People taking rapamicin to chase the unicorn of longevity? Dear God. Rapamicin (aka sirolimus) is an immunosuppressant, typically used puts organ transplantation, to prevent rejection. Its side effects are numerous and potentially dangerous, not limited to reducing the numbers of neutrophil granulocytes in your blood (essential as part of your innate immune response) and interfering with the functioning of adaptive immunity (including “tumour surveillance” by lymphocytes such as NK cells), which can raise the risk of lymphoma and solid tumours too.
Count me out.
RM Parker
16 days ago
People taking rapamicin to chase the unicorn of longevity? Dear God. Rapamicin (aka sirolimus) is an immunosuppressant, typically used post organ transplantation, to prevent rejection (it’s an inhibitor of MTOR, preventing growth stimulation of certain blood cells; it’s akin to substances like cyclosporine and tacrolimus, though its mechanism of action differs). Its side effects are numerous and potentially dangerous, not limited to reducing the numbers of neutrophil granulocytes in your blood (essential as part of your innate immune response) and interfering with the functioning of adaptive immunity (including “tumour surveillance” by lymphocytes such as NK cells), which can raise the risk of lymphoma and solid tumours too.
Count me out.
Sorry all – posted twice, as my phone had a “moment”. Oops.
j watson
16 days ago
Coincidentally reading ‘Why We Die’ by Venki Ramakrishnan. Not quite finished but recommended based on where I’ve got to.
Some fascinating genetic and DNA science sections – some I struggled with – but essentially suggestive cell reproduction in later life may have some trade-offs between aging and cancer cell development – interventions to repair/generate cell replacement might fuel cancer where essentially a cell is multiplying without control and limits. An over simplification for sure, but worth a read I think.
As a part-time clinician now I totally concur frailty much more of a killer in old age. Avoid that fall. Look after your muscles and ensure they remain healthy.
Quite agree: also, I’m increasingly discovering that, while the muscles may still be trainable and maintainable, the skeleton eventually gives its veto!
First went the knees, then years of contact sports caught up with me. Age is a git, but maintaining a sense of humour is invaluable.
Yes, muscle mass for sure. I’m a health coach and I specialize in helping middle-aged women. Too many come to me overweight, eating low protein vegetarian or vegan, cortisol through the roof from chronic cardio, pre-diabetic, hormones just a mess. Once they up their protein and fat, cut the simple carbs, and replace excessive cardio with strength training they improve across the board. Including fasting also is incredibly helpful, although that’s a step too far for many. Autophagy is a wonderful thing if you can handle abstaining from food for a day on occasion. People often fail to realize fasting is much easier to do once you stablalize your blood sugar as you don’t get that “hangry” crash when you skip a meal.
Agree JH.
I’m v taken with the basic ‘chair-test’ – how many times you can stand up from a chair in 1min. Screen people in their early 50s with this and get them thinking about it then. As you’ll probably know just getting out of a chair at the age of 80 can be almost like doing a heavy weighted squat, unless you’ve worked on retaining muscle mass. The ‘chair-test’ something we can all do at home and regularly.
UnHerd Reader
15 days ago
Couple of points with this article. First 16:8 diet is not really fasting. Its skipping breakfast..youre not going to go in to nutrient deficiency doing that. It just gives your system a rest. Its a great starting point for good health
Call it bio hacking if you will but to me its just what feels healthy and natural.
Second, what do we mean by bio hacking ? Is it just basic health practices or does it mean taking random drugs that might help autophagy etc.
Im very scoopydupious about the drugs. But fasting makes sense. We evolved as hunter gatherers who probably had a meat feast a couple of times a week. That would be pretty extreme but would probably extend our lives. Given it takes 20-25 years for us to grow fully, we probably should be making 100-120 years handy enough if you compare with other animals if we avoid stress, accidents and t oo much sedentary
activities. Could be done id say but hard to fit with the demands of modern social norms
Madas A. Hatter
15 days ago
Combating ageing is simple, if time-consuming. We were nomadic hunter-gatherers for 300,000 years. We’ve been farmers for a mere 10,000, too little time for evolution (which we nullify anyway by medicine etc.) to get going. No, I’m not going to say start eating raw bison meat.
What do most of the dozen or so extant hunter-gatherers do all day every day? They walk. We’re walking machines. I eat a varied diet but much more importantly I walk a brisk ten kilometres a day. At 77 I’m as fit as a tiger and literally no-one has correctly guessed my age or even gotten close in 15 years.
UnHerd Reader
12 days ago
Citing the American Heart Association as if they are a credible resource was the first red flag. These are the people still telling you that saturated fat gives you heart disease, a lie that is also peddled by the msm. And it’s an Epidemiogical ‘study’..almost completely useless. These are not indicators of anything & are more often than not used as a weapon in an agenda war. Anyone who knows anything about science and data would never cite these studies as an indication of cause. The fact that Unherd is falling into this trap is worrying. It makes me question why I’m subscribing. FYI..if you eat just meat (which you should) you don’t have to intentionally fast because it happens naturally & that’s because you only eat when you are hungry, which is usually once a day. Once you stop consuming carbs (which you do not need at all) & only eat meat you will NEVER go back. This is the true ‘biohack’.
