At the Longevity Summit Dublin 2024, Simisola Oke, Chief Medical Officer of GlycanAge, delivered a keynote on the anti-ageing properties of estrogen and the role of glycans in tracking biological ageing. She explained how estrogen helps reduce chronic inflammation and how glycans can be used to assess ageing processes. Oke advocated for the use of estrogen replacement therapy, particularly in postmenopausal women, to mitigate the health risks associated with ageing, including cardiovascular diseases.

Key Points:

• Estrogen as an Anti-Ageing Therapy: Dr. Simisola Oke emphasized the potential of estrogen compounds as powerful anti-ageing therapies. She pointed out how estrogen plays a crucial role in reducing chronic inflammation, a key driver of ageing.
• Chronic Inflammation and Ageing: Oke highlighted the importance of chronic inflammation in the ageing process and discussed how estrogen helps mitigate it. This hormone helps maintain a balanced immune system, reducing inflammation and preventing the onset of age-related diseases.
• Glycans as Biological Markers: Oke presented research from GlycanAge, explaining how glycans (carbohydrate-based molecules) attached to proteins like immunoglobulin G (IgG) can serve as biomarkers for biological age. Glycan patterns change with age and respond to lifestyle, pharmacological interventions, and environmental factors.
• Impact of Menopause on Inflammation: Estrogen levels drop significantly during menopause, leading to increased pro-inflammatory glycans in women. This hormonal shift contributes to higher risks of cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions in postmenopausal women.
• Clinical Study on Estrogen Therapy: Oke shared findings from studies where estrogen was given to women during menopause. Results showed that estrogen replacement therapy helped maintain lower levels of chronic inflammation, improving overall health outcomes.
• Estrogen's Role in Men’s Health: Oke also discussed the benefits of estrogen in men, explaining that it plays a similar role in reducing chronic inflammation. Studies demonstrated that when estrogen is suppressed in men, chronic inflammation worsens, highlighting its importance in both sexes.