Bristlecone Pine- The Symbol of Y-Age

Throughout the Y-Age website, you will notice the use of the bristlecone pine tree, Pinus longaeva, as our icon of healthy aging. The bristlecone pine is a symbol of longevity and resistance to stressful environmental conditions. Humans, on the other hand, are more susceptible to the aging process, which is a function of our individual genetic make-up and exacerbated by poor nutrition, environmental toxins, infection and stress. The oldest known tree in the world is a bristlecone pine that lived greater than 5,000 years. The tree’s exceptional longevity is due, in part, to the toughness of its wood, which is very dense and resinous, making it more impervious to insect invasion, fungal infection, and environmental changes. At Y-Age, we strive to understand the basic biology of the human aging process to find interventions that allow us to live healthier longer.