The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life [Hardcover]

Joseph Maroon (Author), Joseph Baur (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 30, 2008

A groundbreaking examination of new scientific research that holds the secret to weight loss, increased strength, endurance, memory, and a healthier, longer life

In "The Longevity Factor," noted neuroscientist and surgeon Joseph Maroon, M.D., offers the definitive look at recent scientific breakthroughs identifying a group of natural substances -- including the much-publicized molecule resveratrol -- that can actually activate a specific set of genes in humans that promote a longer, healthier life. These substances, which make red wine, dark chocolate, and green tea good for us, appear to stave off a wide array of age-related diseases and keep us feeling young and vital.

Resveratrol is the centerpiece of headline-making research being conducted at the Harvard Medical School and elsewhere. Only recently, however, have scientists discovered how to isolate resveratrol and concentrate it into an affordable and safe supplement. Already, more than 200 supplements featuring resveratrol have flooded the market, and there are countless more on the way. But which ones work best? What is a consumer to look for on the label? Since resveratrol is a natural substance, can you get enough of it through diet alone, or should you combine diet with a supplement? And what lies on the horizon from the pharmaceutical industry? All those questions and many more are answered in this immensely informative and practical book.

Joseph Maroon offers the first-ever inside look at the amazing research that has led to the discovery of resveratrol and similar substances with the miraculous ability to activate our own longevity genes. He also offers his own diet plan and sound, reader-friendly advice for living a longer, healthier, and more balanced life with or without supplements. "The Longevity Factor" promises to be the authoritative source for everyone who wants to know more about how we can shift from the current paradigm of aging to a disease-free golden age of health, longevity, and fitness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you are ready to start living and to stop dying, "The Longevity Factor" is for you. Dr. Joseph Maroon has applied the same intelligence and diligence that propelled him to the top of the neurosurgical specialty into writing this book. Leaving no stone unturned, he has created a guidebook for longevity that is both audacious and achievable." -- Sanjay Gupta, M.D., neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent, CNN

About the Author

Dr. Joseph Maroon studied medicine at Indiana University, Georgetown, and Oxford University. He began his practice in 1982 at the University of Pittsburgh, where in 1999 he was named the Heindl Scholar and Vice Chairman of the department of Neuroscience. In 1986, he was named President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the largest society of its kind in North America. He has been honored internationally for his work, and has published widely in his area. He has been the team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers for the past 20 years, and has developed a computerized scanning system to evaluate concussions that has been adopted throughout the NFL, NHL, NBA, NASCAR as well as more than 1000 high schools and colleges. Maroon has remained an active athlete since college, having competed in more than 50 triathlons, including 5 Ironman competitions.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books; 1 edition (December 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416551077
• ISBN-13: 978-1416551072
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.4 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #736,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 54 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book April 7, 2009

By D. Hall

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

As an ER nurse, I see more heart attacks than I would prefer. Thought the "French Paradox" was interesting, but I was skeptical. Turns out, the more research I do, the more credible it appears. This book had a page or two about muscadine wine. I was glad to see this as "The Red Wine Diet" did not. I give "The Longevity Factor" five stars for mentioning this. The other book was all about French red wines and did not speak one word of muscadine wine even though every source I can find suggest it is a far greater source of resveratrol. Muscadine wine is very popular in the Southeast, but not elswhere as the grapes will not grow in other regions. Muscadine was used for 8,000 years by native americans. Wines were made in the early 1500's in the New World as explorers found this grapes growing wild all over the coastal areas of the Southeast. Turns out, muscadine grapes have far more health benefits than traditional red wines. I have read anywhere from 10X to 40X the amount of resveratrol compared to traditional red wines. Bowman Gray School of Medicine (Wake Forest) did a study this past year on Natures Pearl, a muscadine seed supplement, and results should be out any time now. What I have seen so far looks very promising. A cardiology professor led the study and it is to be printed any time now for the public. Duplin Winery located in Rose Hill, North Carolina, the largest muscadine winery, sells a similar/same product Nutragrape. They have great wines and a very informative website as well. Harvard School of Medicine showed the anti-oxidants in muscadine wine increased mice life expectancy 30%, even with high fat diets. Reductions in LDH (bad cholesterol) and increases in HDL (good cholesterol) were significant. An independent lab in Wareham, Mass, Biotech, said that the muscadine seed had more resveratol in it than anything they had ever tested. I have contacted researchers from Miss State, Florida Univ, and other state level organizations and all my info says the same thing. Muscadine wine/grapes are far superior to all other red wines in regards to health benefits. It is perplexing to me. Why is so little said about this on a national level? Why do most the books and articles speak only of red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, etc..? Two thoughts on the subject. One, muscadine grapes only grow in the Southeast of the US and are just a well kept secret to the rest of the world. Two, the market for French, California, Argentina, Austalian, wines is so great, and is experiencing a surge as people start drinking red wine for health reasons, that it would hurt the sales of these wines if people found out that $7-15/bottle muscadine wine was more healthy. I am appreciative that the author of this book included the information on muscadine wine. Few books I have read to date included it. Perhaps this is a case of "sweet wines" not being given any credibility. Perhaps they just don't cost enough. Not sure. But I do know that there is no way I will be drinking the firm tannin, astringent, and expensive french red wines after the information I have discovered recently. I will be taking a Natures Pearl or Nutragrape supplement in the morning, putting a little muscadine jelly on my toast, and having a wonderful glass of sweet southern made muscadine wine with my evening meal. I encourage anyone to research this area further. I suspect you, like me, will be surprised at what you find out. As a sidenote, Smith-Glaxo-Kline (huge pharmaceutical corporation) recently payed 3/4 of a BILLION dollars for a study on resveratrol. I suspect the "Fountain of Youth" pill will be coming out in the next 5 years or so. Do some reading, dig a little beneath the surface and get past the hype of French red wines. Google "muscadine health" for starters.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Longevity Factor February 14, 2009

