Episode 29: How To Slow The Aging Process with Jenna Leser
About Jenna Lesser:
“Originally from New York, I moved to Maryland to attend Johns Hopkins University where I graduated with a Bachelor's in Biology and a minor in Bioethics. My interest in biological sciences and how the body functions led me to become a research technician in neuro-gastroenterology at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institute upon graduation in 2015. In 2017 I enrolled in (and am now wrapping up soon!), a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine, with a focus on Cellular and Molecular Physiology, at the University of Maryland Baltimore. I train in the Department of Orthopaedics under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Stains, Ph.D. and my studies investigate the function of osteocytes, cells that reside inside the hard, calcified bone itself. We are continuing to expand our understanding of osteocytes as regulators of bone formation/resorption in response to hormonal, biochemical, and mechanical cues, with a special interest in the context of aging. As a former gymnast, dancer, pole vaulter, and field hockey player - I have had my fair share of exposure to orthopedics as a patient, so finding a research home in this department feels full circle. In an attempt to mitigate the stress of doctoral studies and get back to my roots as an athlete, I began my relationship with yoga. I completed my 200hr RYT in 2019 after 2 years of committed practice and started my yoga teaching journey. It brings me so much joy to weave my passion for physiology into each class I teach.”
Do you know the importance of bone density for your overall health? Jenna Leser is a Pd.D. student in molecular medicine and she shares her findings related to bone density on the podcast. She explains the various functions the bones serve, how they adapt to the daily challenges and how to improve bone density. She points out what effects exercise and diet have on bone mass, what changes occur when becoming older and what it takes to grow bone mass when aging. She depicts how important gravity and using force within exercises is and details how important the homeostatic set point is. In addition she shares how to preserve bone density, the importance of progressively increasing the strength and load you are putting the body through, and how critical variety is. In sharing her journey and connecting her research to yoga and movement she stresses the importance of increasing bone density in a simple manner.
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