A medicinal herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. More than 200 distinct components of the dried roots of AM have been identified, the majority of which are polysacharrides, flavonoids, and saponins. In 2000, cycloastragenol, a small molecule extract of the herb, was found to exhibit telomerase activating properties.[1] Extracts of the plant have also demonstrated immunomodulatory, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-aging effects, the latter of which are associated with the lengthening of telomeres. AM is purportedly a prominent component of an "anti-aging" supplement known as TA-65.[2, 3, 4]

[1] Salvador, Laura, et al. "A natural product telomerase activator lengthens telomeres in humans: a randomized, double blind, and placebo-controlled study." Rejuvenation research 19.6 (2016): 478-484. [2] Liu, Ping, Haiping Zhao, and Yumin Luo. "Anti-aging implications of Astragalus Membranaceus (Huangqi): a well-known Chinese tonic." Aging and disease 8.6 (2017): 868.( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5758356/) [3] Blackburn, Elizabeth H., Elissa S. Epel, and Jue Lin. "Human telomere biology: a contributory and interactive factor in aging, disease risks, and protection." Science 350.6265 (2015): 1193-1198.( http://science.sciencemag.org/content/350/6265/1193) [4] Shahzad, Muhammad, et al. "The antioxidant effects of Radix Astragali (Astragalus membranaceus and related species) in protecting tissues from injury and disease." Current drug targets 17.12 (2016): 1331-1340.

A measurement that serves as a proxy for body fatness. BMI is calculated by dividing an individual’s body weight in kilograms (kg) by their height in meters, squared (m2). It is often considered a flawed measurement, however, because it does not measure overall fat or lean tissue content. BMI is interpreted as follows:
• ≤ 18.49: Underweight • 18.5 - 24.99: Normal weight • 25 - 29.99: Overweight • ≥ 30: Obese

A general term referring to cognitive decline that interferes with normal daily living. Dementia commonly occurs in older age and is characterized by progressive loss of memory, executive function, and reasoning. Approximately 70 percent of all dementia cases are due to Alzheimer’s disease.

A mood disorder characterized by profound sadness, fatigue, altered sleep and appetite, as well as feelings of guilt or low self-worth. Depression is often accompanied by perturbations in metabolic, hormonal, and immune function. A critical element in the pathophysiology of depression is inflammation. As a result, elevated biomarkers of inflammation, including the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, are commonly observed in depressed people. Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive behavioral therapy typically form the first line of treatment for people who have depression, several non-pharmacological adjunct therapies have demonstrated effectiveness in modulating depressive symptoms, including exercise, dietary modification (especially interventions that capitalize on circadian rhythms), meditation, sauna use, and light therapy, among others.

A critical element of the body’s immune response. Inflammation occurs when the body is exposed to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective response that involves immune cells, cell-signaling proteins, and pro-inflammatory factors. Acute inflammation occurs after minor injuries or infections and is characterized by local redness, swelling, or fever. Chronic inflammation occurs on the cellular level in response to toxins or other stressors and is often “invisible.” It plays a key role in the development of many chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

A peptide hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets cells. Insulin maintains normal blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells; regulating carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism; and promoting cell division and growth. Insulin resistance, a characteristic of type 2 diabetes, is a condition in which normal insulin levels do not produce a biological response, which can lead to high blood glucose levels.

A type of polyunsaturated fat that is essential for human health. Omega-3 fatty acids influence cell membrane integrity and affect the function of membrane-bound cellular receptors. They participate in pathways involved in the biosynthesis of hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. They have been shown to help prevent heart disease and stroke, may help control lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis, and may play protective roles in cancer and other conditions. Omega-3 fatty acids include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is found mainly in plant oils such as flaxseed, soybean, and canola oils. DHA and EPA are found in fish and other seafood. The human body can convert some ALA into EPA and then to DHA, but the efficiency of the process varies between individuals.

An enzyme that extends the telomeres of chromosomes. Telomerase adds specific nucleotide sequences to the ends of existing chromosomes. Telomerase activity is highly regulated during development, and its activity is at an almost undetectable level of activity in fully developed cells. This lack of activity causes the cell to age. If telomerase is activated in a cell, the cell will continue to grow and divide, or become "immortal," which is important to both aging and cancer. Telomerase enzyme activity has been detected in more than 90 percent of human cancers.

Distinctive structures comprised of short, repetitive sequences of DNA located on the ends of chromosomes. Telomeres form a protective “cap” – a sort of disposable buffer that gradually shortens with age – that prevents chromosomes from losing genes or sticking to other chromosomes during cell division. When the telomeres on a cell’s chromosomes get too short, the chromosome reaches a “critical length,” and the cell stops dividing (senescence) or dies (apoptosis). Telomeres are replenished by the enzyme telomerase, a reverse transcriptase.

A fat-soluble vitamin stored in the liver and fatty tissues. Vitamin D plays key roles in several physiological processes, such as the regulation of blood pressure, calcium homeostasis, immune function, and the regulation of cell growth. In the skin, vitamin D decreases proliferation and enhances differentiation. Vitamin D synthesis begins when 7-dehydrocholesterol, which is found primarily in the skin’s epidermal layer, reacts to ultraviolet light and converts to vitamin D. Subsequent processes convert D to calcitriol, the active form of the vitamin. Vitamin D can be obtained from dietary sources, too, such as salmon, mushrooms, and many fortified foods.