Aging and Overeating

The cells that control a person’s appetite in the brain degenerate over time, it has been discovered. A scientist at Monash University in Melborne, Australia, has revealed that this can lead to increased hunger, which heightens the likelihood of weight gain later in life.

In news that may be of interest to antiaging physicians, neuroendocrinologist Zane Andrews, whose research is published in Nature, found that free radicals attacked brain cells after subjects had eaten and that the process was increased when they took in carbohydrates and sugars. That could potentially make people eat more, he explained.

“Free radicals created naturally in the body attack the POMC neurons,” Andrews said. “This process causes the neurons to degenerate over time, affecting our judgment as to when our hunger is satisfied.”

—Dr. Bob Goldman
www.WorldHealth.net

 
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