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Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

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Re: Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's the exact opposite. The day being old is no longer a disease and a path to inevitable death will be one of the greatest things to ever happen to humanity, now and forever into the future. Especially if you can retain a youthful, healthy brain and body no matter how old you are. An old tyrannical movie villain dies and a to-be old tyrannical movie villain is born. Billions of people shouldn't be sentenced…

Pretty sure the possible world being lamented in the GP comment is not "everyone gets to live forever and stay healthy and youthful" but instead "there exist expensive, parasitic procedures which will allow some rich people to have drastically extended lifespans."

parasitic procedures

You can be almost sure that once the underlying mechanism is known, the necessary stuff will be synthetised instead of being transferred from a young person to an older one. If only to guarantee stable supply, consistent quality and rule out accidental transmission of various pathogens from the donor.

Re: Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

#82
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious, what is your favorite paper of all time (the specification of 'last five years' sounds like it's not this one?)

I don't have a favorite but one that stands out is the resuscitation of cryogenized hamsters https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.1956.005...

holy cinnamon I've never seen this -- brilliant

Re: Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

#83

this above article is kind of inflammatory, however, this paper is incredibly interesting. I read it this morning and the concept of changing CSF in order to have an increase in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation is such a creative idea; a lot of the idea has focused on increasing flow in order to move waste, etc with csf. I think this concept that CSF is also acting as an important mec…

Modifying CSF turnover is not particularly novel, but I do think it is generally overlooked. CSF production cycling is greatly reduced in the elderly and and there are a lot of connections to memory diseases such as alzheimers. A few medical device startups have attacked the problem with promising results. Unfortunately, VC and national funding orgs aren't particularly interested in device based solutions because pil…

Can you share any more information about the medical device that showed efficacy against Alzheimers in the 200-patient trial?

Re: Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

#84

Science has proved once again that we can cure MICE of just about anything. Maybe if we would let them experiment on us we get better human results.

Unless you're volunteering to let scientists poke at your brain, mice are the best option we have. https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/why-use-the-mouse-in-resear...

Re: Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

#85
post #20
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't my area of expertise at all. A personal experience that comes to mind is when my childhood cat developed kidney disease. She drank plenty of water, urinated excessively, and her blood still became toxic without regular (~daily) intervention in the form of adding saline to her blood intravenously. Like a light switch she'd resume normal life after the saline bag emptied into her blood, then slowly become il…

You must have loved that cat very much.

My cat had (likely) something similar and needed to regularly be given subcutaneous saline fluid. He learned pretty quick to associate me stabbing him, with him feeling better. That kind of thing becomes easy once you get into the routine.

Re: Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

#86

Death is the ultimate equalizer. We take solace in the fact that no matter how rich, brutal, tyrannical, comically-villainous one is, death will surely come for us all. The day old-gizzards figure out how to sip on young-people juice and live forever, we are truly screwed.

For me, death is not the main problem, but the long, drawn out period of slowly coming apart definitely is. I would very much prefer not to spend last 15 years of my life crippled from multiple degenerative diseases of old age. Most of the longevity research is trying to stretch healthspan. Stretching lifespan as such is a nice side effect. We aren't likely to live forever anyway.

Having watched my mum, and now my dad decline in old age I couldn't agree more.

I don't like the idea of dying, but the slow slide into immobile sinility is positively terrifying.

I'm in my 40s. I've resolved to look after my health not to live longer, but to extend my health for as long as possible. I'm determined to stay active, mobile and socially/intelectually engaged for as long as I can, partly for my self, but also for my kids.

Re: Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

#87
post #13

Haven't similar things been observed with blood transfusions of young blood into the elderly, which was then found to actually be unnecessary - even just diluting the blood with something neutral and clean produced similar results. "The solution to pollution is dilution"

All the more reason to donate blood.

I believe there are good health reasons to donate. I forget the details, but it stimulates positive processes in the body. I think the effect is marginal, but it's nice to know you get a small personal bonus from doing something nice for other people.

Re: Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

#88

Death is the ultimate equalizer. We take solace in the fact that no matter how rich, brutal, tyrannical, comically-villainous one is, death will surely come for us all. The day old-gizzards figure out how to sip on young-people juice and live forever, we are truly screwed.

For me, death is not the main problem, but the long, drawn out period of slowly coming apart definitely is. I would very much prefer not to spend last 15 years of my life crippled from multiple degenerative diseases of old age. Most of the longevity research is trying to stretch healthspan. Stretching lifespan as such is a nice side effect. We aren't likely to live forever anyway.

Living longer is entangled with living healthier anyway.

Re: Transfusion of brain fluid from young mice improves memory in old mice

#90

Death is the ultimate equalizer. We take solace in the fact that no matter how rich, brutal, tyrannical, comically-villainous one is, death will surely come for us all. The day old-gizzards figure out how to sip on young-people juice and live forever, we are truly screwed.

I think it's the exact opposite. The day being old is no longer a disease and a path to inevitable death will be one of the greatest things to ever happen to humanity, now and forever into the future. Especially if you can retain a youthful, healthy brain and body no matter how old you are. An old tyrannical movie villain dies and a to-be old tyrannical movie villain is born. Billions of people shouldn't be sentenced…

Death is a beautiful happening that we should not fear so much. It allows growth and transmutation of stagnant ideology.
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