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As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

arstechnica.com

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Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#51

Post by somenewacc »

mysterypie wrote: post #34
ransom1538 wrote: post #9

I always think of these two monkeys[i] when I consider slowing down my age. [i] http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_exa...

It's an interesting well-written article, but you realize that their main point was that it contradicts the earlier calorie-restriction study: "The Nature authors found no increase in lifespan; the calorically restricted animals lived no longer, statistically, than their well-fed cousins." They try to reconcile the studies: maybe it's the natural-ingredient foods vs the refined foods, maybe it's the generous diet vs…

A single study will almost never be actionable, but a series of studies, accompanied by systematic reviews, could be the basis of such recommendations.

Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#52

Post by yongelee »

mysterypie wrote: post #34
ransom1538 wrote: post #9

I always think of these two monkeys[i] when I consider slowing down my age. [i] http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_exa...

It's an interesting well-written article, but you realize that their main point was that it contradicts the earlier calorie-restriction study: "The Nature authors found no increase in lifespan; the calorically restricted animals lived no longer, statistically, than their well-fed cousins." They try to reconcile the studies: maybe it's the natural-ingredient foods vs the refined foods, maybe it's the generous diet vs…

To even try? To try to exercise and not drink sodas is extremely frustrating? Living a healthy lifestyle is about simple choices like going to the gym or adding broccoli to your meal and avoiding junk food.

Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#53

Post by jimmy1 »

rsync wrote: post #30
truculation wrote: post #5

If the immune system has finite resources, would reducing the lifetime drain on those resources by infectious diseases delay the age at which we can expect get cancer? For example, curing the common cold and/or developing a universal flu vaccine.

"If the immune system has finite resources, would reducing the lifetime drain on those resources by infectious diseases delay the age at which we can expect get cancer?" I would wager the opposite is true. Body systems maintain themselves and their fitness and function through use . The obvious examples are bone and muscle tissue that become stronger through stress but are you aware that breast cancer incidence is st…

> We "cured" hard physical labor and traditional life patterns with lots of walking and standing. How's that working out for us ?

I'll bite -- terribly. Many of the millennial generation and younger are actively starting to revolt against these sedentary lifestyles. It's why fitness and fitness culture is so marketable these days, much more than I remember. I think the studies that came out showing the millennial were the first generation since the industrial revolution to have a decreased life expectancy versus the prior generation was a real wakeup call.

Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#54

Post by csallen »

andai wrote: post #49
csallen wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have two ways of thinking about death that I've found helpful. The first is to sincerely imagine that I will die in 10 years. That's far enough away not to require drastic changes in my life — I still want to work hard on something that I'm passionate about — but close enough to remind me not to fuck around and take these years for granted. There's also a bonus that, if I do happen to run into some bad luck and hav…

What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: "This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more; and there will be nothing new in it, but every pain and every joy and every thought and sigh and everything unutterably small or great in your life will have to return to you, all in the same succession an…

Well damn.

Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#55

Post by truculation »

mysterypie wrote: post #34
ransom1538 wrote: post #9

I always think of these two monkeys[i] when I consider slowing down my age. [i] http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_exa...

It's an interesting well-written article, but you realize that their main point was that it contradicts the earlier calorie-restriction study: "The Nature authors found no increase in lifespan; the calorically restricted animals lived no longer, statistically, than their well-fed cousins." They try to reconcile the studies: maybe it's the natural-ingredient foods vs the refined foods, maybe it's the generous diet vs…

>Other than some very basic common sense things -- like don't eat rat poison

Common sense is often mistaken. Here are two rat poisons which are also medicines:

Ergocalciferol -- a.k.a. Vitamin D2 (used as a supplement for many years; now D3 is preferred)

Warfarin -- oral anticoagulant widely in use today

Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#56

Post by agumonkey »

shrimp_emoji wrote: post #41
glibgil wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, so just back up a step and stop the metabolism from slowing

Or cut the knot. Upload mind to digital facsimile. Die, per nature's capricious designs. Robo-you lives smugly without any of this nonsense and can be resurrected if the power cuts out and sent across the stars at light speed with no need for fuel or supplies-- breathes ... to somewhere without air.

