{"id":424,"date":"2015-09-15T20:40:24","date_gmt":"2015-09-15T20:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshmitteldorf.peachpuff-wolverine-566518.hostingersite.com\/?p=424"},"modified":"2015-09-15T20:40:24","modified_gmt":"2015-09-15T20:40:24","slug":"untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tests with human subjects require decades, and are impossible to control, so the \u00a0gold standard for testing claims for treatments that delay aging is the controlled trial with rodents, usually mice. \u00a0Each treatment is applied to about 50 mice for their 2-3 year life span, and an equal number of controls is housed in identical circumstances. \u00a0The total cost for a single experiment can run over $200,000, and what we get for this is two full mortality curves, with and without treatment. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You already know that aging research is the most cost-effective in medical science. \u00a0Medical costs rise steeply with age, and delaying aging by even a small amount carries enormous benefits in avoided suffering, in lives, and in medical costs. Research on life extension treatments in mice is grotesquely underfunded by any reasonable accounting of costs and benefits. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So there is a backlog of treatments that show promise, but we just don\u2019t know yet whether they work. \u00a0I\u2019m going to list a dozen of my favorites and then propose a novel scheme for testing them at minimal cost. \u00a0The proposal is to run a rough screening for important increases in lifespan, using a small number of mice, and later to determine the full mortality curves for only the most promising treatments. \u00a0Further gains in cost-effectiveness can be realized by testing the treatments 2 or 3 at a time. \u00a0This leaves a lot of disentangling for the statisticians, but math is cheaper than mice.<\/span><\/p>\n

And there is an important fringe benefit: What we really want to know is how to combine treatments to extend health span longer than is possible with any single treatment. \u00a0Almost nothing is known about how various life extension treatments interact, and it’s high time we started learning.<\/p>\n

\n

Here\u2019s my suggested list<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Epitalon\/Epithalamin<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. MitoQ\/SkQ<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Lapachone<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Spermidine<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Berberine<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Dinh lang (Policias fruticosum)<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Pterostilbene<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (sold as \u201cAMPK Activator\u201d by LEF)<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. NAC<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Ashwagandha<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. Turmeric\/curcumin<\/span><\/li>\n
  12. C60<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Where do these ideas come from?<\/b><\/p>\n

    The most creative science is also the highest risk, and for that reason is underfunded in today\u2019s economic environment. \u00a0There are herbs and roots from traditional Chinese medicine and the Indian Ayurvedic tradition; there are experiments run in small, low-budget labs and experiments from Russian universities<\/a> that will not be given credence until they are validated in Western labs. \u00a0The ones I am featuring today are substances that I happen to know about, and the universe of promising treatments could be greatly expanded by any expert in <\/span>Oriental medicine<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A new database of life span studies has <\/span>recently been announced<\/span><\/a>, to be hosted at <\/span>geroprotectors.org<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0There is an existing catalog of life span studies in animals at <\/span>lifespandb.sageweb.org<\/span><\/a>, which seems to be unavailable as I write this.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Epithalon\/Epithalamin<\/b><\/p>\n

    Decades ago, <\/span>Vladimir Anisimov<\/span><\/a> of the Petrov Institute in Leningrad began testing purified extracts from pituitary glands for health and longevity benefits. \u00a0In a lifetime of research, he has found <\/span>many promising substances<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0At the top of the list is an extract from a region of the brain known as the epithalamus. \u00a0The natural extract is known as Epithalamin. \u00a0The active ingredient is thought to be a short peptide or micro-protein with just 4 amino acids, which Anisimov named Epithalon. \u00a0In a series of experiments over the years, Anisimov finds life extension in rodents ranging from a few percent to 30%. \u00a0Treating 70-year-old humans with the extract, Anisimov reports that their mortality rate is cut in half. <\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    MitoQ\/SkQ<\/b><\/p>\n

    This is a molecule akin to CoQ10, attached to a positive charge which causes it to be pulled into mitochondria. I have written about it previously <\/span>here<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0The molecule was developed as a research tool in the 1970s by Vladimir Skulachev and Russian colleagues, and later was recognized for potential health benefits by Michael Murphey and Robin Smith in New Zealand. \u00a0Skulachev has tested his product <\/span>SkQ<\/span><\/a> in mice and claims modest life extension. \u00a0A New Zealand company began selling their version, called <\/span>MitoQ<\/span><\/a> last year, based on experiments that show improved wound healing and neuroprotective benefits in mice.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Beta Lapachone<\/b><\/p>\n

