Health
Leonard Hayflick, Who Discovered Why No One Lives Forever, Dies at 98
Leonard Hayflick, a biomedical researcher who discovered that normal cells can divide only a certain number of times — setting a limit on the human life span and frustrating would-be-immortalists everywhere — died on Aug. 1 at his home in Sea Ranch, Calif. He was 98.
His son, Joel Hayflick, said the cause was pancreatic cancer.
Like many great scientific findings, Dr. Hayflick’s came somewhat by accident. As a young scientist in the early 1960s at the Wistar Institute, a research organization at the University of Pennsylvania, he was trying to develop healthy embryonic cell lines in order to study whether viruses can cause certain types of cancer.
He and a colleague, Paul Moorhead, soon noticed that somatic — that is, nonreproductive — cells went through a phase of division, splitting between 40 and 60 times, before lapsing into what he called senescence.
As senescent cells accumulate, he posited, the body itself begins to age and decline. The only cells that do not go into senescence, he added, are cancer cells.
As a result of this cellular clock, he said, no amount of diet or exercise or genetic tweaking will push the human species past a life span of about 125 years.
This finding, which the Nobel-winning virologist Macfarlane Burnet later called the Hayflick limit, ran counter to everything scientists believed about cells and aging — especially the thesis that cells themselves are immortal, and that aging is a result of external causes, like disease, diet and solar radiation.
Other researchers later discovered the mechanisms behind the Hayflick limit: As cells divide, they create copies of DNA strands, but the ends of each copy, called the telomeres, are a bit shorter than the last. Eventually the telomere runs out, and the cell stops dividing.
Dr. Hayflick made other important contributions to science. He developed a particularly vibrant cell line, WI-38, which has been used for decades to make vaccines. He also discovered that so-called walking pneumonia, unlike regular pneumonia, is caused not by a virus but by a type of mycoplasma, the smallest form of free-living organism.
But it was his work on aging that established his legacy. Dr. Hayflick was an outspoken critic of those who thought they could unlock the science of eternal life; he considered that idea an illusion and the pursuit of it a folly, if not outright fraud.
“The invention of ways to increase human longevity is the world’s second-oldest profession, or maybe even the first,” he told the medical journal The Lancet in 2011. “Individuals are going to the bank at this moment with enormous sums of money gained by persuading people that they’ve found either a way to extend your life or to make you immortal.”
Leonard Hayflick was born on May 20, 1928, in Philadelphia to Nathan Hayflick, who made dental prosthetics, and Edna (Silver) Hayflick, who worked in his father’s office.
He enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania but took three years off to serve in the Army. He graduated with a degree in microbiology in 1951, and five years later received a Ph.D. in chemistry and microbiology there.
After two years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, he returned to Penn and the Wistar Institute, where he made many of his most important discoveries. He continued that work at Stanford University in 1968.
There was a wrinkle, though. The National Institutes of Health had funded the research on his WI-38 cell line but declined to fund its distribution, even as other researchers clamored for samples. Dr. Hayflick established a company to process orders, charged a minimal fee for shipping and set the proceeds aside until ownership was clarified.
But in a private report that was released to the news media, the N.I.H. accused Dr. Hayflick of theft. He sued the institute, charging invasion of privacy and reputational damage, including a forced resignation from his position at Stanford. The litigation took six years and ended in a settlement that allowed him to keep some of the money and cell samples.
During those six years, Congress passed the Bayh-Dole Act, which allows scientists to profit off government-funded research. The law, which would have made Dr. Hayflick’s earlier actions unquestionably legal, helped catalyze the biotech industry.
Dr. Hayflick married Ruth Heckler in 1955. She died in 2016. Along with his son, he is survived by four daughters, Deborah Curle, Susan Hayflick, Rachel Hastings and Annie Hayflick; eight grandchildren; and his sister, Elaine Rosamoff.
Dr. Hayflick later worked at the University of Florida and, since 1988, at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was an emeritus professor.
His criticism of those trying to find ways to extend the human life span was not just about practicality. On principle he thought it was a terrible idea.
“I’m an optimist,” he told The Guardian in 2001. “Anyone who believes in manipulating the human aging process is a terrible pessimist. I don’t want to be alive when that’s possible. I don’t want to give another Adolf Hitler, a Saddam Hussein, another 50 years of life.”
He continued, “Every time someone like that dies a natural death, people should thank their God, whoever that might be, for the phenomenon of aging.”
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
Health
Weight loss, diabetes drugs can cause mood changes: What to know about behavioral side effects
GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), medications that help control type 2 diabetes and obesity, can have a profound impact on physical wellness – but what about mental health?
Some examples of these medications include semaglutides, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, and liraglutide, like Victoza and Saxenda.
Various studies have pointed toward GLP-1 RAs causing mental health complications, such as anxiety and depression.
WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS’ IMPACT ON CANCER RISK REVEALED IN NEW STUDY
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) published research in June 2024 that considered the correlation between semaglutide therapy and “exacerbating mood disturbances.”
The study highlighted the association of negative mood changes in patients with type 2 diabetes with a history of depression, warning healthcare providers to be aware of this “potential risk.”
Studies have debated the correlation between GLP-1 RA drugs and mood changes. (iStock)
But a more recent study, published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, suggested that these mood changes were linked to genetic variations across diverse populations and ancestries within the U.K. Biobank.
While GLP-1 RA variants had “consistent cardiometabolic effects” across all groups, the researchers said the negative impacts on mental health were “more varied,” concluding that any behavioral changes are “likely not acting directly through [the medications].”
SEMAGLUTIDE FOUND TO HAVE SHOCKING BENEFIT FOR LIVER DISEASE PATIENTS IN NEW STUDY
Doctors weigh in on medications and mood
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon who often prescribes GLP-1 RAs to his patients, believes that there is “no consistent causal relationship” between these medications and mental illness.
“Researchers assayed genetic markers across almost half a million people from different backgrounds in search of a link between the gene behind GLP-1 receptors and mental health problems like depression, anxiety or suicidal ideation — and they didn’t find it,” he summarized.
GLP-1 receptor agonists have been linked to mood changes, patients and doctors have reported. (iStock)
People who are obese or battling type 2 diabetes are “often already depressed” without the medication, the doctor pointed out.
“These conditions take a toll – physically, emotionally and socially,” he said. “So, yes, a large portion of patients starting GLP-1 drugs are already dealing with mental health struggles. But that’s not because of the drug — that’s because of the disease.”
HERE’S WHY BELLY FAT IS MORE COMMON AS WE AGE, AND 3 WAYS TO PREVENT IT
Once these individuals begin dropping weight, blood sugar stabilizes and energy improves, which usually lifts their mood as well.
“GLP-1 drugs help people reclaim their health,” Osborn noted. “They reduce inflammation. They lower blood sugar. They shrink waistlines.”
“And when people look and feel better, when their bodies finally start working for them instead of against them, they often smile more, not less.”
“GLP-1 drugs help people reclaim their health,” one doctor said. “And when people look and feel better, when their bodies finally start working for them instead of against them, they often smile more, not less.” (iStock)
Dr. Muhammad Ghanem, a bariatric surgeon at Orlando Health Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Institute, shared in a separate interview with Fox News Digital that while some of his patients have reported mood changes, others “don’t have that at all.”
FIRST GLP-1 PILL FOR WEIGHT LOSS, DIABETES SHOWS SUCCESS IN LATE-PHASE TRIAL
“Depression or mood changes are very common regardless, especially nowadays, and so it’s hard to [determine] whether this is related to the GLP-1 agonist medications, or whether it just happens to be that they started suffering from these after they started that medication,” he said.
“It’s really hard to tell whether it’s a personality change that can happen because of weight loss or if it’s a side effect because of mood changes,” he added. “I don’t think we have enough data to reach that conclusion yet.”
For those who are interested in GLP-1 RA medications or are experiencing mood changes while taking them, an expert stressed the importance of keeping in close contact with medical providers. (iStock)
Patients who lose weight with GLP-1 RAs can experience a “big boost” in confidence, as well as a change in personality and even relationships, according to Ghanem.
“It really depends on the person and the support system they have,” he said. “You need proper, randomized controlled trials to reach a conclusion, and better studies to determine whether this is related to the medication itself or just weight loss.”
“It’s important for all doctors who prescribe these drugs to be aware and check the patient’s history.”
For those who are interested in these medications or are experiencing mood changes while taking them, the surgeon stressed the importance of keeping in close contact with medical providers.
“Just like any other medication, they can have potential side effects,” he said.
Ghanem recommended seeking out professionals and practices who take a “holistic approach” to weight loss, offering mental health support in addition to medication.
Dr. Brunilda Nazario, MD, chief physician editor of medical affairs at WebMD, told Fox News Digital that “obesity is complicated.”
“Obesity specialists … are cautiously excited about how well these drugs work,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“With current studies showing conflicting results on mood disorders and the use of GLP-1 drugs, it’s important for all doctors who prescribe these drugs to be aware and check the patient’s history before prescribing [them].”
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you feel something is not right — your health depends on it,” one expert suggested. (iStock)
Nazario stressed that it’s “vital” for GLP-1 RA users to listen to their bodies, urging them to pay attention to their feelings and know the symptoms of mood disorders.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you feel something is not right — your health depends on it,” he added.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
Nazario noted that GLP-1 RAs can affect mood in many different ways.
“They are not all negative — they have the potential to improve mood as well,” she said. “Just seeing great results can boost self-esteem, confidence and body image.”
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
Seattle Weather: Drippy and Cool End to the Weekend
San Diego events bring excitement to town
Milwaukee man critically missing, last seen near 12th and Lapham
Baribo’s penalty kick serves as game winner as Philadelphia Union top Atlanta United FC
Man dies after being shot during altercation in Minneapolis Thursday
-
Austin, TX1 week agoBest Austin Salads – 15 Food Places For Good Greens!
-
Technology1 week agoNetflix is removing Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
-
World1 week agoThe Take: Can India and Pakistan avoid a fourth war over Kashmir?
-
News1 week agoReincarnated by A.I., Arizona Man Forgives His Killer at Sentencing
-
News1 week agoWho is the new Pope Leo XIV and what are his views?
-
Entertainment1 week agoReview: 'Forever' is a sweet ode to first love (and L.A.) based on Judy Blume's novel
-
News1 week agoEfforts Grow to Thwart mRNA Therapies as RFK Jr. Pushes Vaccine Wariness
-
Politics1 week agoDepartment of Justice opens criminal investigation into NY AG Letitia James