I don't get why people go after these virtual things

Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#57

Post by truculation »

jimmy1 wrote: post #53
rsync wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"If the immune system has finite resources, would reducing the lifetime drain on those resources by infectious diseases delay the age at which we can expect get cancer?" I would wager the opposite is true. Body systems maintain themselves and their fitness and function through use . The obvious examples are bone and muscle tissue that become stronger through stress but are you aware that breast cancer incidence is st…

> We "cured" hard physical labor and traditional life patterns with lots of walking and standing. How's that working out for us ? I'll bite -- terribly. Many of the millennial generation and younger are actively starting to revolt against these sedentary lifestyles. It's why fitness and fitness culture is so marketable these days, much more than I remember. I think the studies that came out showing the millennial wer…

Yes, not having to do physical labour is better than being forced to do physical labour as a worker or peasant. The new problem for most people is how to eat less and get a little exercise. But this is a better problem.

I like rsync's main point though about the immune system maybe requiring usage and callibration (gojomo mentions the hygiene hypothesis). Perhaps one day we'll determine the precise amount of these required (if any) for us to be healthy without being bothered by too much sickness.

Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#58

Post by giardini »

sushid wrote: post #40
evo_9 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah I have gone and done it, I have decreased my calories by roughly 30% in the past year or so and dropped around 30 pounds in the process, plus an aggressive vitamin and supplement routine, along with taking metformin. I also workout 7 days a week including playing hockey 2, sometimes 3 days (and also working out before or after), the group I skate with is highly skilled and the intensity is pretty up there, I've…

Are you taking metformin because you're prediabetic or because you think it can extend your life expectancy (or both)? Don't you have problems keeping warm, sleeping, and maintaining muscle mass at that level of calorie deficit? Also wondering what your supplementations are. I take Vit D, Zinc, pre/probiotics but having an aggressive vitamin routine isn't considered ideal these days.

I told two diabetic friends about the results showing that metformin significantly reduced cancer. They looked at each other and then one said "I've got a closet full of that stuff; I never take it!" Turns out that neither were using metformin, but picked up their prescriptions religiously.

Next time we met they were both taking their metformin, although intermittently and apparently somewhat reluctantly. One of them was late for our meeting. In way of explanation he said that he had taken a metformin tablet just before driving off but, on the way, a fart proved to be untrustworthy: he had to drive back home and changed his pants.

I've heard the drug termed "metfartmin" b/c of its effects on the GI tract.

Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#59

Post by greendestiny_re »

mysterypie wrote: post #34
ransom1538 wrote: post #9

I always think of these two monkeys[i] when I consider slowing down my age. [i] http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_exa...

It's an interesting well-written article, but you realize that their main point was that it contradicts the earlier calorie-restriction study: "The Nature authors found no increase in lifespan; the calorically restricted animals lived no longer, statistically, than their well-fed cousins." They try to reconcile the studies: maybe it's the natural-ingredient foods vs the refined foods, maybe it's the generous diet vs…

>I never find that these kinds of studies lead to correct and actionable information about how to slow down aging or how to lead your life.

Don't salt your food _at all_ to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

>Furthermore, it also found that populations with low average daily salt intakes had low BP (blood pressure) and very little or no increase in BP with age. INTERSALT study indicates that BP increases with age only if accompanied by increased salt intake.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4105387/

Re: As we age, cancer rates go up as immune system winds down

#60

Post by sgt101 »

njarboe wrote: post #44
mysterypie wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's an interesting well-written article, but you realize that their main point was that it contradicts the earlier calorie-restriction study: "The Nature authors found no increase in lifespan; the calorically restricted animals lived no longer, statistically, than their well-fed cousins." They try to reconcile the studies: maybe it's the natural-ingredient foods vs the refined foods, maybe it's the generous diet vs…

I think that individual genetics and behaviors are very important for these kind of health studies. Some things are quite clear and apply to all humans. For example: you need vitamin C in your diet or you will get scurvy. Then less general rules that might not apply to you given your genetics and behavior. Vitamin D supplements? Maybe, but probably won't hurt. Drinking Milk? Very variable on its benefits and costs to…

Why would cell phone data help?
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