Contributed/ETSU
Across the Appalachian Highlands, the story of health is often told through a “longevity gap” that separates this region from the rest of the country. In states like Tennessee and West Virginia, life expectancy consistently ranks among the lowest in the nation. While the national average sits around 77.5 years, residents of some Appalachian communities are expected to live up to eight years fewer. At East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Dr. Patrick Bradshaw is investigating how to bridge this gap, focusing on dietary modifications that could offer a proactive shield against the diseases of aging without a heavy reliance on the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Bradshaw’s research focuses on the mitochondria, which function as the powerhouses of our cells. These tiny structures generate the energy necessary for life, but they also play a critical role in the aging process. “I love studying mitochondria, love aging research,” Dr. Bradshaw said, explaining that his work aims to understand how cellular metabolism can be tuned to prevent age-related decline.
As we age, these powerhouses can falter, leading to a decline in cellular health. In Appalachia, where obesity and diabetes rates are significantly higher than national averages, these cellular issues often manifest as early-onset chronic illness. Dr. Bradshaw’s research seeks a way to “tune” these engines through what we eat. One of his most significant breakthroughs involved the study of ketone bodies. His lab demonstrated that beta-hydroxybutyrate, a chemical the body produces when it burns fat instead of sugar, could extend the lifespan of simple laboratory animal models such as worms.
“We were the first to show that ketone bodies are anti-aging,” Dr. Bradshaw said.
A ketone body-containing drink has been developed and marketed by one of Dr. Bradshaw’s collaborators. This discovery is particularly relevant for those who find strict fasting, another known way to slow aging, difficult. By understanding the metabolic signals that ketones send to our cells, researchers can develop strategies that mimic the benefits of fasting. By increasing ketone body levels, the body can trigger protective responses that help maintain the brain and heart as they age.
“My goal is to actually, one day a week, do the 18-hour fast… but I haven’t worked my way up into that yet,” Dr. Bradshaw said.
He proudly relayed that his friend with Parkinson’s disease successfully uses a daily 18-hour fast, exercise, and a ketone-containing drink to alleviate his symptoms. This candidness highlights his focus: finding life-extending and health-improving solutions that people can actually live with.
Beyond ketones, the lab is also interested in how fasting and exercise at different times of the day impact an animal’s biological clock. Dr. Bradshaw has found that restricting the amino acid methionine can significantly increase lifespan in lab animals.
“There’s this compensatory response where the cell increases its glutathione,” he said, referring to a powerful antioxidant the body uses to protect itself from stress.
However, for these therapies to work, they must be practical. These methionine-restricted diets or ketone supplement drinks can taste so bad that human clinical trials struggle to keep participants.
“It doesn’t do much good to find some anti-aging therapy if no one wants to use it because it tastes so bad,” Dr. Bradshaw says. He is now looking toward the future and aims to work with nutritionists to make biological longevity accessible to the public.
By prioritizing nutrition over prescriptions, Dr. Bradshaw is mapping a future for Appalachian residents to take control of their own health. His work suggests the key to a longer life may not be the next blockbuster drug, but a deeper understanding of how our kitchens can become our first line of defense against aging. As he continues to mentor the next generation of researchers at ETSU, Dr. Bradshaw is actively seeking undergraduate students for hands-on lab experience and welcomes them to reach out by email.
“I feel like I’ve been able to use all of my diverse research experiences and put them together to be the scientist that I am today,” he reflects, dedicated to ensuring a long, healthy life is not a luxury, but a reachable reality for the people of Appalachia.
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