    Tomas Andr\u00e9 introduced me to Lapachone a few weeks ago. \u00a0His French company has begun to promote the science on a <\/span>web site<\/span><\/a>, though they do not offer it for sale as yet. \u00a0It is a tri-cyclic molecule extracted from bark of the Pau d\u2019arco tree in the Amazon rain forest. \u00a0In preliminary studies, it has shown potential promoting arterial health, as a cancer treatment and modifier of the energy metabolism. \u00a0Most impressive is one study in which the survival curve of mice treated with beta lapachone seems to improve over caloric restriction.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"lapachone-survival-curve\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Spermidine<\/b><\/p>\n

    Autophagy is the name of the cell\u2019s main clean-up process, eliminating accumulated wastes. \u00a0Spermidine promotes autophagy, and is found in many foods. \u00a0As an anti-aging agent, it has been championed by Frank Madeo of University of Graz. <\/span>He reports<\/span><\/a> dramatic life extension in worms and flies, and smaller life increases in life span for rodents.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Berberine<\/b><\/p>\n

    Metformin is a diabetes drug that increases insulin sensitivity and dramatically lowers cancer risk. Mice fed metformin live longer. \u00a0Berberine is a naturally-occurring polycyclic molecule that reportedly has many of the same benefits. \u00a0It is extracted from the goldenseal root, which has been used in Native American and other cultures as a natural remedy and has been <\/span>championed by Jonathan Wright<\/span><\/a>, \u00a0In some studies, berberine improves on metformin both in its effect on glucose metabolism and in improving the lipid profile in the blood. \u00a0Like metformin, has <\/span>anti-inflammatory<\/span><\/a> benefits, but it is not known whether it can slash cancer risk as metformin has been shown to do. \u00a0Recently, concern has been expressed about <\/span>increased risk of Alzheimer\u2019s<\/span><\/a> in patients taking metformin, and we don\u2019t know how berberine might do on that score. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Dinh lang (Policias fruticosum)<\/b><\/p>\n

    Dinh lang is the Vietnamese name of a traditional herbal remedy. The Parkinson\u2019s drug sold presently as Selegiline or Eldapril or Emsam began life with the name <\/span>deprenyl<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0In the 1960s, it was studied by a Hungarian doctor named Joseph Knoll. \u00a0In <\/span>one of Knoll\u2019s studies<\/span><\/a>, dinh lang<\/em> was combined with deprenyl, with the result that each separately extended life span in mice, and two together synergized so that life extension with both was more than the sum of the two separately. \u00a0I have not seen other studies of dinh lang<\/em>, and do not know where it can be purchased, or whether it has a place in traditional Chinese medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Pterostilbene<\/b><\/p>\n

    Pterostilbene is a chemical cousin of resveratrol. \u00a0Both are naturally-occurring, with trace amounts in grapes, wine, blueberries and other berries. \u00a0Both are a kind of natural anti-biotic, produced by plants as a self-defense when they are threatened by fungal infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Pterostilbene-and-Resveratrol\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    In 2003, Resveratrol made a splash in the press after an MIT lab discovered that it activated a class of SIR genes associated with longevity. \u00a0There were high hopes for resveratrol when it was found to lengthen life span in yeast, worms, fruit flies and fish. \u00a0Performance in mice, however, was disappointing, with life extension only for obese mice on a high fat diet. \u00a0Pterostilbene appears to have similar activity to resveratrol, but it is much better absorbed and has greater affinity for its target, so it is used in smaller quantities. \u00a0Pterostilbene deserves to be tested for life extension potential in rodents.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Gynostemma pentaphyllum<\/b><\/p>\n

    This is the powdered leaf of a traditional Oriental medicinal herb, recently popularized by Life Extension Foundation, which promotes it under the name \u201cAMPK Activator<\/a>\u201d. \u00a0In human and rodent studies, it improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood sugar. \u00a0In studies with fruit flies, it modestly increases life span, but it has not yet been tested for life span effect in rodents.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    N-Acetyl Cysteine<\/b><\/p>\n

    Glutathione<\/a> is a first-line mitochondrial antioxidant, and it is the only antioxidant for which there is any evidence of life span extension. \u00a0Unfortunately, we cannot absorb glutathione orally, and NAC has been promoted as the next best thing, as the body uses it to make glutathione. A <\/span>study from Jackson Lab<\/span><\/a> reports significant life span extension from NAC in male mice, but it comes with a warning about reliability of experimental protocol. \u00a0<\/span>Here is a study<\/span><\/a> that reports that NAC can slow the loss of brain cells in aging mice.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Ashwagandha<\/b><\/p>\n

