by Gregory Barber | Mar 27, 2018 | News | 0 comments Ask the internet for anti-aging tips and you’ll find advice ranging from Goop-y frivolities to dangerous shams. “Aging has always been a target for charlatans and snake oil salesmen,” says John Newman, a geriatrics researcher at UC San Francisco and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. But as researchers begin to understand how aging works at a molecular level, there’s a glint of promise—and oodles of hype—in new life-extension treatments.
Metformin
The Method: Pop metformin , a common treatment for type 2 diabetes. The Science: It reduces glucose metabolism in the liver, improving insulin efficiency. Diabetes patients treated with metformin live longer than those without—in one study, even outlasting non-diabetics. Verdict: Promising. Clinical trials targeting age-related diseases are pending.
Young Blood
The Method: Transfuse the old with the blood of the young. The Science: Researchers conjoined the circulatory systems of young and old mice, a process called parabiosis . It rejuvenated the tissues of the older mice, but the young mice also aged faster. Verdict: It’s a powerful experiment, Newman says, “but it’s not yet ready for prime time.”
Senolytics
The Method: Use drugs to kill senescent cells—those that have stopped dividing due to DNA mutations. The Science: These zombie cells secrete inflammatory proteins that can harm nearby tissue. Verdict: Experimental drugs, not yet in clinical trials, could help our immune systems get rid of senescent cells faster.
Stem cells
The Method: Reprogram and replace worn-out stem cells. The Science: We rely on stem cells to regenerate damaged tissue, but they become less functional as we age. Studies have shown that injecting young stem cells into the hypothalamus can have life-extending effects in mice. Verdict: We’re not there yet. Avoid “stem-cell-based” topical creams and dodgy stem-cell-injection clinics.
