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Scientists worldwide continue their push to develop effective treatments and a vaccine for the highly contagious COVID-19. A press release issued by University of South Florida suggests that existing compounds could block the replication of the virus. And repurposing existing drugs that contain these compounds could be the most effective way to fight the virus.

"With a rapidly emerging infectious disease like COVID-19, we don't have time to develop new antiviral drugs from scratch," said University of South Florida researcher Yu Chen. "A lot of good drug candidates are already out there as a starting point. But, with new information from studies like ours and current technology, we can help design even better (repurposed) drugs much faster."

Promising drug candidates include the FDA-approved hepatitis C medication boceprevir and an investigational veterinary antiviral drug known as GC-376.

Existing Drugs Block Coronavirus Replication in Lab

Researchers at University of South Florida and University of Arizona have identified several existing compounds that block replication of the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) within human cells grown in the laboratory.

A study published in Cell Research reports that the compounds all demonstrated potent chemical and structural interactions with a viral protein critical to the virus' ability to proliferate.

Safer CRISPR Decreases Risk of Off-Target Editing

Scientists led by Wenzhou Medical University have shown that mutating the enzyme at the heart of the CRISPR gene editing system can improve its accuracy. This strongly reduces the risk of off-target gene editing.

The research results were published in PLOS Biology. They may provide a therapeutically safer strategy for gene editing than using the unmodified enzyme system.

Avoidance of off-target editing is a crucial challenge for medical applications of CRISPR. Applications may include correcting genetic diseases or targeting cancer cells.

Preclinical Studies Raise Hope for Cancer Vaccine

Scientists at Translational Research Institute and University of Queensland are ready to trial a new cancer vaccine in humans following the successful outcome of their preclinical studies.

The new vaccine is described in a study published in Clinical & Translational Immunology. It is based on human antibodies fused with tumor-specific proteins.

The scientists are persuaded that the vaccine is a major breakthrough for cancer vaccinations. They believe it has potential to treat a variety of blood cancers and solid cancers.

Nanoparticles Induce Cancer Regression

Penn State researchers have developed a new method to treat cancer. It uses nanoparticles that are able to prevent cancer cells from creating proteins. The proteins are essential for cancer cells to survive. The nanoparticles are delivered to a localized cancerous area and activated through light exposure.

A study published in Biomaterials reports that the researchers injected the nanoparticles into tumors in mice. Once the nanoparticles built up in the cancerous area, the researchers used a specific wavelength of light for activation. The cancer in about 20 mice completely regressed within 24 to 48 hours and did not regrow.

New Air Filter Fills SARS-CoV-2 Virus

Researchers led by University of Houston have designed a 'catch and kill' air filter that can trap and instantly kill SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

A study was published in Materials Today Physics. It reports that 99.8 percent of the virus was killed in a single pass through the filter. It was made from commercially available nickel foam, heated to 200 degrees Centigrade, or about 392 degrees Fahrenheit. The filter also killed 99.9 percent of anthrax spore.

Nanoparticles for Eye Diseases

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have successfully used nanoparticles to deliver gene therapy for blinding eye disease to laboratory rats and mice. The researchers engineered a large molecule that allows compact large bundles of therapeutic DNA to be delivered into the cells of the eye.

A paper was published in Science Advances. It provides evidence of the potential value of nanoparticle-delivered gene therapy to treat age-related macular degeneration. It also provides evidence of treatment for more rare diseases of the retina.

Artificial Genes as Biosensors for Monitoring Cells

Researchers at Boston University have developed and implemented a new method to study how cellular communications are disrupted in human diseases and how this can be corrected pharmacologically.

The new method was described in a paper published in Cell. It is based on a suite of biosensors. They are artificial genes that can be introduced in cells to report in real time when an important group of signaling molecules is turned on. This enables, for example, sensing cellular responses to drugs.

The researchers used molecular engineering to create their biosensors by borrowing parts from existing genes.

Originally published at thrivous.com on July 14, 2020 at 12:21PM.

[thrivous]

Life-saving drugs, combatting diseases such as cancer, "have been developed from marine organisms and their symbiotic microbiota," notes a press release from GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (see below).

"Fungi, which we isolated from bladder wrack and fermented in optimized laboratory conditions, are an established source of natural anti-cancer agents,” said research leader Deniz Tasdemir. “We have found several novel natural products here, which we named as pyrenosetins A and B, that have a high potential for fighting skin cancer."

"Nature is the source of more than half of all modern medicines that we use today,” emphasized the scientist.

I hope future synthetic biology will permit developing, from scratch, healing agents even more effective than those found in nature. But we aren’t there yet. In the meantime, we should take advantage of what we have. Therefore, preserving the natural environment and its biodiversity saves lives.

Sea Molecules Fight Infections and Skin Cancer

Using state-of-the-art approaches, coupled with bioinformatics and machine learning, scientists at Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) have discovered marine molecules as potential remedies against infections and skin cancer. The molecules come from an alga and its fungal symbiont, originating from the Kiel Fjord.

A study published in Marine Drugs indicates that the brown alga, Fucus vesiculosus (bladder wrack), inhibits a pathogenic bacterium, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The bacterium can cause hospital infections.

The symbiotic fungus, Pyrenochaetopsis, efficiently kills melanoma-type skin cancer cells with low cytotoxicity.

Microparticles Treat Disease in Lab Mice

Researchers at University of Wisconsin have developed a safe and efficient method to deliver a promising new treatment for cancer and liver disorders to laboratory mice.

The new method is described in a paper published in Science Advances. It relies on mineral-coated microparticles, which have nanoscale pores on their surface. That allows them to pick up and carry molecules like proteins or messenger RNA (mRNA). And this permits safely inserting pieces of carefully designed messenger RNA into cells.

COVID-19 Infection Triggers Genetic Changes

Researchers at University of Utah have found that inflammatory proteins, produced during COVID-19 infection, significantly alter the function of blood platelets. This makes the platelets "hyperactive" and more prone to form dangerous and potentially deadly blood clots. This could contribute to the onset of heart attacks, strokes, and other serious complications in some patients who have the disease.

A study was published in Blood. It indicates that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, appears to trigger genetic changes in platelets. And this significantly alters how platelets interact with the immune system. The change likely contributes to inflammation of the respiratory tract that may, in turn, result in more severe lung injury.

Functional Bioengineered Uteri

Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have shown that bioengineered uteri can support fertilization, fetal development, and live birth with normal offspring.

A study was published in Nature Biotechnology. It reports that bioengineered uteri in laboratory rabbits developed the native tissue-like structures needed to support normal reproductive function.

With further development, this approach may someday provide a regenerative medicine solution for women with the inability to get pregnant, due to uterine dysfunctional infertility.

Nitric Oxide Generated at Targets in the Body

Scientists and engineers led by MIT have found a way of generating nitric oxide at precisely targeted locations inside the body.

Nitric oxide is an important signaling molecule in the body, with a role in building nervous system connections that contribute to learning and memory. It also functions as a messenger in the cardiovascular and immune systems.

A research paper was published in Nature Nanotechnology. It describes a way for electrochemically controlled reactions that produce nitric oxide to operate efficiently and selectively at the nanoscale.

The method could be generalizable as a way of producing other molecules of biological interest within an organism.

Engineered T-Cells Attack Cancer Cells

Scientists at University of Illinois have developed engineered T-cells that attack a variety of solid-tumor cancer cells from humans and mice. The researchers inserted suitable antibodies into T-cells, and tested them with mouse and human cancer cell lines.

A study was published in PNAS. It reports that the engineered T-cells are active against both human and mouse cancer cell lines.

This development could dramatically broaden the potential targets of CAR-T therapy. The therapy modifies a patient's own T-cells by adding a piece of an antibody that recognizes unique features on the surface of cancer cells.

Originally published at thrivous.com on July 07, 2020 at 11:18AM.

[thrivous]

Have you tried to buy a bike recently?! I’ve been wanting a bike for a few years. And, with quarantine, my children wanted me to ride with them.

Bikes are a hot commodity this summer.  With many local stores sold out of basic bikes, we ended up buying an old rusted bike. And we rebuilt it with a new chain, tires, paint, etc.