    Withania somnifera<\/span><\/i> is an Indian root herb that is used as a longevity aid in the Ayurvedic tradition, and is <\/span>reported to have anti-cancer<\/span><\/a> benefits. \u00a0It is a common ingredient in those herbal mixtures that promote telomerase without astragalosides (<\/span>Product B<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>PrimalForce<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Telo-100<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>ProxyStem<\/span><\/a>) <\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Curcumin<\/b><\/p>\n

    Curcumin is an extract from the curry spice turmeric that has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. \u00a0It is one of the best herbal anti-inflammatory agents, and has been found to extend life span in <\/span>flies<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>worms<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0Based on epidemiology and cell cultures, a role in <\/span>preventing Alzheimer\u2019s Disease<\/span><\/a> has been proposed for curcumin.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    C60<\/b><\/p>\n

    Buckminsterfullerene<\/span><\/a> is a spherical molecule made of 60 carbon atoms that was hiding in plain sight before being discovered in the 1980s. \u00a0Based on <\/span>one spectacular report of life span extension in rats<\/span><\/a> three years ago, it has been adopted by people willing to experiment on themselves, who share their experiences, for example, on the <\/span>Longecity web site<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Pathways and Interactions<\/b><\/p>\n

    In some cases, we expect combining treatments to be a kind of duplication of effort. \u00a0It may be that the net benefit of A and B is just A. \u00a0For example, many of the treatments that are known to extend life span work through the biochemical pathway of insulin sensitivity and the glucose metabolism. \u00a0There are only a few years of human life available from this pathway, and once we add those years, no amount of tinkering with the insulin pathway will get us any more.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Conversely, if we can indeed address two pathways that are fundamentally different, then we expect positive synergies. \u00a0It may be that the net benefit of A and B together is greater than A+B.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We have a handful of interventions that reliably extend life span in mice: \u00a0besides dietary treatments such as caloric restriction, protein restriction and intermittent fasting, there is rapamycin, metformin, aspirin, maybe TA-65, some short peptides and various anti-inflammatories. \u00a0Very little is known about their interactions, and yet there are humans (some of whom read this column) who are not waiting for the data, but doing all these things at once. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Experimenting with multiple treatments<\/b><\/p>\n

    I think it is important both to gather information about new treatments individually, and to begin collecting information about how they combine and interact when applied together. \u00a0So I have put together an experimental plan using pairs of treatments. \u00a0Since the number of pairs is much larger than the number of treatments, I propose using a small number of mice for each treatment. \u00a0For example, with 12 treatments, there are 66 pairs of treatments. \u00a0If there are just 5 mice assigned to each pair of treatments, that\u2019s 330 mice in all–a manageable number. \u00a0This is a modest experimental effort compared to the potential for new information about 12 treatments and their interactions. \u00a0With just 5 mice for each treatment pair, the statistical power for each combination is low. \u00a0But there will be 55 mice receiving each one of the 12 treatments, so information is there, and the math can extract it. \u00a0With so few mice, we will not be able to get the clean survival curves that have become the gold standard for testing treatments in mice. \u00a0But with a technique called incremental multivariate regression, it is possible to untangle the data and determine which are the most promising treatments, and how they are likely to work in combination.<\/span><\/p>\n

