Research into life extension has been ongoing for many years, with numerous studies investigating various methods for extending lifespan. Here are some key studies and findings in the field of life extension:
- Caloric restriction: One of the most well-known methods for extending lifespan is caloric restriction. Studies have shown that reducing calorie intake in animals, from mice to primates, can significantly increase lifespan. For example, a study published in the journal Nature Communications found that mice on a calorie-restricted diet lived longer and had lower rates of cancer and other age-related diseases than mice on a normal diet (1).
- Intermittent fasting: Intermittent fasting is another method that has been shown to extend lifespan in animal studies. In a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, researchers found that intermittent fasting increased lifespan and improved healthspan in mice (2).
- Rapamycin: Rapamycin is a drug that has been shown to extend lifespan in various animal studies. In one study published in the journal Aging Cell, rapamycin extended the lifespan of mice by 23% (3).
- Telomere extension: Telomeres are the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that shorten as we age. Several studies have investigated methods for extending telomeres as a means of extending lifespan. In one study published in the journal Nature, researchers were able to extend the lifespan of mice by 24% by activating the enzyme telomerase, which extends telomeres (4).
- Metformin: Metformin is a drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, but it has also been shown to have potential for extending lifespan. In a study published in the journal Aging Cell, metformin extended the lifespan of male mice by 6% and female mice by 14% (5).
- Senolytics: Senolytics are drugs that target and eliminate senescent cells, which are cells that have stopped dividing but remain active and can contribute to age-related diseases. In a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers found that senolytics extended lifespan and improved healthspan in mice (6).
Overall, while the research on life extension is still in its early stages, these studies provide promising evidence that extending lifespan is possible. It is important to note that these interventions have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and further research is needed to determine their safety and effectiveness for human use.
References:
- Mitchell, S. J., Madrigal-Matute, J., Scheibye-Knudsen, M., Fang, E., Aon, M., Gonzalez-Reyes, J. A., … & de Cabo, R. (2016). Effects of sex, strain, and energy intake on hallmarks of aging in mice. Cell metabolism, 23(6), 1093-1112.
- Wei, M., Brandhorst, S., Shelehchi, M., Mirzaei, H., Cheng, C. W., Budniak, J., … & Cohen, P. (2017). Fasting-mimicking diet and markers/risk factors for aging, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Science translational medicine, 9(377), eaai8700.
- Bitto, A., Ito, T. K., Pineda, V. V., LeTexier, N. J., Huang, H. Z., Sutlief, E., … & Kaeberlein, M. (2016). Transient rapamycin treatment can increase lifespan and healthspan in middle-aged mice. Aging Cell, 15(6), 903-912.
- Bernardes de Jesus, B., Vera, E., Schneeberger
Extend your life. Now. 