What do you make of this...?

Cocosilk said:

Have you seen the video linked in this thread?
@ianf0ster

Click to expand...

I haven't viewed it yet, nor have I looked at the research that Diakat linked. But I plan to do so.

Thanks

Cocosilk said:

Have you seen the video linked in this thread?
@ianf0ster

Click to expand...

Hi,
I have now watched the video. As is usual with these sort of things it goes all over the place to find anything which may possibly improve lifespan - genetics; supplement for mice, so presumably not a drug but they give no details of what it is; 'simulated Fasting' (whatever that entails) for 5 days every 3 months; Metformin.

With the possible exception of genetics (having the right parents) I'm not convinced that they there is enough evidence to support any of these yet in humans at least.
I feel it is important to understand that with the Metformin, the idea is that if it can be shown to 'protect against CVD, Dementia, Cancer and Diabetes then it may increase average (though not individual) lifespan.

You may find this confusing but consider this: The 4 diseases mentioned are the biggest killers of middle aged to slightly elderly people, but the thing that most really elderly people die from is a simple infection such as pneumonia - their body and immune system gets so weak that they can no longer recover from simple but serious infections.

There is a study which shows for example that in the over 65's the group with the LDL in the highest quarter of the study population lived a statistically significant while longer than those in the lowest LDL quarter of the study. Naturally the Statin manufacturers are keen to obscure this by saying that that group with higher LDL are probably on statins.
So if you believe the Pharmas, not only are this quartile of the study population on statins (statin use or none was not recorded in that study) but also the statins were not reducing their LDL (like they are prescribed to do) and the statins were 'protecting them from the diseases of old age. -That is far too big a leap of faith (on no evidence) for me!

I have also read the short plan document for the study on Metformin.
I don't hold that much hope out for the strength of the study since the subjects will only take Metformin ER for up to 90 days with a 30 day follow-up.
Quotes from the study plan document:

"Study Design:-

Study Type : Interventional (Clinical Trial)
Estimated Enrollment : 120 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description: Subjects will act as their own controls: data will be collect on each subject at baseline, throughout exposure and following, exposure to metformin.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Official Title: A Pilot Study: Metformin as an Inflammatory Modulating Therapy in Older Adults Without Diabetes
Actual Study Start Date : January 22, 2019
Estimated Primary Completion Date : May 2020
Estimated Study Completion Date : September 2020 "

"Subjects will have venous samples collected to better understand the cellular response to inflammation, thrombosis, and cellular respiration at baseline, at 4 time points throughout the 90 day exposure to metformin, and 30 days following the completion of exposure to metformin. At the same time points, subjects will have stool samples collected in order to assess changes in their microbiome. Finally, subjects will undergo cognitive testing through the NIH toolbox as well as physiologic testing including (six-minute walk test, grip strength as measured by a dynamometer, and a short physical performance battery) at baseline, after 90 days of exposure, and again 30 days after the completion of exposure."