Posted on 03/10/2013 3:21:20 PM PDT by Beave Meister
The drugs are synthetic versions of resveratrol, found in red wine, an organic chemical believed to have an anti-aging effect, by boosting activity of a protein called SIRT1.
GSK, the pharmaceutical firm, is testing them on people with particular medical conditions, namely Type II diabetes and psoriasis, a serious skin condition.
David Sinclair, professor of genetics at Harvard University, said aging might not actually be an "irreversible affliction".
He said: “Now we are looking at whether there are benefits for those who are already healthy.
"Things there are also looking promising. We're finding that aging isn't the irreversible affliction that we thought it was.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
My eyes, my eyes, Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhha
I hear ya ...getting a little tired of this world myself. I'd hate to get to the point that I rely on government health care to keep me going.
i will wait to see the side effects of the synthetic resveratrol.
No offense to those of you who don’t want to live an extra 50 years or even want to subtract 50, but really no one is keeping you. Go for it.
The actual root cause of aging was discovered some time ago. When cells die, and are replaced by new cells, there is always a very tiny bit of degradation in the copy. Sort of like what happens if you copy a xerox from a xerox, from a xerox, etc.
It was theorized, that if it were possible to make new cells that were perfect copies of the cells they were replacing, then logically, there should be no aging.
Long story short, experiments with mice and other animals proved the theory was correct. Here's an excerpt of an article that explains the science behind this:
"Inside the center or nucleus of a cell, our genes are located on twisted, double-stranded molecules of DNA called chromosomes. At the ends of the chromosomes are stretches of DNA called telomeres, which protect our genetic data, make it possible for cells to divide, and hold some secrets to how we age and get cancer.
Telomeres have been compared with the plastic tips on shoelaces because they prevent chromosome ends from fraying and sticking to each other, which would scramble an organism's genetic information to cause cancer, other diseases or death.
Yet, each time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter. When they get too short, the cell no longer can divide and becomes inactive or "senescent" or dies. This process is associated with aging, cancer and a higher risk of death."
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/telomeres/
Chavez had tried to revive the bones of the 230 year old Simon Bolivar but the very dead skeletal bones of the El Libertador was having none of it.
Each time a cell reproduces the telomeres are cut in half. At a certain pre determined point the cell will cease to replicate itself and die off(apoptosis). As far as I know though cancer cells do not lose telomeres and continue to make complete duplicates including a full set of telomeres.
Every citizen on their 85th birthday will report for mandatory health screening. Nobody returns.
The average life expectancy has gone way up but the maximum lifespan hasn't changed much, being just a little over the century mark.
I can’t imagine the horror of being 80 plus years old in a socialistic country controlled by liberals which I believe America will be by 2024.
This will depend... Can i live as a 30-40 year old body until i hit 145 and then decline rapidly?
If so, sign me up....
There is so much to do in life. I’d have a third, or even forth career.
how dare you !!! I hadn’t finished my lunch. Thomas got the placebo. Makes a hag an even more grizzled hag in no time at all. Sort of reverse of scientific trials aims. Ahh but who’s countin. What’s a few eons ......
Reminds me of something George Burns said: ‘Sex at age 90 is like shooting pool with a rope’
Side affects already known. Helen Thomas being studied in depth to learn what went wrong.
What, you can live to 150 but you turn into a anti-semite, weathered handbag? Hard tradeoff.
Life insurance just got cheaper, but health insurance skyrocketed.
If I could live the next hundred years in exactly the same health and relative physical condition I’m in now?
I’d jump at that chance.
Yes, telomeres shrink each time a cell reproduces, but only by a bit (not half). Over time, the length of the telomeres are reduced to the point that the new cells are degraded copies of the original - hence the aging process.
The most fascinating news about this discovery, is that scientists have also discovered how to prevent the telomeres from shrinking. In a nutshell, the dream of Ponce DeLeon has finally been realized.
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