My preteen daughters had growth spurts this winter, and were needing bikes too. Luckily, my husband is savvy with the classifieds. And he got us all outfitted with functional bikes. Yes, now we parade down the local neighborhood trails.

Many things have changed in this interesting time of COVID. I hear many studies were suspended due to university campuses and research labs closing to reduce virus transmission. Luckily, studies are typically submitted for publication months before publication. So, we still have studies demonstrating how caffeine and omega 3 supplements can enhance physical performance!

Caffeine Enhances Mentally Fatigued Performance

New Study: Caffeine Improved Cycling Trial Performance in Mentally Fatigued Cyclists, Regardless of Alterations in Prefrontal Cortex Activation

Because caffeine has been shown to enhance both cognitive function and physical performance, these researchers looked at physical performance after being cognitively drained.

After completing a baseline 20 km of cycling, twelve recreational cyclists repeated the ride after completing an intense cognitive test. The mentally fatigued ride was completed after taking a placebo, and again after taking caffeine.

The participants were blinded as to which pill they received. The supplement contained 5 mg caffeine per kg bodyweight. And it was given before starting the cognitive test, about 50 minutes before starting to cycle.

When mentally fatigued, the bikers were slower and exhibited reduced mean work. They also had increased mental fatigue while riding, slowed reaction time, reduced motivation, lower emotional arousal, and greater prefrontal cortex theta waves.

While the placebo rides were faster than the control rides, the caffeine enhanced rides were even faster. They exhibited greater mean work, and had fewer theta waves than the placebo rides. The rating of perceived exertion to power output ratio was lower with caffeine than with placebo. Affect, motivation, and emotional arousal were also higher in the caffeine enhanced group.

Women and Men Benefit Similarly from Caffeine

New Study: Coffee Ingestion Improves 5 Km Cycling Performance in Men and Women by a Similar Magnitude.

As studies have shown how caffeine enhances physical performance, it is notable that the majority of these studies have only involved men. This study compared the differences in caffeine blood levels and performance between men and women.

The participants included nineteen highly active men, and nineteen highly active women taking birth control and in days 5-8 or 19-22 of their menstrual cycle. The participants completed a 5 km cycling ride after taking nothing (a control), a placebo, or coffee providing 3 mg caffeine per kg bodyweight. Not surprisingly, the men had higher body mass and VO2 max, and lower percentage body fat, than the women.

The caffeine ingestion increased salivary caffeine levels and resulted in improved times compared to control and placebo. In fact, both men and women improved their cycle times by 9 seconds compared to the control, and 6 seconds compared to the placebo. This study suggests that women had similar improvements in performance as men, at least during certain points in their menstrual cycles.

  New Study: Eicosapentaenoic Acid-Rich Fish Oil Supplementation Inhibits the Decrease in Concentric Work Output and Muscle Swelling of the Elbow Flexors

Because omega 3 tends to reduce inflammation and influence energy metabolism, this study sought to identify the benefits of omega 3 supplementation on muscles.

Sixteen untrained men took a placebo or an omega 3 supplement (600 mg EPA and 260 mg DHA) for 8 weeks. Then participants performed maximal concentric exercises of the elbow flexors. Concentric exercises are known for causing an inflammatory response that may cause muscle soreness and decreased range of motion.

The researchers found that the supplemented group had greater work output throughout the 5 sets of maximal concentric exercises and greater range of motion immediately after the exercise. The authors concluded that the supplement had “positive benefits for the untrained people and can be applied to obtain higher endurance exercise performance.”

Power Up You Bike Ride

Seriously, if you haven’t ridden a bike in a while, I highly recommend you consider getting on one, even if it means borrowing one from a friend. It’s a lot of fun. And if you want to make more of your riding, you might consider taking some caffeine an hour before. Also, there are so many reasons to consider daily omega 3: potentially reduced inflammation after exercise is just one. 

Thrivous Surge Acute Nootropic

Thrivous develops Surge Acute Nootropic to enhance energy and focus, so you can be stronger and more productive when you need it most. Each capsule of Surge is carefully dosed to provide quantities of caffeine, l theanine, and ginseng that correspond to doses used in clinical studies.

Like all Thrivous supplements, each bottle of Surge passes rigorous quality control before you receive it. Multiple rounds of identity, potency, and safety testing are completed by suppliers, manufacturing, and third-parties. And all quality control documentation is published openly for your review. This is a highly exceptional practice in the supplement industry.

Surge is available now in the online Thrivous store. Get yours today!

Originally published at thrivous.com on July 04, 2020 at 01:50PM.

[thrivous]

Yesterday, our swimming pool reopened after four months. All over the world, COVID-19 lockdown measures are being eased. This is a very good thing for citizens and businesses.

But we should also bear in mind that the pandemic is NOT over. And a next COVID-19 wave is likely. A model developed by Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) shows that de-confinement must be gradual and that individual behavior is a key factor.

"If we manage to reduce transmission rate by 30 percent through the use of face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing, we can considerably reduce the magnitude of the next wave," said Xavier Rodó, head of ISGlobal's Climate and Health programme in a press release. "Reducing transmission rate by 50 percent could avoid it completely."

Even those who are not scared of being infected themselves should continue taking appropriate measures to avoid infecting others. This is basic human decency. So please continue to wash your hands. And keep those masks on!

How To Avoid Need of Future Lockdowns

Researchers at Barcelona Institute for Global Health have suggested that maintaining social distancing and other interventions, such as the use of face masks and hand hygiene, could remove the need for future lockdowns.

The researchers base their suggestion on the results of a study published in Nature Human Behaviour. They argue that, in countries that have not yet reached the peak of active cases, lockdowns must remain in place for at least 60 days. And de-confinement must be gradual, in order to decrease the risk of second waves.

Ultrasound Immunotherapy Cures Cancer in Mice

Scientists led by University of Tel Aviv have developed a noninvasive technology platform for gene delivery into breast cancer cells.

The technique is described in a research paper published in PNAS. It combines ultrasound with tumor-targeted microbubbles. Once the ultrasound is activated, the microbubbles explode like smart and targeted warheads, creating holes in cancer cells' membranes, enabling gene delivery.

In laboratory mice, about 80 percent of tumor cells were destroyed in the explosion. To destroy the remaining 20 percent of tumor cells, the scientists injected an immunotherapy gene alongside the microbubbles. Membrane pores were formed in the tumor cells that survived the initial explosion, allowing the entry of the gene into the cells. This triggered an immune response that destroyed the tumor cells.

One-Time Treatment Cures Parkinson’s in Mice

Researchers at UC San Diego have found a way to generate new neurons and eliminate Parkinson’s disease symptoms in laboratory mice.

A study published in Nature reports on a single treatment to inhibit a gene called PTB in mice. It converts native astrocytes (brain support cells) into neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. As a result, the mice's Parkinson's disease symptoms disappear.

The researchers are persuaded that the study provides a proof of concept for future medical applications.

Bacteriophages Could Assist COVID-19 Patients

Scientists at University of Birmingham and Cancer Registry of Norway have found that bacteriophages could be harnessed to combat bacterial infections in patients whose immune systems have been weakened by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Bacteriophages are viruses that prey on bacteria.

In a study published in Phage, two strategies are proposed. In the first approach, bacteriophages would be used to target secondary bacterial infections in patients' respiratory systems. In the second approach, synthetically altered bacteriophages could be used to manufacture antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They could then be administered to patients via a nasal or oral spray.

Stress Response May Help Cancer Drug Discovery

Experimenting with laboratory mice, researchers at UC San Diego have found that manipulating macrophages could be a viable strategy for treating cancer. Macrophages are a type of immune cell found abundantly in the tissues surrounding a tumor.

A paper published in PLoS Biology shows how a molecule involved in cells' response to stress determines whether macrophages promote inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. Inflammation is known to promote tumor growth, making this molecule an attractive target for drug development.

Enhanced Formulation of Prostate Cancer Drug

Researchers at University of South Australia have shown that a new formulation of a prostate cancer drug could dramatically improve the quality of life for people suffering from prostate cancer. The drug is abiraterone acetate, currently marketed as Zytiga.

The new formulation uses very high levels of abiraterone acetate, dissolved within a specific oil and encapsulated within porous silica microparticles, to form a powder. The powder can be made into tablets or filled into capsules.

