Posted on 12/19/2014 11:00:54 AM PST by Red Badger
Full Title:
Could ibuprofen be an anti-aging medicine? Popular over-the counter drug extends lifespan in yeast, worms and flies
Ibuprofen, a common over-the-counter drug used to relieve pain and fever, could hold the keys to a longer healthier life, according to a study by researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Publishing in PLoS Genetics on December 18th, scientists showed that regular doses of ibuprofen extended the lifespan of yeast, worms and fruit flies.
"There is a lot to be excited about," said Brian Kennedy, PhD, CEO of the Buck Institute, who said treatments, given at doses comparable to those used in humans, extended lifespan an average of 15 percent in the model organisms. "Not only did all the species live longer, but the treated flies and worms appeared more healthy," he said. "The research shows that ibuprofen impacts a process not yet implicated in aging, giving us a new way to study and understand the aging process." But most importantly, Kennedy said the study opens the door for a new exploration of so-called "anti-aging medicines." "Ibuprofen is a relatively safe drug, found in most people's medicine cabinets," he said. "There is every reason to believe there are other existing treatments that can impact healthspan and we need to be studying them."
The work was the result of a collaboration between the Buck Institute and Texas A & M's Agrilife program. Michael Polymenis, PhD, an AgriLife Research biochemist started the work in baker's yeast and then moved it into worms and flies. Polymenis, who also is a professor in the biochemistry and biophysics department at Texas A&M University, said the three-year project showed that ibuprofen interferes with the ability of yeast cells to pick up tryptophan, an amino acid found in every cell of every organism. Tryptophan is essential for humans, who get it from protein sources in the diet. "We are not sure why this works, but it's worth exploring further. This study was a proof of principle, to show that common, relatively safe drugs in humans can extend the lifespan of very diverse organisms," he said. "Therefore, it should be possible to find others like ibuprofen with even better ability to extend lifespan, with the aim of adding healthy years of life in people."
"Dr. Polymenis approached me with this idea of seeing how his cell cycle analysis corresponded with our aging studies," said Kennedy. "He had identified some drugs that had some really unique properties, and we wanted to know if they might affect aging, so we did those studies in our lab," he said. "The Buck Institute is interested in finding out why people get sick when they get old. We think that by understanding those processes, we can intervene and find ways to extend human healthspan to keep people healthier longer to slow down aging. That's our ultimate goal."
Ibuprofen is in the class of compounds known as NSAID's - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for relieving pain, helping with fever and reducing inflammation. It was created in the early 1960's in England and was first made available by prescription and then, after widespread use, became available over-the-counter throughout the world in the 1980s. The World Health Organization includes ibuprofen on their "List of Essential Medications" needed in a basic health system. Although deemed relatively safe and commonly used, ibuprofen can have adverse side effects, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and the liver at high doses.
Chong He, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Buck Institute and lead author on the paper, said the extended lifespan in the model organisms would be the equivalent to another dozen or so years of healthy living in humans. "Our preliminary data in the worms showed that ibuprofen also extended their healthspan," she said. "Healthy worms tend to thrash a lot and the treated worms thrashed much longer than would be normally expected. As they aged, they also swallowed food much faster than expected."
If it doesn’t damage the kidneys it may help. There was claim years ago that Ibuprofen worked against Alzheimers.
Worms don’t have kidneys
works to extend the lifespan of worms, eh?
That may explain Jimmy Carter...
So my yeast infection and tapeworms are going to live forever?
I don’t have flies. That would be sick.
Dr. Emanuel and the board for Obamacare are going to have to revise their “Usefulness to society” metrics upward.
Social Security will have to as well.
/s
I got a better option to extend life...
Walk for 30 minutes at medium pace every other day!
Ibuprofen will harm stomach, kidneys and liver with regular use.
>> There was claim years ago that Ibuprofen worked against Alzheimers.
I saw that, too, but I forget where. ;-)
(But seriously my GP suggested I take daily ibuprofen, and that was one of the reasons why.)
Acetaminophen can be a danger to the kidneys and liver. Not sure about ibuprofen causing the same kind of damage.
I was taking 10 mg Lisinopril + 12 mg diuretic for mild hypertension. I got off it by walking 20-30 minutes everyday. My kidneys thank me!
I take 25 mg Lisinopril with diuretic.............
Acetaminophen certainly has bad record for kidney & liver damage. But every factory made pill has some bad effect on our bodies, only the proportion varies. Swallow pills only if there is no other alternative possible. I am betting on good nutrition and regular exercise.
Acetaminophen does not have this effect on kidney function but at >3.5 grams/ day causes slight but measurable liver damage. At very high doses your liver cannot be saved and you are goner.
But kidneys can have worms:
I’m not surprised since inflammation has been implicated in disorders. Better to take Bromelain between meals which is a natural anti-inflammatory.
Those are not very bad on your body based on my personal experience over 10 years, but have your liver and kidney functions tested yearly. I take my blood pressure regularly, and if the exercise and weight control will do it, that is my personal preference.
What isn’t reported here is that ibuprofen can bump the risk of a serious cardiac event. (Something like from 1 to 1.18)
Eat lots of celery..................
Fantastic news ... for yeast, worms and flies.
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