    I have begun to circulate this proposal with people who are best able to implement it, and others who are best able to find funding for the project. \u00a0In coming weeks, I\u2019ll let you know what happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Tests with human subjects require decades, and are impossible to control, so the \u00a0gold standard for testing claims for treatments that delay aging is the controlled trial with rodents, usually mice. \u00a0Each treatment is applied to about 50 mice for their 2-3 year life span, and an equal number of controls is housed in identical … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nUntested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them - Josh Mitteldorf<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tests with human subjects require decades, and are impossible to control, so the \u00a0gold standard for testing claims for treatments that delay aging is the controlled trial with rodents, usually mice. \u00a0Each treatment is applied to about 50 mice for their 2-3 year life span, and an equal number of controls is housed in identical ... Read more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Josh Mitteldorf\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-09-15T20:40:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/09\/lapachone-survival-curve.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Josh Mitteldorf\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Josh Mitteldorf\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/214c5d1dad9f15c48f03128d5cfccdb1\"},\"headline\":\"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-09-15T20:40:24+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2001,\"commentCount\":23,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/lapachone-survival-curve.png\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2015\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/\",\"name\":\"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them - Josh Mitteldorf\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/lapachone-survival-curve.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-09-15T20:40:24+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/lapachone-survival-curve.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/lapachone-survival-curve.png\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2015\\\/09\\\/15\\\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/\",\"name\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\",\"description\":\"Aging Matters\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/1058476001.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/1058476001.jpg\",\"width\":864,\"height\":363,\"caption\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/214c5d1dad9f15c48f03128d5cfccdb1\",\"name\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\"},\"description\":\"Josh Mitteldorf studies evolutionary theory of aging using computer simulations. The surprising fact that our bodies are genetically programmed to age and to die offers an enormous opportunity for medical intervention. It may be that therapies to slow the progress of aging need not repair or regenerate anything, but only need to interfere with an existing program of self-destruction. Mitteldorf has taught a weekly yoga class for thirty years. He is an advocate for vigorous self care, including exercise, meditation and caloric restriction. After earning a PhD in astrophysicist, Mitteldorf moved to evolutionary biology as a primary field in 1996. He has taught at Harvard, Berkeley, Bryn Mawr, LaSalle and Temple University. He is presently affiliated with MIT as a visiting scholar. In private life, Mitteldorf is an advocate for election integrity as well as public health. He is an avid amateur musician, playing piano in chamber groups, French horn in community orchestras. His two daughters are among the first children adopted from China in the mid-1980s. Much to the surprise of evolutionary biologists, genetic experiments indicate that aging has been selected as an adaptation for its own sake. This poses a conundrum: the impact of aging on individual fitness is wholly negative, so aging must be regarded as a kind of evolutionary altruism. Unlike other forms of evolutionary altruism, aging offers benefits to the community that are weak, and not well focussed on near kin of the altruist. This makes the mechanism challenging to understand and to model. more at http:\\\/\\\/mathforum.org\\\/~josh\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/AgingAdvice.org\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/author\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them - Josh Mitteldorf","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them","og_description":"Tests with human subjects require decades, and are impossible to control, so the \u00a0gold standard for testing claims for treatments that delay aging is the controlled trial with rodents, usually mice. \u00a0Each treatment is applied to about 50 mice for their 2-3 year life span, and an equal number of controls is housed in identical ... Read more","og_url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/","og_site_name":"Josh Mitteldorf","article_published_time":"2015-09-15T20:40:24+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/09\/lapachone-survival-curve.png","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Josh Mitteldorf","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Josh Mitteldorf","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/"},"author":{"name":"Josh Mitteldorf","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#\/schema\/person\/214c5d1dad9f15c48f03128d5cfccdb1"},"headline":"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them","datePublished":"2015-09-15T20:40:24+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/"},"wordCount":2001,"commentCount":23,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/09\/lapachone-survival-curve.png","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2015","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/","name":"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them - Josh Mitteldorf","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/09\/lapachone-survival-curve.png","datePublished":"2015-09-15T20:40:24+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/09\/lapachone-survival-curve.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/09\/lapachone-survival-curve.png"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2015\/09\/15\/untested-treatments-for-longevity-and-how-to-test-them\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Untested Treatments for Longevity, and How to Test Them"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#website","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/","name":"Josh Mitteldorf","description":"Aging Matters","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#organization","name":"Josh Mitteldorf","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/1058476001.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/1058476001.jpg","width":864,"height":363,"caption":"Josh Mitteldorf"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#\/schema\/person\/214c5d1dad9f15c48f03128d5cfccdb1","name":"Josh Mitteldorf","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Josh Mitteldorf"},"description":"Josh Mitteldorf studies evolutionary theory of aging using computer simulations. The surprising fact that our bodies are genetically programmed to age and to die offers an enormous opportunity for medical intervention. It may be that therapies to slow the progress of aging need not repair or regenerate anything, but only need to interfere with an existing program of self-destruction. Mitteldorf has taught a weekly yoga class for thirty years. He is an advocate for vigorous self care, including exercise, meditation and caloric restriction. After earning a PhD in astrophysicist, Mitteldorf moved to evolutionary biology as a primary field in 1996. He has taught at Harvard, Berkeley, Bryn Mawr, LaSalle and Temple University. He is presently affiliated with MIT as a visiting scholar. In private life, Mitteldorf is an advocate for election integrity as well as public health. He is an avid amateur musician, playing piano in chamber groups, French horn in community orchestras. His two daughters are among the first children adopted from China in the mid-1980s. Much to the surprise of evolutionary biologists, genetic experiments indicate that aging has been selected as an adaptation for its own sake. This poses a conundrum: the impact of aging on individual fitness is wholly negative, so aging must be regarded as a kind of evolutionary altruism. Unlike other forms of evolutionary altruism, aging offers benefits to the community that are weak, and not well focussed on near kin of the altruist. This makes the mechanism challenging to understand and to model. more at http:\/\/mathforum.org\/~josh","sameAs":["http:\/\/AgingAdvice.org"],"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/author\/joshmitteldorf\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgtN8h-6Q","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}