Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#1

Post by MichaelRazum » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 9:45 AM UTC

Longevity was discussed a lot here. So, for the hackers and experts here:), how do you help your parents? Was thinking to give them or suggest to take

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN): 1g per day (available but only from small firms in Europe)

Resveratrol: 1g per day (available)

Metformin: 800 mg (need a prescription)

Omega3 fat oil

Do you have better ideas?

PS: Got it from David Sinclar. Doctors don't seem to care much about that topic. Actually, started to think about it since, noticed a bit of mental decline and started asking myself what might help against it and in general. Also, might take that stuff for myself as well.

Re: Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#2

Post by tarun_anand » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 10:12 AM UTC

Thank you for bringing this topic up. I would add that an active life and a social circle would come before anything else.

Also on the natural foods side would like to add

1. Dates 2. Prunes

Lots of antioxidant rich foods based on your location - omega 3 is also a good choice as you mentioned.

I am sure you have read the article about the people who "forgot to die"

Re: Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#3

Post by MichaelRazum » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 10:25 AM UTC

tarun_anand wrote: post #2

Thank you for bringing this topic up. I would add that an active life and a social circle would come before anything else. Also on the natural foods side would like to add 1. Dates 2. Prunes Lots of antioxidant rich foods based on your location - omega 3 is also a good choice as you mentioned. I am sure you have read the article about the people who "forgot to die"

That was the first thing I tried. Gave them a copy of Michael Greger's book "how not to die". Talked about some bad habits, like fast food, for a month and more. Didn't worked :) Kind of gave up this topic.

Social circle is in the same category, really hard to influence, especially from outside. So looking for magic pill..

Re: Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#4

Post by shauryamanu » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 10:28 AM UTC

tarun_anand wrote: post #2

Thank you for bringing this topic up. I would add that an active life and a social circle would come before anything else. Also on the natural foods side would like to add 1. Dates 2. Prunes Lots of antioxidant rich foods based on your location - omega 3 is also a good choice as you mentioned. I am sure you have read the article about the people who "forgot to die"

Social circle is difficult thing for me, not because I don't like it, but because I don't have much people outside my family to meet or hangout.

Re: Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#5

Post by cercatrova » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 10:40 AM UTC

I don't think there really is anything one can do. We don't have the medical technology yet to significantly improve someone's health to a consistent degree beyond the average limit. Sure, some centenarians in Japan might live quite a while (given their birth records are correct, yet there is a growing suspicion that they may not be [0]), but I'm not sure if we can reliably, and to a statistically significant degree, make people live beyond such an age.

[0] https://www.vox.com/2019/8/8/20758813/secrets-ultra-elderly-...

Re: Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#6

Post by joshxyz » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 10:42 AM UTC

Consistent exercise and quality food (meats and veggies). And lots of thoughts and prayers.

I wanna second tarun's comment. Being physically active and having social baseline helps a lot on their general well being.

Re: Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#7

Post by krn » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 10:42 AM UTC

Longevity is not about medicine – it's about lifestyle:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6125071/

Re: Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#8

Post by greenyoda » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 10:46 AM UTC

Unless you're a doctor who is familiar with all the medications that your parents are currently taking, it's probably not a good idea to recommend that they take specific supplements. For example, omega 3 fatty acids can act as a mild anticoagulant, and if your parents have been prescribed blood thinners, the additive effect of the two could lead to problems.[1]

[1] https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs... [under the heading "What else do I need to know?"]

Re: Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#9

Post by tarun_anand » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 10:48 AM UTC

MichaelRazum wrote: post #3

tarun_anand wrote: post #2

Thank you for bringing this topic up. I would add that an active life and a social circle would come before anything else. Also on the natural foods side would like to add 1. Dates 2. Prunes Lots of antioxidant rich foods based on your location - omega 3 is also a good choice as you mentioned. I am sure you have read the article about the people who "forgot to die"

That was the first thing I tried. Gave them a copy of Michael Greger's book "how not to die". Talked about some bad habits, like fast food, for a month and more. Didn't worked :) Kind of gave up this topic. Social circle is in the same category, really hard to influence, especially from outside. So looking for magic pill..

One more suggestion

Keep them engaged

I had my father manage the household expenses and few other tasks

I feel mortality rate is impacted by relevance. When you feel you are irrelevant, it won't matter much..you give up and move on.

Re: Ask HN: Longevity for your parents, what to do?

#10

Post by dougmwne » Sat, Aug 06, 2022, 10:49 AM UTC

In all likelihood, diet, exercise, and sleep. Aside from managing chronic conditions through doctor’s visits this seems to be the only thing that can actually improve quality of life. High levels of physical activity seem particularly key.

If there was a magic pill, that would be great, but don’t think there is any high quality evidence.