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McMaster researchers may have found a way to restore metabolism to youth levels

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Re: McMaster researchers may have found a way to restore metabolism to youth levels

#2
Seems like we are trying to engineer a solution that is fundamentally a behavioral issue rather than mechanical. I do realize though that assuming we can reign in consumption socially is a non-starter at the same time though I think enabling high levels of consumption is the opposite of what we should be doing.

That said, anything we can do to reverse aging I am all for, I just hope our consumption patterns can become less extreme.

Re: McMaster researchers may have found a way to restore metabolism to youth levels

#3
> They're calling it a possible solution to obesity and a preventative measure for diabetes, one that turns up the body's metabolic rate without the negative side effects of increasing the heart rate or blood pressure.

I think "possible solution" is too strong. According to the CDC, as of 2012 "more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese" so it logically follows that simply restoring the metabolic rate of adults to their teenage rates probably won't help a sizable portion of the population.

Also, while it's promising that this doesn't increase heart rate or blood pressure, weight is just one factor in overall health. There are a lot of adults who are of a healthy weight but still aren't very healthy. For instance, a healthy weight doesn't mean that an individual has good cardiovascular health or functional strength. It's a shame that so much emphasis is placed on weight when it's really only a part of the equation and arguably not even the most important.

It's kind of silly how we keep looking for a pill for appearance (weight) when it's not hard to notice that people who focus on cardiovascular conditioning and functional strength usually have the healthiest looking bodies. Weight and body composition follow from healthy lifestyle; health does not follow from weight.

[1] http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

Re: McMaster researchers may have found a way to restore metabolism to youth levels

#4

Seems like we are trying to engineer a solution that is fundamentally a behavioral issue rather than mechanical. I do realize though that assuming we can reign in consumption socially is a non-starter at the same time though I think enabling high levels of consumption is the opposite of what we should be doing. That said, anything we can do to reverse aging I am all for, I just hope our consumption patterns can becom…

Isn't the change in metabolism as you age mechanical?

Re: McMaster researchers may have found a way to restore metabolism to youth levels

#6

Seems like we are trying to engineer a solution that is fundamentally a behavioral issue rather than mechanical. I do realize though that assuming we can reign in consumption socially is a non-starter at the same time though I think enabling high levels of consumption is the opposite of what we should be doing. That said, anything we can do to reverse aging I am all for, I just hope our consumption patterns can becom…

It's often not behavior changes that turn healthy 20 year olds into obese 50 year olds -- it's that behaviors stay the same while the body changes.

If we can find a way to bring some of those perks of youth into older age, I think it's great.

Re: McMaster researchers may have found a way to restore metabolism to youth levels

#7

Seems like we are trying to engineer a solution that is fundamentally a behavioral issue rather than mechanical. I do realize though that assuming we can reign in consumption socially is a non-starter at the same time though I think enabling high levels of consumption is the opposite of what we should be doing. That said, anything we can do to reverse aging I am all for, I just hope our consumption patterns can becom…

> That said, anything we can do to reverse aging I am all for, I just hope our consumption patterns can become less extreme.

I disagree; aging and death are natural processes that could wreak havoc economically if significantly altered. Right now, the young have the ability to progress in the economy because older people eventually leave the workforce through retirement or death.

People need to be able to die naturally. If nobody died, and everyone had children, the population would simply grow with no prospect of stopping it. Though the more likely proposition would be that the wealthy who could afford the treatments would never die, and the rest of the population would. That's an even worse scenario in my opinion.

Re: McMaster researchers may have found a way to restore metabolism to youth levels

#8
So, I thought serotonin was basically the "happiness" hormone. Wouldn't inhibiting serotonin have side-effects like making them feel depressed or at least less happy? Can any biologists comment?

EDIT: as a replier mentioned, it's discussed in the article.

Re: McMaster researchers may have found a way to restore metabolism to youth levels

#9
post #5

Sorry to be off-topic, but I was drawn to the story because of the McMaster reference and I bet some other Hamiltonians probably will be to. Would love to connect with any HN folks in Hamilton!

Same here, like a moth to a flame.

Re: McMaster researchers may have found a way to restore metabolism to youth levels

#10
post #5

Sorry to be off-topic, but I was drawn to the story because of the McMaster reference and I bet some other Hamiltonians probably will be to. Would love to connect with any HN folks in Hamilton!

Ditto. Email me@devlinzed.com if you want to hang out or work on something. I work at factor[e] on Locke.
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