The results of pre-clinical trials were published in International Journal of Pharmaceutics. They show that the new formulation improves the drug's effectiveness by 40 percent.

The researchers suggest that patient care could be extensively improved using this technology.

Originally published at thrivous.com on June 30, 2020 at 10:12AM.

[thrivous]

Berberine is a chemical compound that has been discovered in multiple medicinal plants. Notably, it's found in the gorgeous berberis vulgaris shrub, commonly known as "barberry." Berberine has been used for thousands of years in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. And it has even been used, in areas like India, to dye wool and similar products.

It was not until 1917, in North America, that berberine was first isolated from plants. Today, the extract is a popular dietary supplement with many potential health benefits [1, 2]. And, more importantly, accumulating research supports the idea that berberine is a geroprotector [3], which may even extend maximum lifespan.

Before reading on, let me be clear. I'm not a medical doctor. Berberine is considered a dietary supplement. Although I'll mention some research related to disease, I don't recommend berberine as a treatment for any disease. And you should always get the advice of your primary care physician before taking supplements.

Also, after you read this article, go to the online Thrivous store to pick up your geroprotectors. Vitality Geroprotector combines berberine with two other promising life extension molecules: coenzyme Q10, and blueberry anthocyanin [32-34]. I'm proud of Thrivous for taking this initiative.

Metabolic Pathways

Intracellularly, berberine binds to many molecular targets. So there's still a lot more research to do, if we want to figure out all of the actions of berberine in our bodies [4].

Berberine is most well known for activating AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) [5]. This is a well-studied enzyme that likely plays a role in metabolic pathways related to longevity.

AMPK is also activated by metformin [6], a pharmaceutical drug. Berberine has been compared to and combined with metformin. And the results are impressive [7].

Berberine also influences PCSK9 (Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) [8]. This is an enzyme that influences cholesterol levels.

Promising Systemic Health Effects

One method to determine if a treatment has life extension potential, is to observe its effects in context of multiple body systems and functions. If treatments are helpful across contexts, it's possible that the treatment promotes systemic regeneration. And if enough systemic regeneration occurs, life extension will likely occur.

Aging is a systemic problem, which makes it particularly difficult to combat [9]. Using one treatment for a localized effect isn't enough. Maintaining the healthy function of one body system or function just means that thousands of others are ignored. So a system approach is essential to achieving life extension goals.

Geroprotectors are treatments that are well known for having system-wide effects. They are associated with impressive lists of animal and human trials that evidence beneficial effects on multiple body systems and functions.

For example, quickly type "berberine" into WebMD. They provide you with information about berberine's multifaceted health effects. They also notify you that there still needs to be more research. And that makes sense because preventing aging and extending lifespan will require a systemic approach.

Reputable articles published at places like PubMed, HealthLine, and others, provide a greater breadth of research. And they reveal the potential that geroprotectors like berberine have for systemic regeneration.

To get a quick appreciation for this, type "berberine" into clinicaltrials.gov. You will see 64 studies in total and 32 completed studies. Now look at the indications. You will see that they're related to many different body systems and functions.

Literature is accumulating in relation to berberine's ability to support healthy cholesterol and heart function, and decrease high blood pressure. A review [12], meta-analysis [13], and study [14] show that berberine is associated with multiple cardiovascular health benefits across both non-human animals and humans. 

One review of about a dozen clinical studies indicates that berberine could lower total cholesterol 0.61 mmol, lower LDL cholesterol by 0.65 mmol, lower blood triglycerides by 0.50 mmol/L, and raise HDL cholesterol by 0.05 mmol/L. Impressively, it could also lower apolipoprotein B by 13 to 15 percent [11, 15]. More research is needed to determine how berberine affects heart disease.

Cautiously, I'll mention that there are in vitro and animal studies indicating that berberine may have reduced the spread of cancer in some cases [19, 20]. One review notes that berberine has “clear inhibitory effects” on colorectal cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, and cervical cancer [21]. More research is needed to determine how berberine affects cancer.

Diabetes is a highly systemic disease. Exploring anti-diabetic potential, double-blind studies of berberine have shown that it may improve insulin sensitivity and support healthy blood sugar levels. A meta-analysis observes that berberine has lowered blood sugar more than placebo [22]. For example, in a study of 116 diabetic patients, their fasting blood sugar decreased by 20%, and their hemoglobin A1c decreased by 12% [23].

Studies related to diabetes and berberine have also shown that berberine may promote weight loss. A clinical study review observed that berberine reduces weight in human subjects over a 3-month period [24]. More research is needed to determine how berberine affects type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Our nervous system is an unparalleled complex system, capable of the most beautiful and awesome functions. Berberine seems to be a promising candidate to support healthy nerve function. There are many rat and human studies that associate enhanced mood with berberine [25-28]. And berberine seems to have multiple protective effects related to the brain [25].

There's research indicating that berberine has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects [16-18]. And its systemic benefits may also reach the liver [30], ovaries [29], the immune system [31], and many other body organs and functions.

Evidence that Berberine Extends Life

Berberine has extended the lifespan of many different model organisms [34, 33]. In one study, berberine was fed to mice every day. And it extended their lifespan on average by 16%.

A 16% increase in lifespan for humans would mean that we would live a little longer than 90 years, as easily as we live up to 80 years today. But we’d probably be in better health than today’s 80-year-olds because many aspects of the aging process may also be significantly slowed or reversed.

What next? We observe life extension in model organisms. And we observe potential for systemic regeneration in humans and animals. The next step should be a direct test of how berberine affects aging in humans, perhaps replicating the TAME study [10].

Side Effects and Safe Dosage

While researching berberine, you may notice that popular articles have conflicting views of its potential side effects. The primary scientific literature, on the other hand, does not seem to be as controversial. Common side effects include cramping, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, and stomach pain. Other than that, berberine appears to have an excellent safety profile [7].

Most human studies administer berberine to subjects at a high dose between 1000 and 1500 mg/day. Because our understanding of berberine is still improving, a good approach may be to talk to your doctor about a low dose of berberine.

That's another reason why it's good to purchase your berberine supplement from Thrivous. Each capsule of Vitality Geroprotector contains 125 mg berberine. And there's 500 mg berberine in each serving of four capsules. Other supplement brands tend to sell berberine at a much higher dose per capsule.

I also recommend that you test for and collect baseline biomarkers (cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.) before taking berberine. Then you can compare with future tests. This will help you recognize anything that gets better or worse.

Conclusion

Taking geroprotectors and having your biomarkers analyzed are excellent steps you can take right now to increase your chance of life extension. Being proactive and preventative is a new approach to health. And the sooner we get started, the better.

Remember, supplements are just one genre of promising life extension treatments! There are also life extension gene therapies [35, 36] that have extended mouse lifespan by between 30% and 50%. There are cell therapies [37, 38] that have extended mouse lifespan by up to 30%. And there are organ transplants[39, 40], drugs [41, 42], diets [43, 44], and other interesting methods [45].

We should start combing these treatments! If we combine them in the right way, there may be synergistic effects. And that may help us all live for 150 years, or even much longer.

Thrivous is great because they want to see everyone around them get healthier and live longer. Please support Thrivous. And consider donating your biomarkers to scientists who analyze the effects of geroprotectors. These are real steps that you can take to help extend our species' maximum lifespan.

I look forward to living a lot longer with you.

References

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2013 definition of aging

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Zhang Y. et al. (2017). Hypothalamic stem cells control ageing speed partly through exosomal miRNAs. Nature. 548: 52-57.

Habermehl T. et al. (2019). Extension of longevity and reduction of inflammation is ovarian-dependent, but germ cell-independent in post-reproductive female mice. Geroscience. 41(1):25-38

Pierpaoli W. et al. (1997). Circadian melatonin and young-to-old pineal grafting postpone aging and maintain juvenile conditions of reproductive functions in mice and rats. Exp Gerontol. 32(4-5):587-602.

Smith B. et al. (2019). Changes in the gut microbiome and fermentation products concurrent with enhanced longevity in acarbose-treated mice. BMC Microbiol. 19(1):130.

Ko K. et al. (2010). Long-Term Dietary Supplementation with a Yang-Invigorating Chinese Herbal Formula Increases Lifespan and Mitigates Age-Associated Declines in Mitochondrial Antioxidant Status and Functional Ability of Various Tissues in Male and Female C57BL/6J Mice. Rejuvenation Res. 13(2-3):168-71.