By M. Michenzi

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Dr. Maroon,a very respected neurosurgeon, has presented a very convincing set of facts supporting the premise of gene activation for longevity. Although, as a nurse I have some advantage in understanding factors in health and disease, it is not necessary to thoroughly absorb the facts he presents. The book is extremely easy to read and hard to put down. I've already highly recommended the book to my friends and family. I'm grateful for his research in this subject.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Are you ready to live to be 120-150 years old? November 6, 2009

By Susan Schenck TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

In the 1930s, Clive McCay, a nutritional scientist at Cornell University in NY, was a pioneer in proving the link between calorie restriction and longevity. Since then, hundreds of studies have proven the link--studies on not only mice, rats, and dogs, but also primates.

But what if you could take a pill and not have to restrict your calories? A nutrient known as resveratrol appears to have some promise. The Longevity Factor is an explanation for how this works as well as a guide for which supplements work best.

During times of stress, such as drought or too much sun, plants can increase production of specialized molecules called xeno factors. When animals consume these plants, the xeno factors interact with the animals' genes and impart amazing health benefits, allowing the animals to live in some cases up to 50% longer! When xeno factors are made into an extract such as resveratrol, the compounds seem to trick the body into mounting a response similar to calorie restriction even without cutting back of food. The effects appear to cover all theories of aging (which are presented in this book). "By activating specific mechanisms within our cells, they help to control inflammation, regulate cell survival, repair cells, and prevent cell death. As antioxidants, they work to enhance the all-important performance of the immune and endocrine systems" (p. 30). Like the calorie restricted diet, resveratrol activates the SIRT1 gene, known as the longevity gene.

What if you don't want to take the pill? The example is given of a French woman who lived to be 122. She claimed her secret was walking and two glasses a day of red wine. (Before you go on a drinking spree, note that with any more than 2 glasses, the toxicity of the alcohol outweighs the benefits of resveratrol.) We are given a list of which red wines are the most beneficial. Also, certain foods contain resveratrol. These include red wine, apples, dark chocolate, green tea, pistachios, peanuts and grape juice. But to get the full benefit of taking the extract, one would have to consume hundreds of bottles of wine!
The book cites studies done on animals. The benefits of reseveratrol include higher energy, burning of body fat, increased aerobic capacity, sensitivity to insulin, better strength and coordination, with no negative side effects. In addition, there is an entire section with chapters on the following benefits: better memory (even helps with Alzheimer's), healing from diabetes, anticancer effect, cardio protection, stroke prevention, brain protection, and healing inflammatory conditions.

The latter part of the book includes which are the best brands, dosage, safety, a four step weight loss program, and even recipes.

In April of 2008, cutting edge resveratrol researcher David Sinclair told Barbara Walters's nationwide TV audience that the science of aging "has split the atom," and living to be 120 or 150 is not unrealistic. Are you on board? I know I am! (But until they get everything perfected, I am nonetheless watching those calories...)

Susan Schenck, author of The Live Food Factor: The Comprehensive Guide to the Ultimate Diet for Body, Mind, Spirit & Planet
and
Beyond Broccoli, Creating a Biologically Balanced Diet When a Vegetarian Diet Doesn't Work