects otherwise healthy adults, the severity and duration of side effects remains unclear.

Glutathione (also sometimes known as GHS) is a natural compound. It is found in some foods, including many fruits, vegetables, and meats, and it can also be synthesized within the body, from three amino acids (L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid, and glycin).

Glutathione is known to be a powerful antioxidant, effective at protecting cells from free radicals (unstable molecules formed during the process of cellular oxidation). It’s active in human lungs and in many other organ systems and tissues, and plays an active role in maintaining the immune system.

Though glutathione was first isolated eighty years ago, it’s metabolism within the body has only been understood since 1984. Studies and clinical trials of glutathione in the treatment of cancer, ALS, cystic fribrosis, and asthma are currently taking place, but though studies on its potential health benefits are ongoing, a relatively limited body of research is currently available.

Antioxidant = Anti-Aging?
Glutathione’s potent antioxidant properties give it what appears to be enormous potential as an anti-aging supplement, because many of the health problems associated with free radical damage. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals, preventing and even repairing the damage they do.

Preliminary research has shown a correlation between high glutathione levels and good health in older adults, but while initial results seem promising most studies on the substance have been small and limited.

Questions About Method of Supplementation
One of the primary questions about glutathione is whether oral supplements are effective. Some studies have indicated that giving patients oral supplements of as much as 3000 IU resulted in no increase in blood levels of glutathione, while other research showed that taking other nutritional compounds did effectively raise blood levels of glutathione. In one trial, supplementation of vitamin C raised glutathione blood levels by almost 50%. The study concluded that vitamin C raises glutathione levels by helping the body produce it.

But though questions persist about the extent to which oral glutathione can be absorbed, small studies using other methods of supplementation have produced exciting results. Glutathione administered intravenously or intramuscularly has been found useful for preventing clot formation during operations, treating Parkinson’s disease,reducing high blood pressure in diabetics, and increasing the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs.

Since it’s discovery in 1929, Vitamin K has been recognized as being crucial to the process of blood coagulation – in fact, the “k” stands for koagulation, the German form of the word coagulation. But recent research has shown that this often-forgotten vitamin may be a vital tool in the prevention and treatment of a host of age-related disorders.

Research Reveals That Vitamin K Plays Many Roles in Maintaining Health
One of the most important discoveries about vitamin K is that it regulates the production and flow of calcium. This ability makes it a key player in the prevention and treatment of many of the most common and debilitating age-related diseases.

Vitamin K and Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease that occurs when calcium is leached from the bones. Recent studies have shown that people who had the highest vitamin K levels had a significantly lower risk of osteoporosis and related problems such as hip fracture.

Vitamin K and Arteriosclerosis: Arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is a progressive disease caused by arterial calcification, which happens when calcium leaks into the arteries. This process is closely linked to heart damage and disease. Animal studies done in Japan showed that the introduction of additional Vitamin K effectively reduced arterial calcification, and it reduced related heart damage as well.

Vitamin K and High Blood Pressure/Stroke: Excess calcium has been identified as a major causative source of high blood pressure and resulting strokes. By regulating the amount and distribution of calcium in the body, ample amounts of Vitamin K could potentially act as both a preventative and a healer.

Vitamin K and Diabetes: Japanese studies have demonstrated that animals with a measurable vitamin K deficiency had pancreatic problems that caused the release of too much insulin into the blood – a scenario similar to that of diabetes in humans. Ongoing studies are investigating the possibility that vitamin K could be used to in the treatment of diabetes.

Vitamin K and Alzheimer’s Disease: Research has indicated that there is a correlation between vitamin K deficiency and the presence of a specific genetic variant associated with Alzheimer’s. It has been suggested that without sufficient vitamin K to regulate the creation and flow of calcium throughout the system, arterial damage may lead to problems with brain function.

Who Needs Supplemental Vitamin K?
The body can actually manufacture vitamin K, but because we generally synthesize only a third of the amount that we need, it’s important to eat foods that contain it (leafy green vegetables and liver) to avoid deficiency.

The recommended daily requirement for adults is around 100 mg, an amount that should easily be met via a reasonable healthy diet. However, there are some circumstances in which additional vitamin K could be needed. Liver and gall bladder disease are known to deplete vitamin K, as are diseases of the intestinal tract. Some medicines, including long-term antibiotics and cholesterol lowering drugs can also cause deficiency.

Resveratrol is a natural antibiotic compound produced by plants as a defense against disease. It is found in many plants, but it’s particularly abundant in the skins of grape species used to make wine. In recent years science has been investigating the effects of wine components on health, and the results indicate resveratrol is a powerful dietary agent with the potential for huge positive impact on health.

A Potent Antioxidant That Promotes Heart Health
Resveratrol has been found to be a potent antioxidant, which makes it a primary tool in anti-aging. Antioxidants are substances that can neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals, unstable molecules created during the process of cellular oxidation. Free radical damage is believed to be at the heart of most age-related diseases and disorders.

Studies suggest that resveratrol’s antioxidant capability could be particularly important to heart health. Like vitamin E and COQ10, resveratol is efficient at blocking artery-damaging free radicals, along with several other types of radicals.

Used in combination with other supplements, resveratrol has proven effective in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, a hardening and thickening of the arteries due at least in part to free radical damage.

Some researchers have suggested that the presence of resveratrol in wine is a possible explanation for “the French Paradox”, referring to the fact that though the typical French diet is high in fat, the French have a low rate of heart disease. It is believed that because the French tend to drink more red wine, their revestrol levels are higher and they are being protected to some extent from the arterial damage common to high fat diets.

Potential for relief of brain and spinal cord injuries
The body’s natural response to trauma to the brain or spinal cord is inflammation, and in many cases that inflammation creates even further damage. Chinese researchers found that administering resveratrol immediately after injury was an effective means of controlling inflammation.

A Promising Cancer Preventive and Treatment?
In the mid-1990s ground-breaking research found that resveratrol was effective at preventing the development of skin cancer in rodents who had been administered carcinogens. Numerous animal studies followed, reporting outcomes that make resveratrol one of the most exciting possibilities for cancer prevention and treatment.

Austrian animal studies indicate that revestrol can stop certain forms of cancer from spreading, and other research confirmed that topical application of the compound prevented the growth of tumors in the areas where it was applied. Oral administration of resveratrol tested effective against tumors of the stomach and intestinal tract.

Though to date all research on revestrol has been cellular or animal studies, some important clinical research projects are underway.

Possible Alzheimer’s Treatment
One of the most exciting medical anti-aging possibilities for revestrol is as a treatment or preventive for Alzheimer’s, a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease that has been closely tied to free radical damage.

In 2008 a Cornell University animal study reported that resveratrol supplements significantly reduced the formation of plaque in the brain, which is both a primary component of Alzheimer’s and believed to be closely associated with normal aging changed in the brain as well.

Has Science Discovered A Fountain of Youth?
Since 2003 a number of studies have proven that resveratrol can extend the lifespan of various life forms, including yeast, fruit flies, worms, and certain fish. It is believed that resveratrol extends life span by activating sirtuin,  a “longevity gene”. Though resveratrol for life extension has not yet been tested on humans, the prospects are exciting because it has been proven that there is a human version of the longevity gene.