Roberts M. et al. (2018). A ketogenic diet extends longevity and healthspan in adult mice. Cell Metab. 26(3): 539–546.e5.

Solon-Biet S. et al. (2014). The ratio of macronutrients, not caloric intake, dictates cardiometabolic health, aging, and longevity in ad libitum-fed mice. Cell Metab. 19(3):418-30.

McMurphy T. et al. (2018). Implementation of environmental enrichment after middle age promotes healthy aging. Aging. 10(7):1698-1721.

Originally published at thrivous.com on June 25, 2020 at 05:13PM.

[thrivous]

The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone is a major breakthrough in the fight against the deadly virus, COVID-19. This is according to UK experts, as reported by BBC News.

The drug is part of a trial testing existing treatments to see if they also work for coronavirus. Dexamethasone cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. For those on oxygen, it cut deaths by a fifth.

"This is the only drug so far that has been shown to reduce mortality - and it reduces it significantly,” said Oxford University’s Prof. Peter Horby. “It's a major breakthrough."

“Dexamethasone is the first drug to be shown to improve survival in COVID-19,” added Horby in a press release issued by Oxford University. “This is an extremely welcome result.”

“The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide.”

Light-Activated CRISPR Rapidly Repairs Genes

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have used light as a trigger to rapidly make precise CRISPR cuts in genomic material.

The research results were obtained in a series of experiments using human cancer cell lines and published in Science. They show that specialized cell proteins repaired the exact spot where genes were cut.

The scientists modified the CRISPR-Cas9 complex by engineering a light-sensitive RNA molecule. It allows the CRISPR complex to cut genomic DNA in living cells only when exposed to a particular wavelength of light.

Repairing Old Blood Could Achieve Rejuvenation

Researchers at UC Berkeley have found that replacing half of the blood plasma with a mixture of saline and albumin reverses signs of aging in old mice. It also rejuvenates muscle, brain, and liver tissue.

A study published in Aging indicates that the new technique has the same or stronger rejuvenation effects than replacing old blood with new blood.

This suggests that rejuvenation could be achieved by removing harmful factors in old blood. The researchers are finalizing clinical trials to determine if a modified plasma exchange in humans could be used to treat age-associated diseases and improve the overall health of older people.

Nanoneedles Could Improve Skin Cancer Treatment

Purdue University scientists have created a wearable patch to provide an improved treatment experience for people with melanoma.

The patch is described in a research paper published in ACS Nano. It uses fully miniaturized “nanoneedles” to enable unobtrusive drug delivery through the skin for the management of skin cancers.

The surface of the nanoneedles is configured with nanoscale pores. They provide a large drug loading capacity comparable to those using conventional microneedles.

The nanoneedles could deliver the chemotherapeutic drugs to target melanoma sites in a sustainable manner.

Small Molecules Suppress Cancer Growth

City of Hope scientists have identified two potent small molecules that appear to suppress tumor growth in multiple cancers. They work even when other treatments cease to work, possibly due to the development of drug resistance.

Called CS1 and CS2, these cancer inhibitor compounds are part of a protein known as ''fat mass and obesity-associated protein'' (FTO).

A study published in Cancer Cell shows that FTO plays a critical role in cancer development and progression. This is primarily because it regulates cancer stem cells and immune evasion.

Biohybrid Artificial Synapses for BCIs

Researchers at Stanford University, Italian Institute of Technology, and Eindhoven University of Technology, have created an artificial synapse that can integrate and interact with neuron-like cells.

A paper published in Nature Materials reports that the researchers have tested the first biohybrid version of a previously developed artificial synapse. And they demonstrated that it can communicate with living cells.

Future technologies stemming from this device could function by responding directly to chemical signals from the brain. And they may find use in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).

Originally published at thrivous.com on June 23, 2020 at 09:10AM.

[thrivous]

If you can’t imagine getting up in the morning without reaching for a cup of coffee, you’re not alone. Namely, over 50% of Americans aged 18 or older drink coffee every day. It’s delicious, helps us wake up faster and feel more energized, and it improves our concentration during the day.

However, there can be too much of a good thing. So coffee lovers should limit their coffee intake to the recommended daily dose of four regular cups, which is equivalent to 400 mg of caffeine.

Caffeine can also be found in black and green teas, cocoa, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, and supplements. Chances are some of your favorite beverages or sweets contain caffeine too. But caffeine has both positive and negative effects on our overall health. 

Caffeine Improves Concentration

Studies show that caffeine can improve mental performance, especially alertness, attention, and concentration. In moderation, it may enhance memory performance, while a higher intake may, in turn, decrease it. This makes coffee popular among students, as it can enhance short-term memory — a type of memory activated when learning new material.

Caffeine in Pain Management

Studies show that coffee has a significant role in pain management. It can help reduce pain perception by blocking adenosine receptors in our brain. And it can stimulate the release of dopamine and beta-endorphins, which acts as a natural painkiller. 

Also, caffeine is a common ingredient in many headache medications, making pain relievers 40% more effective.

Can Coffee Help With Cancer? 

According to the World Cancer Report for 2020, coffee consumption may lower the risk of liver and endometrial cancer. Furthermore, it may reduce the risk of mouth and throat cancer, colon cancer, and skin cancer.

These results come from observational studies. Besides caffeine, other coffee ingredients may have contributed to the results. Therefore, more evidence is needed to evaluate the potential anticancer properties of caffeine.

Caffeine Can Affect Sleep

Caffeine consumption can have adverse effects on sleep, such as the delayed onset of sleep, increased nighttime awakenings, reduced total sleep time, altered sleep-related brain activity, and decreased self-reported sleep quality.

Moreover, caffeine suppresses melatonin, which is a hormone that regulates sleep cycles. When melatonin production in the body is delayed, it can significantly disrupt the quality of nighttime sleep.

Caffeine and High Blood Pressure

Caffeine can cause a noticeable short-term increase in your blood pressure levels. If you have high blood pressure on a regular basis, you should avoid caffeine right before activities that may raise your blood pressure, like exercising or hard physical labor. It is advisable to consult your doctor regarding your recommended caffeine intake.

Caffeine Addiction

Caffeine addiction is the excessive use of caffeine. It can have a negative effect on your health, social interactions, and other areas of your life. When a person addicted to caffeine tries to stop drinking coffee, it can cause caffeine withdrawal.

Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include headaches, fatigue, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, depression, irritability, tremors, and low energy. If you want to avoid these symptoms, cut back on caffeinated beverages gradually instead of quitting suddenly.

Conclusion

Caffeine consumption has both positive and negative effects on the body. Most people can enjoy foods and drinks with caffeine without worrying too much about their health. However, if you already suffer from an ailment, you should talk to your doctor about how much is safe for you.

Remember that moderation is vital. If you love coffee and find yourself regularly drinking too much of it, you could benefit from setting a daily limit or switching to decaffeinated coffee as an alternative.

Originally published at thrivous.com on June 20, 2020 at 11:09AM.

[thrivous]

Blood transfusions are normally used to treat severe forms of beta thalassaemia and sickle cell disease. However, three people with these inherited diseases no longer require transfusions. Their bone marrow stem cells were gene-edited with CRISPR, New Scientist reports.

A recent trial was the first to use CRISPR to treat inherited genetic disorders. And results were announced at a virtual meeting of the European Hematology Association.

“I am encouraged by the preliminary results, which demonstrate, in essence, a functional cure for patients with beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease,” said senior researcher Haydar Frangoul. The statement was in a press release issued by CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

Artificial Eyes May Provide Superhuman Vision

Scientists led by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have developed the world's first 3D artificial eye. It has capabilities better than existing bionic eyes. And, in some cases, it even exceeds those of natural human eyes. This brings vision to humanoid robots and new hope to patients with visual impairment.

The Electrochemical Eye (EC-Eye) is described in a research paper published in Nature. It replicates the structure of a natural eye. And it could offer sharper vision than a human eye in the future, with extra functions such as the ability to detect infrared radiation in darkness.

The key feature allowing such breakthroughs is a 3D artificial retina. It's made of an array of nanowire light sensors that mimic the photoreceptors in human retinas.

