Lifeboat Foundation

A new study sheds light on the accumulation of senescent cells and suggests that therapies that remove them could be beneficial both immediately and in the long term for human health and longevity.

Normally, as cells become damaged beyond repair, exhausted, and no longer able to replicate, they are removed from the body via a process known as apoptosis, which is a kind of self-destruct program initiated by the cell, or removed by the immune system. This system acts as a safety net to prevent damaged cells from remaining active and, in the context of cells damaged by mutations, a way to prevent cancer.

Unfortunately, as we age, this disposal system, like many others in our body, begins to falter and ultimately fail. This leads to the accumulation of unwanted, damaged senescent cells in every tissue of our body. This build-up of senescent cells is one of the proposed reasons we age and has been the focus of intense research in the last few years.

After decades of research, here it is: the first promising evidence in humans, albeit imperfect and early, that a cocktail of three drugs is enough to reverse the epigenetic clock—a measure of someone’s biological age and health.

The results came as a surprise to even the research team, who originally designed the trial for something a little less dazzling: to look at human growth hormone’s effects on the thymus, the cradle of the body’s immune system that deteriorates with age.

“Maintained immune function is seen in centenarians,” and thymus function is linked to all-cause mortality, explained study author Dr. Gregory Fahy at Intervene Immune, based in Los Angeles, California. “So we were hoping to use a year of growth hormone to maintain thymus function in middle-aged men, right before the tissue’s functions take a nosedive,” he said.

For the December edition of the Journal Club hosted by Dr. Oliver Medvedik, we are joined by Dr. Matthew O’ Connor (Oki) formerly of SENS Research Foundation and now the head researcher at Underdog Pharma, a spin-off biotech company that is developing research conducted at SENS into a hopefully viable solution for heart disease.

Dr. O’Connor will be giving a short presentation covering the story of 7-Ketocholesterol, a harmful byproduct of oxidized cholesterol that Underdog believes is a suitable target for therapeautic intervention to prevent the formation of artery plaques, the basis of atherosclerosis. Then, we will review the new paper that his team has published and follow it up with discussion and questions.

A small study reveals that rapamycin, a drug with a long history as an immune suppressor, can improve tone and reduce wrinkles and sagging in human skin.

Jim Mellon, speaking at Master Investor’s Investing in the Age of Longevity 2019 event.

Master Investor is an investment media and events company that delivers independent, financial commentary and analysis to UK private investors and traders through events, magazines, news, blogs, podcasts and daily/weekly newsletters.

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For those needing an uplifting, cheery video wink

Nikola Danaylov at #DarkFutures: #NeoTechnocracy – The #Future is Worse than You Think.

Continue reading “Nikola Danaylov at Dark Futures: NeoTechnocracy – The Future is Worse than You Think” »

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Recorded at ApplySci’s Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech conference — November 14, 2019 | Harvard Medical School.