An edition of the Tyne Tees Television programme investigating topics affecting life in the North-East. In this edition Susan Drummond reports on the science behind aging and what can be done to give us more longevity through healthy living and mental wellbeing. Title: Northern Eye. Stay Young Forever 86-year-old pensioner Margaret Barton pushing and then pulling a car along an alley with ease. Presenter Susan Drummond tries but struggle after which she takes two tests for aging which give...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television programme investigating topics affecting life in the North-East. In this edition Susan Drummond reports on the science behind aging and what can be done to give us more longevity through healthy living and mental wellbeing. Title: Northern Eye. Stay Young Forever 86-year-old pensioner Margaret Barton pushing and then pulling a car along an alley with ease. Presenter Susan Drummond tries but struggle after which she takes two tests for aging which give her results indicating she is older than her actual age. Over Cher’s ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ the date on a desk calendar going backwards and a montage showing some of the world’s top anti-aging scientist all of whom are based in Newcastle. Over Annie Lennox singing ‘Keep Young and Beautiful’ a montage of pages from health and fitness magazines and items featured in this edition. Buildings on the Campus for Aging and Vitality at Newcastle General Hospital. Professor Tom Kirkwood, Director of the Institute for Aging and Health explains that aging is one of biology’s greatest mysteries. Over seconds clicking on a wall clock Professor Kirkwood explains that when you look at the science there isn’t any body-clock that programmes our aging and death. Birthday candles burning on a cake changes to Professor Kirkwood explaining that what you inherit from your parents is only a quarter of what will influence the length of your life and the kind of shape you will be in later in it. The remaining three-quarters come from areas of our lives we can control. In a laboratory a model of a strand of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which from birth tiny faults begin to build up clogging up our sells. A frayed scarf is used to show what will happen to our DNA over time which lead to us developing conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. In a large hall older couples dancing changes to a computer testing samples of blood of health older peoples aged over 85 to find out what works. Runners passing under the camera during the Great North Run changes to an older woman having her muscles scanned by a new multi-million-pound scanner at Newcastle. Dr Mike Trenell, external research fellow at the university, explains what the machine can do and how it can help identify conditions such as diabetes. On a computer screen muscles with Dr Trenell explaining what he is looking for in the muscle tissues. He goes onto say that he can help people age more healthily. On another computer screen an image of several DNA strands changes to Dr Trenell conducting another test on an older woman who is wearing a breathing mask while peddling an exercise bike. In another room Margaret Barton has her leg muscles stretched with the help of Michael Pellegrino a Strength Trainer. Margaret explains how the training at the Campus for Aging and Vitality has improved her circulation. In a gym she uses several machines to help stretch her arm muscles watched over by Michael. She talks about how she looks forward to these sessions and that she feels fresher after them. Michael Pellegrino talks about the latest exercise theories which is strength training as it burns more fat and alters your metabolic state and how the body uses fuel, he provides more details. Pedestrians, many older people, walking along a wet shopping street, inside the Metro Centre at Gateshead a vox pop with older shoppers about aging. Many want and do stay fit and active with their age not being an issue. Dr Trenell explains there is no minimum or maximum age, you can still reap significant benefits from being more physically active. Professor Kirkwood comments that life expectance across the whole of the developed world is increasing at a rate of five hours for every day that passes. The seconds on a wall clock ticking by with Professor Kirkwood explaining that when you got up this morning it wasn’t to a 24-hour day but a 29 hour day, you are using 24 hours but putting the extra five hours aside for later. A table full of high fat foods including chocolates and cream cakes changes to a magazine article about ‘detoxing’. Professor John Mathers, Professor of Human Foods doesn’t like the term ‘super foods’ as it gives the public the idea that eating this particular food is better than all the other foods. On another table health foods including fruit, vegetables, bottles of olive oil as well as various nuts and pulses. Professor Mathers continues by saying eating more fruit and vegetables would be perfect, let us not worry about super foods. Around Newcastle various fast-food outlets such as Burger King and pizza and kebab shops which is okay to eat in moderation changes to a table full of fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods which you should eat more of. Professor Mathers talk about an experiment done with lab rats that if you restrict their diet, they will live up to 50% longer, the question is does it