The Importance of a Strategic Mindset

Psychologists at National University of Singapore have suggested that one important psychological factor behind the achievements of successful people may be a "strategic mindset." This is the attitude of those who, in the face of challenges or setbacks, ask themselves: "How else can I do this? Is there a better way of doing this?"

A study published in PNAS suggests that a strategic mindset can be taught.

Light-Activated Molecules Kill Tumors

Chemists at Rice University have turned fluorescent tags into cancer killers. Switching one atom in the tag does the trick.

A research paper published in Chemical Science reports that replacing a single oxygen atom with a sulfur atom in a common fluorophore turns it into a photosensitizing molecule. When exposed to light, the molecule generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) that destroyed breast cancer cells in the lab.

Cheaper Compounds with Anti-Cancer Effects

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science have developed a method through which a fungal compound, capable of activating the self-destruct gene in certain cancer cells, can be artificially produced in marketable quantities. This provides a potential cancer therapeutic strategy.

In a paper published in European Journal of Organic Chemistry, the researchers describe a method to produce a compound with known anti-cancer properties. It is called "FE399." And it is naturally found in Ascochyta, a species of filamentous fungus.

According to the researchers, the newly produced compound could provide an unprecedented treatment option for patients with colorectal cancer.

Vitamin D Can Protect Against Certain Cancers

Scientists at University of Eastern Finland and Autonomous University of Madrid have found that vitamin D is beneficial both in cancer prevention and in the prognosis of several cancers.

A research paper published in Seminars in Cancer Biology indicates that the anti-cancer effects of vitamin D are especially pronounced in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer and blood cancers.

In addition, high vitamin D responsiveness can be linked to a smaller cancer risk. Vitamin D responsiveness varies between individuals, affecting their need for vitamin D supplementation.

Wireless Neural Stimulation for Neural Conditions

Rice University neuroengineers have created a tiny surgical implant that can electrically stimulate the brain and nervous system without using a battery or wired power supply.

The new neural stimulator is described in a study published in Neuron. It is based on a thin film of "magnetoelectric" material that converts magnetic energy directly into an electrical voltage.

The device worked in laboratory mice that were fully awake and free to roam. It could be used to treat epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, chronic pain, and other conditions.

Originally published at thrivous.com on June 15, 2020 at 07:04PM.

[thrivous]

There are many studies that focus on the benefits of caffeine. It takes a lot to build understanding of a supplement and identify its benefits, how it works, when it's useful, and how it should be used.

The first study, below, looked at the results of over 250 studies to make some conclusions and identify some holes in the research. The two studies after that help to fill in those holes in caffeine research.

Meta-Analysis Confirms General Caffeine Benefits

New Study: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee: Caffeine Supplementation and Exercise Performance-An Umbrella Review of 21 Published Meta-Analyses

This study took the results of over 250 studies and combined them to make broader conclusions about caffeine. The researchers found that caffeine enhanced aerobic endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, power, jumping performance, and exercise speed.

However, the available data was not adequate to specify optimal dosage for the various types of exercise. It also wasn't adequate to determine optimal dosage across the phases of women’s menstrual cycles. The authors pointed out that, while some studies showed similar benefits for men and women, few studies have included women.

Studies generally timed ingestion 60 minutes before exercise. But the authors point out that optimal timing may potentially vary by genetic variation.

Caffeine Works Throughout the Menstrual Cycle 

New Study: The Effect of Caffeine on the Velocity of Half-Squat Exercise During the Menstrual Cycle: A Randomized Controlled Trial. 

This study focused on resistance exercise at different points of the menstrual cycle. The participants included 13 training athletes with regular menstrual cycles and caffeine intake less than 100 mg per day.

The testing was performed twice during each phase of the menstrual cycle (early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases), 48 hours apart. Participants received a placebo or 3 mg caffeine per kg bodyweight, sixty minutes before completing the half squat exercises.

The data showed similar increases in mean and peak velocity during all 3 phases of the menstrual cycle. The researchers acknowledged that the participants did not have any menstrual related disorders, which are common among menstruating athletes. But for regularly-menstruating athletes who want to focus on high-velocity resistance training enhanced by caffeine, they may not have to worry about scheduling around their menstrual cycle.

Caffeine Enhances Athletic Performance of Women

New Study: Acute Caffeine Supplementation Promotes Small to Moderate Improvements in Performance Tests Indicative of In-Game Success in Professional Female Basketball Players.

This study focused on the effects of caffeine on various high-intensity activities, representative of movements in a basketball game.

The study included 10 professional female basketball players. They ingested a placebo or 3 mg caffeine per kg bodyweight. Then, sixty minutes later, they completed a series of countermovement jumps (CMJ) with and without arm swing, a squat jump (SJ), the lane agility drill, 20m sprints (with 5m and 10m split times recorded) with and without dribbling a ball, and a suicide run.

All participants consumed less than 100 mg caffeine regularly and completed the study during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. The researchers noted that caffeine may be metabolized slightly slower during the luteal phase, increasing the potential effect of caffeine.

The researchers found that caffeine supplementation enhanced countermovement jump height without arm swing by 4.6%, countermovement jump height with arm swing by 3.8%, and squat jump height by 4.8%. Within individual differences, researchers saw small improvements in vertical jump height and change of direction speed, as well as slightly to moderately faster sprint and repeated-sprint times.

The positive performance effects of caffeine supplementation were accompanied by moderately lower ratings of perceived exertion and a small increase in perceived performance. Researchers also noted that, while some individuals saw slight improvements, some individuals saw much greater improvements.

The authors concluded that female basketball players may benefit from caffeine supplementation but that degree of enhancement may vary by person.

It's great to see a study that systematically compiled the available data to draw overall conclusions. I also find it exciting to see the data gaps filled in by the results of new studies.

Thrivous Surge

Thrivous developed Surge Acute Nootropic to provide clinical doses of Caffeine for those times when you need an extra power boost. Surge combines Caffeine with L Theanine for a smooth, jitter-free experience. And Surge also provides standardized Ginseng extract to complement the performance enhancement benefits of Caffeine.

Like all Thrivous supplements, Surge passes through multiple rounds of rigorous quality control. Each nutrient and their combination is tested and re-tested to confirm identity, potency, and safety from metals and microbes. And all quality control documentation is published transparently, which is an exceptional practice in the supplement industry.

A single bottle of Surge, used occasionally, can provide several months of cognitive and physical enhancement at those times when you need it most. Surge is available to purchase online through the Thrivous store.

Originally published at thrivous.com on June 13, 2020 at 12:55PM.

[thrivous]

For the first time in all of history, defeating death from aging and extending healthy lifespans seem to be attainable goals. Based on my research, I think we'll all have the option to choose life extension sometime over the next twenty or thirty years.

Robust technologies are being built all around us. But what you may not know yet is many of them are aimed directly at extending our healthy lifespan far longer than 120 years.

Combinations of gene therapy geroprotectors may increase our maximum lifespan to 150 years [1, 2]. The SENS approach may reverse and prevent aging, along with rejuvenating biological damage, to maintain indefinite lifespans [3]. Nanotechnology may target every cell in the body, fulfilling the true definition of "precision medicine" [4-5]. And we may develop indefinite biostasis technologies [8, 15, 16].

Imagine extending consciousness through direct and indirect, as well as short and long distance, brain-computer interfaces [6-7]. And beyond combatting death from aging, artificial general intelligence could help us decrease crime, mitigate catastrophic risks, and solve many other persistent problems [9-14].

All of this requires a great deal of capital to research the hard science and develop the technology. And I doubt more than a handful of politicians have even considered the possibility that we could defeat aging in the next few decades. So, because we probably can't expect governments to subsidize age reversal and life extension research anytime soon, we'll need to find the necessary capital somewhere else.

Lucky for all of us, quite a few wealthy individuals have been targeting this problem. Below is a list of the ultra-wealthy, along with brief elaborations of their impressive efforts to extend our healthy lifespans. I sincerely hope these individuals motivate other wealthy and non-wealthy individuals to enter the life extension industry, to help us all in the war against death. I introduce to you some of the most important investors of our time.

