San Francisco Consular Corps Visits Buck Institute

Dean of the San Francisco Consular Corps and Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. welcomes the San Francisco Consular Corps (SFCC) to their first meeting for 2020, at the Buck Institute in Novato, California, on 14 January 2020. (San Francisco PCG photo)

SAN FRANCISCO 27 January 2020 — Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. presided over the The San Francisco Consular Corps (SFCC)’s first monthly meeting in 2020 as Dean of the SFCC and facilitated discussions with the guest speaker President and CEO of the Buck Institute Dr. Eric Verdin.

For its first meeting, SFCC held on 14 January 2020, a field visit to The Buck Institute, a non-profit organization specializing in aging research.

The Buck Institute aims to conduct research to mitigate the effects of aging, thereby increasing the “quality lifespan” of individuals.  The Institute is the first free-standing research facility in the world focused solely on the biology of aging, housing over 20 research groups from 30 countries.  It is supported primarily by the National Institute of Health, corporate donors, endowments, and philanthropists.

In his presentation entitled “The Longevity Revolution: Will Biotechnology Allow Us to Live to 150?”, Dr. Verdin shared that global life expectancy has steadily increased over the past centuries, with the average life expectancy increasing from 47 in 1900 to 78 in 2000, and projected to reach 98 by 2100.  However, when most people are asked whether they hope to live to 150, many answer in the negative.  This is primarily due to the fear of aging, and the difficulties associated with this, including diseases such as Alzheimers, cancer, diabetes, among others.

Dr. Verdin defined aging as the “loss of maintenance, repair and decreased resistance.”  Based on studies, aging is 93 percent dependent on a person’s environment and only seven percent dependent on a person’s genetics.  He identified several factors affecting aging, such as a person’s nutrition, mobility (exercise), sleep, and access to medication.  He noted that “social factors” which includes having a circle of close family and/or friends greatly reduce the effects of aging, while depression and isolation greatly contributed to aging.

In order to reduce the effects of aging, he recommended a number of interventions that an ordinary individual may undertake on a daily basis.  He particularly recommended a “time restricted feeding” diet, in which a person eats within a maximum of eight hours in a day, and goes on fasting for the remaining 16 hours. 

After the presentation, Dr. Fordin Lithgow, VP of the Institute, conducted a tour of the premises, which included research laboratories for its in-house and visiting scientists and learning resource centers for the public. 

SFCC is a gathering of all consular officials represented in the Bay Area, and holds regular meetings to discuss topics of mutual concern and interest.  The next meeting of the San Francisco Consular Corps is scheduled in February 2020. END

President and CEO of The Buck Institute Dr. Eric Verdin delivers a lecture entitled “The Longevity Revolution: Will Biotechnology Allow Us to Live to 150?”. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Vice President of The Buck Institute Dr. Fordin Lithgow conducts a tour of the Institute’s premises for SFCC members. (San Francisco PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/.