First Drug Shown To Extend Life Span In Mammals (saving, system, problem)

[6 FOOT 3]

I was just reading on MIT Technology Review about how scientists at 3 different research centers in the USA have for the first time extended the life span of mammals by giving them the antifungal drug Rapamycin. Before this the only way to extend the life span was either by genetic engineering or calorie restriction. Also the scientists were amazed that this worked when administered to the mammals when they were already old and not just when they were young.

Will we ever pass the 120 year barrier ??

Technology Review Magazine - First Drug Shown to Extend Life Span in Mammals

[forest beekeeper]

neat

[Ninjahedge]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

neat

Why did I just picture the Addams Family?

[Mathguy]

I'm just thankful that this isn't another "Marijuana the wonder drug" thread.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Ninjahedge

Why did I just picture the Addams Family?

Did we all snap our fingers?

[gy2020]

And then you have this: Obama's Health Zar says that any one over
61 years old that can not recover and contribute to the economy should not receive health care!! Well, guess what yawl, most of usare in that over 61 group!! Heaven help us if we get appendacidas (?)
or a blocked artery!!

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by gy2020

And then you have this: Obama's Health Zar says that any one over 61 years old that can not recover and contribute to the economy should not receive health care!! Well, guess what yawl, most of usare in that over 61 group!! Heaven help us if we get appendacidas (?) or a blocked artery!!

A lot of folks have been screaming for us to follow the European example of healthcare.

The future value of your life is weighed, and your treatment protocol is set according to that value.

If you are an Aristocrat, then you can recieve full care for a long time.

Otherwise once you turn 60 you can only get 'care and comfort', no life-saving efforts are allowed.

[Ninjahedge]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Did we all snap our fingers?

Nah, but the next wort I thought of was:

"Sweet"



As for the drug, I wonder what is causing this longevity. Could it be preserving the DNA of the subject from life threatening mutation? Or maybe it just makes it less vulnerable to low-level degenerative diseases that never really register as life threatening to us since they never cause any outright symptoms or noticible signs.....

[NightBazaar]

It's going to require some further study to see exactly what it is about the antifungal that contributed to extending the lifespan of the mice. It wasn't clear if the antifungal was given to the mice once, or administered routinely over a longer period of time.

If I understand correctly, the extension in comparison to humans at age 60 would be roughly an additional 5.4 to 7.8 years. It's unknown if it would work with humans. If it does, there's still a downside: although it may have a life-extending potential, the antifungal suppresses the immune system making you more susceptable to loads of problems like being unable to fight off infections, which would seem might negate the life extention. In other words, in the end, there might be few if any years extended.

However, it may be possible to identify the specific properties in the antifungal that causes the extension and might be able to figure out a way of adding even more years. It's interesting.

[NightBazaar]

Originally Posted by gy2020

And then you have this: Obama's Health Zar says that any one over
61 years old that can not recover and contribute to the economy should not receive health care!! Well, guess what yawl, most of usare in that over 61 group!! Heaven help us if we get appendacidas (?)
or a blocked artery!!

What's next? Anyone over 61 would be eligible to be shipped off to the nearest Soylent Green Factory?