Martine Rothblatt

Martine Rothblatt is one of the most impressive individuals our world has ever seen. She is commonly considered to be the richest executive woman in America. And, as of 2019, Forbes set her net worth at $320M [17].

After creating a highly successful company, SiriusXM Satellite Radio [18], Dr. Rothblatt gave it up. She needed to use every valuable second of her time to save her daughter’s life from a rare lung disease, called "pulmonary hypertension" [19].

After Dr. Rothblatt and her team of scientists saved her young daughter’s life, the next logical step was to build what may have been the first life extension biotech company, United Therapeutics [20]. The initial focus of the company was to defeat her daughter’s disease. But shortly after, her passion to save lives extended to everyone. Now she and United Therapeutics build and invest into many robust medical technologies and herald some of the most incredible science that will significantly help in the fight against death.

Dr. Rothblatt noticed most Americans are on the organ transplant list. You can double check on your drivers license whether you have a pink dot. The dot tells doctors you are willing to donate your organs to research.

Sadly, a majority of the organs that have the potential to be transplanted are instead thrown away. That's because they are damaged too much during the dying process.

So, for the past few years, United Therapeutics has been refurbishing discarded lungs. They stream the refurbishing process to transplant surgeons in real time, so the surgeons can provide instructions to the refurbishing doctors. Once the transplant surgeons approve, the refurbishing doctors send the organs.

To cut down on the burning of fossil fuel from the helicopters that transport refurbished organs, Martine invented the first electric helicopter [21]. If that doesn’t sound impressive enough, Martine was one of the first individuals to invest into developing human level AI robots [19].

She also invests in xenotransplantation and 3D bio-printing organs [22]. Recently at a Forbes conference, Dr. Rothblatt stated that, in the 2020s, United Therapeutics will offer viable xenotransplantable human-pig hybrid organs to the public. And in the 2030s, she will disrupt her own xenotransplanting technology by introducing 3D bioprinted organs [23].

Some other big pharma and biotech CEOs would oppress disruptive technologies. But because Martine is a genius businesswoman, she understands that innovation is an easy side to choose. Innovation will inevitably disrupt the archaic. So she might as well make innovation her business model.

Hopefully more biotech and big pharma leaders take notice of Martine and follow her lead. Hopefully their companies aren't disrupted, so they can save more human lives!

Jim Mellon

Jim Mellon is a billionaire British entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor. His recorded net worth is ~$1.3B [24]. A few years ago, he discovered the life extension industry. And he didn’t waste a second of time before deciding to get involved.

Mr. Mellon has collaborated with researchers like Dr. Aubrey de Grey. He recently brought together an impressive team of researchers at his anti-aging company, Juvenescence [25]. He wrote a book on the promises of health extension [26]. And he launched one of the most awesome annual anti-aging conferences [27].

Mr. Mellon isn’t a passive investor. He doesn’t just throw money at age reversal and life extension research, and then sit back and watch what happens. Instead, he is investing AND getting involved in the movement. He wants to understand and direct the research, so he can play an active role in defeating death.

Mr. Mellon has become a leader in the life extension industry in such a small amount of time. And I'm eager to see what Juvenescence develops in the near and long term!

Dmitry Itskov

A Russian billionaire and media mogul [28], Dmitry Itskov was one of the first to make serious moves in the life extension industry. Like Jim Mellon, Mr. Itskov plans on investing a large sum of his own money AND be directly involved in the development of life extension research.

You can just feel his passion for life extension every time you listen to him discuss it. In 2013, he held a conference, called the "2045 initiative" [29]. Many of the most influential advocates of life extension gathered to provide tutelage, on stage, to an impressive crowd [30-34].

His company is relatively secretive about what they are developing. But, early on, the 2045 initiative shared a great road map to defeating death. I can’t wait to get my first avatar from Mr. Itskov’s company [35]!

Chan and Mark Zuckerberg

One of the most impressive couples on our planet, Chan and Mark Zuckerberg recently set out to cure and manage all disease in their child’s lifetime. They are investing most of their Facebook shares into this endeavor via a biotech company, Chanzuckerberg Biohub [36].

Like the others above, they don't just invest. Dr. Chan is a medical doctor and Mark is a software engineer. Together, they have the potential to play one of the biggest roles in the defeat of death.

Among their first projects is a full cytometric map of the ~200 cell types that make up human bodies. They call this the "Cell Atlas Initiative." Imagine a real-time map of trillions of cells and many, if not all, of their inner workings. They'll likely begin with simple snap shots, but this could still be some of the most valuable data on our planet.

Their other research efforts include an infectious diseases initiative, a technology initiative, and an investigator program. In 2019, they announced their goals and some of their researchers discussed the company [37]. I'm so excited to watch their work.

Osman Kibar

Osman Kibar is an entrepreneur and inventor, with numerous successful biotech companies under his belt. As of 2018, he had a net worth of over $430M [38]. And he has become a power house in the life extension industry with a company called Samumed [39].

Samumed is doing some excellent regenerative medicine and is targeting age-related diseases. Dr. Kibar has taken the bold step of developing therapies that manipulate the Wnt signaling pathway, which not many have had success in manipulating. In 2018, Dr. Kibar presented at Singularity University and hinted at the incredible success that Samumed has already had [40].

Dr. Kibar is a CEO and a scientist. That's a powerful combination. And I'm excited to watch Samumed develop and help us all in the fight against death.

Bryan Johnson

Bryan Johnson is an entrepreneur and investor. He has a net worth of over $400M [41]. He's not just spending his money on cars, yachts, fancy clothes, or a couple islands. Instead, he made the impressive choice of dedicating ~$100M into developing brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies at his company, Kernel [42].

After listening to many of his talks, it's easy to understand that he's not playing around. He fully appreciates how fundamental the human brain truly is to our existence.

Our brain creates a simulation of our reality that we all experience in front of us. All the tastes, objects positioned within space, your love for your wife and children, daily stresses, the smell of cheese, your understanding of mathematics: everything has to be simulated by the brain. So the possibilities are astounding, when you really start researching BCI.

From what I understand, Kernel plans on developing BCI tech so we can increase brain health, along with augmenting our intelligence. I hope that Bryan works on extending our consciousness into computers.

Just imagine how incredible that could be to connect our brains to the Internet. What if we could easily comprehend all scholarly peer-reviewed literature, the same way we currently comprehend 1+1=2? Maybe it sounds silly, but I think that's a goal we will achieve eventually. And there's increasing evidence that "eventually" may be a lot sooner than many think.

Imagine combining this great wealth of knowledge in a meaningful way: to augment all our creativity, our love, and our politics. Everything would change.

What if we could each comprehend medicine, economics, synthetic biology, astrophysics, robotics, artificial intelligence, and mathematics? And what if our comprehension included not just primary literature, but also the wide breadth of secondary literature?

What if our minds could traverse the Internet of Things, as if it were merely a single thought? Attempting to imagine all of this, I wonder it it's not like an ant trying to imagine what it's like to be a human.

Mr. Johnson also knows how important it is to engineer a sort of security system for our brains. We wouldn't want our brains hacked using the same technology that enables enhancement. We might not ever be the same after such a horrific event.

Google

Google has been around for decades and has developed into one of the most powerful tech companies on the planet. They are leaders in search, quantum computers, AI, self-driving cars, and so much more.

In 2012, they decided they wanted to become a leader in preventing and reversing the aging process. And they launched Calico [43].

The research they’ve shared with the public so far hasn't been too exciting. But they have a very impressive team. And, given their track record, it's probably only a matter of time until they become leading figures in the life extension industry. I hope to live indefinitely with Calico.

Peter Theil

Peter Theil is one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time. He has developed many impressive companies. And, as of 2020, he had a net worth of $2.3B [44]. It’s great to see his genius and personal money aimed at preventing and reversing the aging process [45].

Mr. Theil's involvement in life extension, so far, can be described as "passionate," at the least. There's a rumor that he employed heterokaryonic parabiosis, regularly injecting young blood in hope of slowing down the aging process. The rumor probably isn't true [46]. But if it is, I imagine he got excited from some of the relatively successful mice studies that reversed some aspects of the aging process [47].

I think the research related to injecting young plasma for age reversal isn't developed enough for confidence in self-experimentation. And there's more promising research related to other anti-aging injections, such as mesenchymal stem cells at the Panama Stem Cell Institute [48].