work for people? On a table tables of antioxidants such as fish oils and vitamins C and E. Inside a Holland and Barrett shop Trish Parker from the company says people are more aware of what they eat and can help their energy levels and themselves. On the shelves bottles of supplements and oils with Trish talking about some of the more popular items. Heading into the commercial break a montage of clips featured in the second part. Title: Northern Eye. Stay Young Forever Various advertisements and magazine articles about remaining young and for skin care creams and products. The Facility of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University where inside a laboratory scientists and technicians conducting various experiments. Professor Mark Birch-Machin, Professor of Molecular Dermatology talks about the factors that cause the skin to age and what happens to the skin, a graphic showing the layers of the skin epidermis and lower dermis. More advertisements featuring young women followed by a man having his face rubbed in oil. A montage of people on a sunny beach with a young couple splashing around in the sea during the summer with Professor Birch-Machin stating that the sun along with the ‘double-whammy’ of smoking does to damage the elasticity in the skin. Back in the laboratory scientists working on more experiments returning to Professor Birch-Machin who shows on a computer screen samples of cultured skin cells in the lab, one healthy the other damaged and unhealthy looking after thirty-minutes in front of a tanning lamp. Beams of sunlight coming through leaves on a tree changes to show the antioxidant tablets on a table which can help fight the free radicals which cause aging and found in sunlight. Professor Birch-Machin talks about work done recently that eating tomatoes protects against sunburn and prevent the batteries in the skin cells from running down. A busy beach on a summers day with families walking along the shoreline, a mother tries to apply a large amount of suncream to the face of her son who isn’t co-operating. A selection of anti-aging creams set up on a table with Professor Birch-Machin explaining that some moisturisers prevent trans epidermal water loss. In a laboratory a machine conducing a test on peptides, results appear on a computer screen nearby. Professor Birch-Machin talks about the work currently being carried out with regards peptides cross the stratum corneum or the outermost lay of the epidermis, a graphic to help illustrate the points is followed by peptides under a microscope. A man looking into another microscope changes to Professor Iain McKeith, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry explains that by the age of 85 the change of developing dementia is as high as 40%. Images of two human brains on a black background one of which is smaller because that person was suffering from dementia, Professor McKeith explains what has happened. A day care centre run by Newcastle City Council and the Alzheimer’s Society, inside some of the residents talk about dealing with the disease and how it affects their memory. In a consulting room Professor McKeith conducts a memory test on presenter Susan Drummond checking for early signs of Alzheimer’s. Back in the gym Margaret Barton continues to exercise with the assistance of Michael Pellegrino which can help the brain by lowering blood pressure and pump more blood around the brain. Sitting on a set of stairs Susan does another memory test using a Nintendo DS handheld device, at a table she does a crossword puzzle all which also helps with memory. Professor McKeith explains that if you use your brain a lot then your brain-cells are probably densely connected to each other giving you a degree of protection against the loss of nerve cells. A scientist looking at images on a screen and Professor McKeith talking about moving towards preventative strategies and drug treatments to reverse some of the symptoms. At the day care centre two of the residents sit in the garden enjoying the sun changes to the offices in central Newcastle that are creating gadget to help older people. A pair of hands holds a shoe containing a microprocessor that will help the user show how steady that person is on their feet while a notebook has satellite and mobile navigation to help the user know where they are. In a kitchen a man picks up a kettle which has sensors to help the user make a cup of tea and a projector which displays suitable meal ideas on the kitchen wall. PHd student Stephen Lindsay explains that as the technology gets smaller, cheaper, and more readily available it will be making home more intelligent within hopefully in the next 10-15 years. Susan Drummond has a consultation with Antonia Pellegrino who uses a new health analysis system called Biosignature which highlights where fat builds up in the body and identifies what you should eat. A montage of clips featuring many of those featured in the programme and a final vox pop with people in the Metro Centre asking what they will be doing to stay young. The programme ends on Professor Kirkwood who says it is never to early to pay attention to ageing and never to late. Credit: Camera John White Offline Editor John Louvre, Edmund Quigley Online Editor Neil Burdess Graphics Dave Richardson Sound Post Production The Edge Series Producer Mary Wimpress Executive Producer Graeme Thompson Producer/Director Susan Drummond © ITV Tyne Tees 2008 Final credit: Suedunnit production for ITV