Anti-Aging Pills Mature - Here is Your Portfolio

Anti-Aging Pills Mature: Here is Your Suggested Portfolio

Aging has not been considered a disease state, at least not yet. It has been considered "natural" or "inevitable". Yet, most folks over age 70 have at least one chronic condition or diagnosis that limits their life-style or productivity. Because there are so many of "us", it's a high burden for society to bear. Anti-aging is another whole way of thinking. Phrased positively, it is reaching for optimal health. That would be a state in which you have the ability to do what you want to do, without being limited by disability, chronic pain, loss of vision, mobility, or cognitive problems.

The battle is over each of the Hallmarks of Aging, if you want to delve into them. Read the link here in the journal Cell in detail. You will find cell senescence as one of the Hallmarks. A senescent cell has lost its vitality and function and no longer responds to perform in its intended fashion. If it's a muscle cell, it doesn't pull as hard. If it's a pancreas beta-cell, it doesn't make as much insulin as it once did. Senescent cells are effectively zombies in that they are hanging around and spewing out all sorts of messaging compounds to make the cells around them senescent.

Healthy cells are called "quiescent". They are alert, waiting to be called on, and capable of doing their duty. Like soldiers on the parade grounds, they are standing in place, uniform spotless, alert, rested, armed, and quietly waiting for orders. That's opposed to the zombie cell that's like soldiers in the barracks playing poker in their underwear, having a fourth beer. They aren't able to march double time into battle.

Can I move a zombie senescent cell back towards quiescent? Well yes, to a tiny degree. Chinese researchers just published a report on a compound extracted from grapeseeds called procyanidin HC-1 that kills of senescent cells and encourages those that are thinking about it to go back to quiescence. Mice given procyanidin HC-1 live 9% longer.

Rapamycin, an antibiotic made by an actinomycete from Easter Island (Rapa Nui), also reduces senescent cells. It is not available as a prescription drug Sirolimus and can be prescribed to take once a week.

Metformin, discovered as an extract of the French lilac flower keeps popping up in multiple studies showing that those on it live longer compared to matched populations that aren't on it. It appears to work by upregulating 5-6 of the Hallmarks. One of them is its effect on sirtuin proteins that are the caretakers of your epigenome. Your epigenome is composed of some 20 million markers on the outside of your chromosomes that modulate the activation and deactivation of your genes.

Nrf-2 activation is likely part of an effective strategy. The Nrf system is the master controller of inflammation and plays a leading role in all the Hallmarks. Various combinations of foods reflect potent Nrf activation strategies as measured by TBARs testing. TBARs measures malondialdehyde, the best measure of plasmalogen depletion and damage. PB-125 is the best in class Nrf activator.

The question arises as to whether we should all be on these supplements/prescriptions. Should we? Well, yes, to a degree. I think metformin is a must. Rapamycin is probably useful. Should procyanidin HC-1 be added to the list? How about quercetin? How about pycnogenol? PB-125?

www.What will Work for me? How about plasmalogens? The biggest bang for your buck is likely plasmalogen normalization and monitoring. That hasn't risen to the level of widespread acceptance, at least not yet. But Goodenowe's graphs from the Rush Aging studies show plasmalogens to be the far and away best predictors of risk of dying, even up to age 95 where a person who is 2 standard deviations above the norm has the same risk of dying as a 70-year-old 2 standard deviations below the norm. I take metformin, sirolimus, PB-125 and plasmalogens. I suspect each of us has to make that decision as to how many pills can you add to your list.

References: BBC Science Focus, Nature Metabolism, Cell, Frontiers Endo,

Pop Quiz

1. Is aging a disease?                    Answer: It is if it kills you.

2. What are the Hallmarks of Aging?                 Answer: Twelve (maybe 15) different means by which our finely tuned system falls apart. 

3. What does cellular senescence mean?                 Answer: A senescent cell no longer performs its function, and damages the cells around it.

4. Where did Chinese researchers find an anti-senescent new compound?                Answer: In grape-seed extract.

5. Has metformin been proven to prolong life in normal folks?                      Answer: Not yet but multiple studies are getting started or recruiting aging folks.