But Mr. Theil has demonstrated a passion toward life extension. And I imagine we'll be hearing much more about that.

Larry Ellison

Larry Ellison is the founder and CTO of one of the most successful computer companies, Oracle [49]. He has a net worth of $68B. And he was one of the first big investors in anti-aging research.

Mr. Ellison is known for being one of the most ambitious leaders of our time. So just imagine his expertise and passion directed at extending lifespan for everyone.

Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos is the founder of many impressive companies. And he currently has a net worth of $150B [50]. He is one of the biggest investors in preventing and reversing the aging process. His most recent investment was in Unity Biotechnology [51].

Sadly, Mr. Bezos is not known for being as active in the life extension industry as many of the others discussed above. But, given his net worth, he has clearly learned something about business that most of us haven't. And it would be amazing to see even more of his efforts directed toward life extension!

Other Notable Individuals

Below is a non-exhaustive list of others that are pushing the life extension movement forward as much as, if not more than, those listed above. All of these impressive individuals, in various ways, are supporting or developing this most salient research.

Anthony Atala

Aubrey de Grey

Ben Goertzel

Bill Andrews

Bill Gates

Craig Venter

David Sinclair

Elon Musk

Eric Drexler

George Church

Laura Deming

Luhan Yang

Masayoshi Son

Max More

Naveen Jain

Neil Riordan

Peter Diamandis

Peter Voss

Ray Kurzweil

Sergey Young

Conclusion

The combined effort of these individuals may seem like a lot. Globally, trillions of dollars are invested into research to defeat the diseases that inflict us. But it's not enough. Development of treatments is still slow because human biology is extremely complex.

So we need the other 2K billionaires and 14M millionaires around the globe to step up to the plate. We need them to become part of this list of individuals who are applying their resources to defeat death.

Most governments have barely expressed even a hint of interest in reversing aging and defeating death, let alone subsidizing related research. So we can't rely on them for this purpose. We must take it upon ourselves to pursue the hope of giving everyone the option to live indefinitely.

I expect that life extension will continue to become mainstream. And scientists may soon experience a phenomenon that Peter Voss calls "financial escape velocity." It's the idea that people will throw money at life extension science as fast as they can.

Why will people do this? We'll do it because most of us won't want to age and die in an expensive car when there's a realistic alternative. The goal of defeating death is among the most noble goals that our species has ever conceived.

I sincerely hope that, wealthy or not, you'll take the time to learn more about this research. Maybe you can help us all realize life extension. I look forward to living with all of you forever!

References

Rejuvenatebio. (2017). https://go.thrivous.com/2MSgaKC

Vera E, Bernardes de Jesus B, Foronda M, Flores JM, Blasco MA. Telomerase reverse transcriptase synergizes with calorie restriction to increase health span and extend mouse longevity. PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e53760. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053760 https://go.thrivous.com/30AvVOC

NHUAR

Robert A. Freitas Jr. (1998). "Exploratory Design in Medical Nanotechnology: A Mechanical Artificial Red Cell". Artificial Cells, Blood Substitutes, and Immobil. Biotech. (26): 411–430.

Drexler, Eric. Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology. Doubleday. 1986.

Neuralink. 2016. https://go.thrivous.com/2AV8LYl

Kernel. 2016. https://go.thrivous.com/37lhvTP

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OpenAI. 2015. https://go.thrivous.com/30xVbF3

AlphaGo. 2015. https://go.thrivous.com/2AXFuME

Alcor Life Extension Foundation: Cryonics. 1972. https://go.thrivous.com/3fkj7zJ

Shatilovich, A.V., Tchesunov, A.V., Neretina, T.V. et al. Viable Nematodes from Late Pleistocene Permafrost of the Kolyma River Lowland. Dokl Biol Sci 480, 100–102 (2018). https://go.thrivous.com/2AXFvAc

#65 Martine Rothblatt. Forbes. 2019. https://go.thrivous.com/2XU1i4Y

Bio: Martine Rothblatt. Lifenaut eternalize. 2015. https://go.thrivous.com/2UAlCGx

TED. Martine Rothblatt: My daughter, my wife, our robot, and the quest for immortality. YouTube. TED. May 18, 2015. 21:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTJpJlVkRTA&t=5s

United Therapeutics. 1996. https://go.thrivous.com/2B0i8pP

Martine Rothblatt. First ever two-person electric helicopter flight. YouTube. March 4, 2017. 8:16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2_vGou5194

Reed, Tina. (2018). Martine Rothblatt's theory of evolution. Bizjournal. https://go.thrivous.com/2YqI7yv

Forbes Live. Healthcare Summit 2017: Transformations: An Interview With Martine Rothblatt | Forbes Live. YouTube. December 1, 2017. 22:18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYkjyIjcW7E

Kanter, Jake. (2018) A billionaire biotech investor says Facebook will be decimated by its disastrous data leak. Business Insider. https://go.thrivous.com/2XQScWt

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Originally published at thrivous.com on June 11, 2020 at 02:50PM.

[thrivous]

Carnegie Mellon University scientists have created a nano-engineered material. It's a type of graphene (see below) that permits stimulating and controlling neural cells using light. This new technology is energy-efficient and does not require genetic modifications.

“The developed technology will allow us to interact with either engineered tissues or with nerve or muscle tissue in vivo,” said Tzahi Cohen-Karni, associate professor of biomedical engineering and materials science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in a CMU press release. “This will allow us to control and affect tissue functionality using light remotely with high precision and low needed energies.”

According to the scientists, nanostructures created using the new material may have a major impact on the future of human biology and medicine.

“The broadband absorption of these 3D nanomaterials enabled us to use light at wavelengths that can penetrate deep into the tissue to remotely excite nerve cells,” added Maysam Chamanzar, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at CMU. “This method can be used in a whole gamut of applications, from designing non-invasive therapeutics to basic scientific studies.”

Remote Optical Stimulation of Neural Cells

Scientists led by Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new technology that enhances the ability to communicate with neural cells using light. The scientists used nanowires to synthesize a type of graphene, dubbed NW-templated three-dimensional fuzzy graphene (NT-3DFG).

A research paper published in PNAS shows that NT-3DFG enables remote optical stimulation. It does so without need for genetic modification. And it uses orders of magnitude less energy than available materials, preventing cellular stress.

Fighting COVID-19 with CRISPR Gene Editing

Scientists at Stanford University and Molecular Foundry, a nanoscience user facility located at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), are working to develop a gene-targeting, antiviral agent against COVID-19.

A research paper published in Cell suggests that a technique called PAC-MAN (Prophylactic Antiviral CRISPR in human cells) could be adapted to fight COVID-19. PAC-MAN already uses CRISPR gene-editing to fight influenza.

New Molecules Block the Growth of Cancer

Researchers led by University of Southern California have developed a new, faster way to make drugs that precisely target malignant cells, while leaving healthy tissue undamaged.

In a study published in Science Advances, the researchers describe a new technology to rapidly create drug molecules called antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The researchers generated ADCs that can effectively block the growth of breast cancer tumors in laboratory animals.

According to the researchers, these promising results provide a strong basis for clinical studies. And they could lead the way to better treatments for numerous types of cancer.

Nanoparticles Boost Cancer Immunotherapy

MIT engineers have found a way to boost the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy drugs, called "checkpoint inhibitors." A study is published in PNAS.

The engineers treated laboratory mice with these drugs, along with new nanoparticles that stimulate the immune system. And the therapy became more powerful than checkpoint inhibitors given alone.

The engineers used tumor-penetrating nanoparticles that they had previously developed for delivering RNA to silence cancerous genes.

Americans Are Acutely Stressed by the Pandemic

Researchers at University of Connecticut have taken a snapshot of the immediate impact of COVID-19 on Americans' stress levels, coping strategies, and adherence to public health guidelines.

The research results are published in Journal of General Internal Medicine. They indicate that fears related to the virus itself were the most common. But respondents were more acutely concerned about the financial consequences caused by the pandemic.

Of the stressors experienced, respondents ranked loss of job security or income as the most stressful, followed by risk of a loved one becoming ill.

