Program

The circadian clock, our endogenous time-generating system, regulates behavioral, physiological, and cellular processes. Disruptions to this clock, such as those caused by shift work, jet lag, or genetic alterations, are associated with an increased risk of various diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Circadian medicine, the study of how time affects health and disease, has emerged as a promising approach to enhance health and performance and to optimize treatment timing. However, the potential of circadian medicine is limited by the lack of non-invasive tools for characterizing the circadian clock.
 To address this challenge, we developed TimeTeller, a non-invasive methodology to analyze circadian rhythms. Currently employed in various clinical studies, TimeTeller profiles circadian rhythms based on gene expression measurements. Through mathematical modeling and bioinformatics analysis, we derive predictions regarding optimal time windows for performance and treatment administration.
 By aligning an individual's circadian clock with optimal times for daily routines and incorporating personal health information across lifestyle, care, and research settings, we can improve physical and mental performance and enhance the effectiveness of certain therapies.

Abstract:

This seminar will highlight groundbreaking findings from four recent Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) – DIRECT, CASCADE, CENTRAL, and DIRECT PLUS – exploring the significant impacts of lifestyle and dietary interventions on aging. The  2-year Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) and  a 4-year follow-up (A Dietary Intervention- Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) Study), compared the effects of dietary strategies on cardiometabolic risk and plaque regression. The 2-year CASCADE trial(The CArdiovasCulAr Diabetes & Ethanol (CASCADE) Trial), addressed the effect of moderate alcohol in type 2 diabetes. The  CENTRAL (Diet and Body Composition (CENTRAL)) whole-body MRI trial focused on dynamic of human-specific fat depots and fuel metabolism across dietary strategies. The DIRECT PLUS trial (Effects of Green-MED Diet Via the Gut-fat-brain Axis (DIRECT-PLUS)) explored the effect of the diet and specific high- polyphenols foods as Mankai on the gut-fat-brain axis. In this trial, new horizons were explored related to Autologous Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, brain atrophy attenuation, and epigenetics. The talk will discuss transformative effects of various dietary interventions to significantly reduce age-related health decline. The seminar will cover reductions in vascular stiffness, carotid atherosclerosis, and brain atrophy, emphasizing the role of diet and exercise in promoting cardiovascular and cognitive longevity. The lecture will discuss the crucial role of the gut microbiome in aging and how dietary patterns optimize its composition and will gain insights into epigenetic changes and their influence on biological aging, showcasing how interventions can attenuate the aging process beyond weight loss.