People taking rapamicin to chase the unicorn of longevity? Dear God. Rapamicin (aka sirolimus) is an immunosuppressant, typically used puts organ transplantation, to prevent rejection. Its side effects are numerous and potentially dangerous, not limited to reducing the numbers of neutrophil granulocytes in your blood (essential as part of your innate immune response) and interfering with the functioning of adaptive immunity (including “tumour surveillance” by lymphocytes such as NK cells), which can raise the risk of lymphoma and solid tumours too.
Count me out.
People taking rapamicin to chase the unicorn of longevity? Dear God. Rapamicin (aka sirolimus) is an immunosuppressant, typically used post organ transplantation, to prevent rejection (it’s an inhibitor of MTOR, preventing growth stimulation of certain blood cells; it’s akin to substances like cyclosporine and tacrolimus, though its mechanism of action differs). Its side effects are numerous and potentially dangerous, not limited to reducing the numbers of neutrophil granulocytes in your blood (essential as part of your innate immune response) and interfering with the functioning of adaptive immunity (including “tumour surveillance” by lymphocytes such as NK cells), which can raise the risk of lymphoma and solid tumours too.
Count me out.
Sorry all – posted twice, as my phone had a “moment”. Oops.
Coincidentally reading ‘Why We Die’ by Venki Ramakrishnan. Not quite finished but recommended based on where I’ve got to.
Some fascinating genetic and DNA science sections – some I struggled with – but essentially suggestive cell reproduction in later life may have some trade-offs between aging and cancer cell development – interventions to repair/generate cell replacement might fuel cancer where essentially a cell is multiplying without control and limits. An over simplification for sure, but worth a read I think.
As a part-time clinician now I totally concur frailty much more of a killer in old age. Avoid that fall. Look after your muscles and ensure they remain healthy.
Quite agree: also, I’m increasingly discovering that, while the muscles may still be trainable and maintainable, the skeleton eventually gives its veto!
First went the knees, then years of contact sports caught up with me. Age is a git, but maintaining a sense of humour is invaluable.
Yes, muscle mass for sure. I’m a health coach and I specialize in helping middle-aged women. Too many come to me overweight, eating low protein vegetarian or vegan, cortisol through the roof from chronic cardio, pre-diabetic, hormones just a mess. Once they up their protein and fat, cut the simple carbs, and replace excessive cardio with strength training they improve across the board. Including fasting also is incredibly helpful, although that’s a step too far for many. Autophagy is a wonderful thing if you can handle abstaining from food for a day on occasion. People often fail to realize fasting is much easier to do once you stablalize your blood sugar as you don’t get that “hangry” crash when you skip a meal.
I fast to lose weight and while it can be a trial sometimes it has many benefits.
Agree JH.
I’m v taken with the basic ‘chair-test’ – how many times you can stand up from a chair in 1min. Screen people in their early 50s with this and get them thinking about it then. As you’ll probably know just getting out of a chair at the age of 80 can be almost like doing a heavy weighted squat, unless you’ve worked on retaining muscle mass. The ‘chair-test’ something we can all do at home and regularly.
Couple of points with this article. First 16:8 diet is not really fasting. Its skipping breakfast..youre not going to go in to nutrient deficiency doing that. It just gives your system a rest. Its a great starting point for good health
Call it bio hacking if you will but to me its just what feels healthy and natural.
Second, what do we mean by bio hacking ? Is it just basic health practices or does it mean taking random drugs that might help autophagy etc.
Im very scoopydupious about the drugs. But fasting makes sense. We evolved as hunter gatherers who probably had a meat feast a couple of times a week. That would be pretty extreme but would probably extend our lives. Given it takes 20-25 years for us to grow fully, we probably should be making 100-120 years handy enough if you compare with other animals if we avoid stress, accidents and t oo much sedentary
activities. Could be done id say but hard to fit with the demands of modern social norms
Combating ageing is simple, if time-consuming. We were nomadic hunter-gatherers for 300,000 years. We’ve been farmers for a mere 10,000, too little time for evolution (which we nullify anyway by medicine etc.) to get going. No, I’m not going to say start eating raw bison meat.
What do most of the dozen or so extant hunter-gatherers do all day every day? They walk. We’re walking machines. I eat a varied diet but much more importantly I walk a brisk ten kilometres a day. At 77 I’m as fit as a tiger and literally no-one has correctly guessed my age or even gotten close in 15 years.
Citing the American Heart Association as if they are a credible resource was the first red flag. These are the people still telling you that saturated fat gives you heart disease, a lie that is also peddled by the msm. And it’s an Epidemiogical ‘study’..almost completely useless. These are not indicators of anything & are more often than not used as a weapon in an agenda war. Anyone who knows anything about science and data would never cite these studies as an indication of cause. The fact that Unherd is falling into this trap is worrying. It makes me question why I’m subscribing. FYI..if you eat just meat (which you should) you don’t have to intentionally fast because it happens naturally & that’s because you only eat when you are hungry, which is usually once a day. Once you stop consuming carbs (which you do not need at all) & only eat meat you will NEVER go back. This is the true ‘biohack’.