zs04+@andrew.cmu.edu (Zachary T. Smith) (09/09/89)
Greetings,
A few weeks ago I heard something on the national news regarding
a small milestone in the effort to develop a means to extend the human
life span. Someone apparantly came up with a drug that extended the
average life span of a mouse or something without adverse effects;
they noted that if this drug were safe for humans (as yet unproven),
males could live to about 110 years.
I'm interested in hearing about this (trivia, facts, whatever).
Has anyone heard/read/seen anything related to it?
Thanks,
Zach T. Smith (zs04+@andrew.cmu.edu)drahn@teknowledge-vaxc.ARPA (David Rahn) (09/09/89)
In article <YZ1zkJq00Xc_41vltO@andrew.cmu.edu>, zs04+@andrew.cmu.edu (Zachary T. Smith) writes: > > Greetings, > > A few weeks ago I heard something on the national news regarding > a small milestone in the effort to develop a means to extend the human > life span. Someone apparantly came up with a drug that extended the > average life span of a mouse or something without adverse effects; > they noted that if this drug were safe for humans (as yet unproven), > males could live to about 110 years. > > I'm interested in hearing about this (trivia, facts, whatever). > Has anyone heard/read/seen anything related to it? > Thanks, > > Zach T. Smith (zs04+@andrew.cmu.edu) The study I know about was discussed in the book "Life Extension" by Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw. I do not think they did the actual research but they did include the references. I believe the drug was called (seriously) L-dopa. It caused mice to live quite a bit longer. The mice also had much more vigor... old mice on L-dopa treatments took longer to swim to exhaustion than did young mice not on L-dopa. There are other drugs too that are being tested and if you were reading about a recent discovery then it may not be L-dopa. Also significant was the fact that the mice did not live their longer lives as decrepid critters but rather were healthy and active until they quietly succumbed. The implication here is exciting for humans. If the drug works on us then our golden years could really become golden indeed! Imagine retiring at 65 (or younger hopefully) and living another 50 years healthy and happy! It would certainly change a lot of attitudes. Of course there are many social implications that would have to be addressed... If you discover that the drug in question is not L-dopa please let us in on references. PS Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw are wonderful to listen to but they have come under fire over the past several years, so cautiously consider what you read in books by them. David R. Rahn
zs04+@andrew.cmu.edu (Zachary T. Smith) (09/12/89)
With regard to the societal implications of such an elixir-drug, I can think of a couple references myself for people who may be interested, namely: Engines of Creation (which brought about sci.nanotech), K. E. Drexler; Dune (if you will) F Herbert. -Zach T. Smith (zs04+@andrew.cmu.edu)
BCHS1B@uhvax1.uh.edu (09/12/89)
>> >> A few weeks ago I heard something on the national news regarding >> a small milestone in the effort to develop a means to extend the human >> life span. Someone apparantly came up with a drug that extended the >> average life span of a mouse or something without adverse effects; >> they noted that if this drug were safe for humans (as yet unproven), >> males could live to about 110 years. >> >> I'm interested in hearing about this (trivia, facts, whatever). >> Has anyone heard/read/seen anything related to it? >> Thanks, >> >> Zach T. Smith (zs04+@andrew.cmu.edu) > > > > The study I know about was discussed in the book "Life Extension" by > Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw. I do not think they did the actual > research but they did include the references. I believe the drug > was called (seriously) L-dopa. It caused mice to live quite a bit > longer. The mice also had much more vigor... old mice on L-dopa > treatments took longer to swim to exhaustion than did young mice > not on L-dopa. There are other drugs too that are being tested > and if you were reading about a recent discovery then it may not be > L-dopa. Also significant was the fact that the mice did not live their > longer lives as decrepid critters but rather were healthy and active > until they quietly succumbed. The implication here is exciting for > humans. If the drug works on us then our golden years could really > become golden indeed! Imagine retiring at 65 (or younger hopefully) > and living another 50 years healthy and happy! It would certainly > change a lot of attitudes. Of course there are many social implications > that would have to be addressed... > > > David R. Rahn I also don't know if the original reference was to L-dopa or not, but I do know that L-dopa will not be the drug to give long life. It is presently used as a drug to treat Parkinsons disese because it can cross the blood-brain barrier and is converted to dopamine. In normal humans it can have numerous side effects including memory problems and muscle movement problems. The Fountain of Youth is not with us and probably won't be. Mike Benedik University of HOuston Department of Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences