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In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

nature.com

111–120 of 170 posts

Re: In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

#111
post #6

This article is a bit old (like the other comment about missing year tag says). I think there's newer news that AKG, an easy to get and cheap supplement, has anti-aging effects with no known issues. https://www.science.org/content/article/bodybuilding-supplem...

I went down this rabbit hole a little. It does seem like the specific formulation of AKG may matter. The commonly available supplements are L-Orthinine Alpha-Ketogluterate (OKG) and Arginine-Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG).

The study in question used Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate (CAAKG).

There are a few sellers of CAAKG, but it is an order of magnitude more expensive than the others. (~$1.50/gram for CAAKG vs ~$.08/gram for OKG and ~$.05/gram for AAKG)

There have been studies in the past (for non-aging conditions) that have demonstrated a difference between OKG and AAKG, so it's reasonable to assume there may be a difference between CAAKG and the others as well. Without a study, who knows.

Also as other commenters have mentioned, the only evidence so far for aging related benefits is in mice. Of the human trial studies I could find for OKG use, it does seem like there were no reported side effects, so it might not hurt you, but it also might not do anything for you.

Re: In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

#112
post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Are you really comparing Theranos to the Nobel prize winning Dr Yamanaka [...] I was responding directly to what you said, this is a strawman. > Of course it's more than just about money [...] This is not the impression I got from your post, because all you talked about was money.

I think both approaches are amazing advancement for humanity, and I wish Greg Fahy would get more funding as well. Before Jeff Bezos came in, the money was really really missing from the longevity field that I have been following for the last 10 years since I've got a serious rare, but not deadly cronic illness. Maybe I've got a bit sad when you refered money as not the most important thing, because Gregory Fahy said…

It is not just money, but liberation of creative people from the bureaucracy and limitations that come with the public grant system.

AFAIK the professors in Altos Labs get a million dollars yearly salary and they are free to dig into whatever matter they find interesting, as long as it is somehow related to biology of aging, rejuvenation, regeneration etc. No need to stay within relatively narrow limits of an approved research topic and produce X papers in a year.

Re: In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

#114
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

HN is the only place where I’ve seen people purpose immortality as a legit goal. I think it’s because of lack of religion. If you are existentially scared of death and you are a techie, it makes sense

Immortality is literally the carrot that religion holds in front of its followers.

That's "opiate of the masses" claim, but rather its removal of suffering and imbuing life with permanent meaning and purpose which isn't lost at the point of death (theosis).

What is the point and purpose of life, beyond avoiding suffering and seeking pleasure? Even the ancient pursuit of honor and memory is rather ephemeral and lame.

Re: In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

#115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By what basis do you make this estimation? The factors for aging and feeling awake arent exactly comparable.

They're both cyclical.

How's aging cyclical?

Re: In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

#116
If a cheap, reliable technique of halting or slowing down the "epigenetic clock" hits the market, and assuming its main effect on a population level is increased life span, wouldn't it make the demographics of most developed countries even worse?

It's still unclear whether or not "automation" will compensate an ageing population, and prevent a demographic collapse. But having a pill that makes people live longer (even if it's 5 to 10 years), wouldn't it be like throwing an entire gas station into the fire?

Re: In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

#117
post #116

If a cheap, reliable technique of halting or slowing down the "epigenetic clock" hits the market, and assuming its main effect on a population level is increased life span, wouldn't it make the demographics of most developed countries even worse? It's still unclear whether or not "automation" will compensate an ageing population, and prevent a demographic collapse. But having a pill that makes people live longer (eve…

> throwing an entire gas station into the fire?

Why? Longer span can also mean longer healthspan.

Re: In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

#118
post #116

If a cheap, reliable technique of halting or slowing down the "epigenetic clock" hits the market, and assuming its main effect on a population level is increased life span, wouldn't it make the demographics of most developed countries even worse? It's still unclear whether or not "automation" will compensate an ageing population, and prevent a demographic collapse. But having a pill that makes people live longer (eve…

If an ageing population has increased health span, they will also be able to work and contribute longer. "Population growth has declined mainly due to the abrupt decline in the global total fertility rate, from 5.0 in 1960 to 2.3 in 2020. The decline in the total fertility rate has occurred in every region of the world and is a result of a process known as demographic transition." [1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_decline

Re: In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

#119

Am I the only one who thinks immortality is a nightmare? I don't understand people who want to live forever.

I don't understand fearing immortality and wanting to actually get old. It's a common theme in silly trite science fiction but never seen a good argument for why it's something to fear.

Re: In a small trial, drugs seemed to rejuvenate the body’s ‘epigenetic clock’ (2019)

#120

Am I the only one who thinks immortality is a nightmare? I don't understand people who want to live forever.

One thing I rarely see mentioned in regards to living forever is that during a life you will accumulate mental scars. My wife has lost a sister, and she's witnessed a murder. Neither she nor I are the same after those experiences. I don't think we will ever be. If we lived forever I think we would all become more and more anxious and excentric as time progressed and our souls inevitably became more "scarred". Maybe i…

Time heals mental scars.
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