Cancer Cells Protect Themselves with Inflammation

Researchers at Francis Crick Institute have uncovered how cancer cells protect themselves from viruses that are harmful to tumours but not to healthy cells. These findings could lead to improved viral treatments for the disease. The study was published in Nature Cell Biology.

The researchers identified a mechanism that protects cancer cells from oncolytic viruses, which preferentially infect and kill cancer cells. When cancer cells are in direct contact with certain oncolytic viruses, this leads to inflammation in the surrounding tissue. In turn, that makes it harder for viruses to invade and replicate within the cancer cell.

Originally published at thrivous.com on June 08, 2020 at 07:24PM.

[thrivous]

By now, just about everyone knows that geroprotectors and other life extension treatments (LETs) can extend the lifespans of model organisms such as mice. Examples include metformin [1, 2], rapamycin [3, 4], calorie restriction [5, 6], resveratrol [7, 8], and NAD+ precursors [9, 10]. The number of PubMed publications and Google searches has been increasing exponentially for many specific LETs.

What many may not know, though, is that there aren’t just a handful of these LETs. There are actually thousands of LETs that have emerged over the last hundred years, which is around the time that life extension in mice was first discovered [11]. And between 1950 and 2000, hundreds of diets, molecules, exercises, and other interesting methods, were discovered to extend mouse lifespan.

For some odd reason, it took a long time for the public and our healthcare system to become aware of all of this [12-20]. Although the topic is now popular, not one time did I learn about extending organism lifespan or reversing aging during the time I spent as a biomedical undergrad.

That changed my last semester, when I watched some YouTube videos of Dr. Aubrey de Grey, Ray Kurzweil, and Dr. Martine Rothblatt [21-23]. After watching the videos, I asked my colleagues and professors about the topic. Somehow, not a single one of them had heard of this seemingly promising research. Not even the gerontology department had heard of it.

I hope one day to discover the reasons behind this historical lack of awareness. But, for now, there's no time. The research must be developed!

Brief History of Life Extension Research

It was not until around the beginning of the 21st century that we began to see genetic edits extending the lifespan of model organisms [24-30]. One life extension gene edit after another was discovered as the years went by.

Before we knew it, hundreds of different genetic edits had extended mouse lifespans. Hundreds more had extended the lifespans of other model organisms. And their health-spans were dramatically increased also.

Single genes were deleted or over-expressed to extend the lives of mice by up to 50% [31-35]. Diets [36, 37], small molecules [38, 39], and other interesting approaches [40, 41] were discovered. And adult stem cells extended mouse lifespan between 10% and 35% [42].

Recently, Dr. Nir Barzilai began planning a human clinical trial (TAME) using metformin to target age-related diseases [43]. It could be one of the greatest trials ever conducted. Metformin won't necessarily extend human lifespan exactly as we’ve observed in model organisms [1, 2]. But this may trigger an avalanche of new research by massive biotech companies with the goal to help us live healthy lives up to 150 years or longer.

Direction of Life Extension Research Today

Imagine an industry in which thousands of diets, drugs, supplements, genetic edits, and stem cells are tested and combined for optimal healthy life extension. It could be as simple as a quick injection for gene therapy. Or maybe we could consume a combination of strawberries and green tea for the fisetin [44] and EGCG [45]. This is the direction that LETs are going.

Only a few scientists have been bold enough to combine multiple LETs in tests on model organisms [46, 47]. In 2019, Dr. George Church and his research team published a spectacular paper. It described the results of making three genetic edits with a single gene therapy combination in mice [48].

Dr. Church didn't take time to measure life extension in the mice because he thinks that measuring life extension in humans will take too long. Imagine a forty year trial! To prove life extension in humans, we would have to live far longer than 120 years. Instead, Dr. Church believes we must focus on preventing and reversing parameters of biological aging because we can measure them faster.

So he and his team targeted four age-related diseases in mice. It wasn’t too surprising that their health-span increased. And their biological aging process slowed compared to controls. In other words, the mice remained youthful for much longer.

And why would he stop there? His plan is to test a combo treatment of gene therapies in dogs. It will contain not three, not four, but over forty of promising gene therapies [49].

Speculating on the Potential of Life Extension

In yeast, flies, and nematodes, single LETs can extend lifespan well over 100% [50, 51]. And many single LETs can extend mouse lifespan by 20% to 40%.

Let's do some speculative math. Assume we observe in mice at least a 10% increase in maximum lifespan from each of 45 gene therapies. 45 times 10% equals a 450% increase in lifespan.

If that translated over to humans, we would live longer than 400 years. And we may even be healthier than today’s healthiest 25-year-olds.

However, some studies have indicated that combinations aren't synergistic. For example, if two treatments extend mouse lifespan by 10% each on their own, we might observe an increase of about 15% from the combination.

So, backing off, imagine a 200% life extension in humans from something as simple as just drinking enough green tea, injecting a few stem cells, and applying some gene therapies. Should we believe this is possible?

Are humans too complex? Do humans live too long? Well, mice are much more complex and live much longer than nematodes. And we have observed 20% increases in mouse lifespan from treatments that only extend nematode lifespan by 10% [52, 53].

So the complexity argument doesn’t always work. And, at the end of the day, we might as well check how thousands of model organism studies translate over to humans. Let's not rule out possibilities until we've properly tested them. We should conduct more human trials like TAME, but with combinations of LETs.

Lifespans of 150 years would be less than a 50% increase in maximum lifespan for humans. Maybe it will only take a few LETs to help us all get there. And there are hundreds of promising LETs to explore.

Audacious Hope

Why only 150 years? Have we already discovered a method to keep people alive, as some enthusiasts describe it, "long enough to live forever"? In other words, do we already have the tools we need to survive just long enough to make better tools, over and again, and achieve longevity escape velocity?

We spend trillions of dollars targeting symptoms of specific diseases. But, right in front of our face, we might already have a relatively inexpensive method to achieve what our ancestors have hoped for millennia. Maybe we can finally, once and for all, put an end to suffering and death from aging!

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Originally published at thrivous.com on June 04, 2020 at 01:33PM.

[thrivous]

Older men may be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. That's because they worry less about catching or dying from it than women their age and younger people of both sexes. This is according to a new study by Sarah Barber, a gerontology and psychology researcher at Georgia State University.

"Not only do older adults exhibit less negative emotions in their daily lives," said Barber in a Georgia State University press release, "they also exhibit less worry and fewer PTSD symptoms following natural disasters and terrorist attacks."

According to Barber, this may be because older adults have better coping strategies, perhaps gained through experience, and thus are able to regulate their emotional responses better. In general, worry begins to ease with age, and is also lower among men than women. Barber added:

"In normal circumstances, not worrying as much is a good thing. Everyday life is probably happier if we worry less. However … lower amounts of worry would translate into fewer protective COVID-19 behavior changes."

Barber's second point is certainly important and worth repeating. But so is the first point, because worrying too much can make life miserable. I guess the best approach is doing what one has to do, including taking all appropriate measures to avoid COVID-19 and other unpleasant things, but without worrying.

Promising Clinical Trials for Lymphoma Treatment

Scientists at Nagoya University and Mie University have conducted clinical trials for a new treatment protocol for lymphoma. Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that develops from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).

The results of the trial, published in The Lancet Oncology, appear to be promising. 76% of the enrolled patients reached the primary goal of two-year survival without disease progression and 92% reached two-year overall survival. The disease affected the central nervous system in only 3% of patients.

The toxicity of the treatment was found to be low. And all adverse effects were manageable, with very few serious complications.

Gold Nanoparticles for Fast COVID-19 Test

Scientists at University of Maryland have developed an experimental diagnostic test for COVID-19 that can visually detect the presence of the virus in 10 minutes.

The test is described in a research paper published in ACS Nano. It uses gold nanoparticles and does not require the use of any advanced laboratory techniques, such as those commonly used to amplify DNA, for analysis.

Toward New Therapies for ALS

Researchers at Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center have identified a new mechanism by which the buildup of toxic proteins disrupts neuronal transmission. Such toxins are a common hallmark of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The findings are described in a paper published in EMBO Molecular Medicine. They provide a groundwork for understanding how to maintain the nerve-muscle connection in ALS. And they could lead to new therapies.

Engineered Viruses Kill Cancer Cells

Hokkaido University scientists have engineered viruses that specifically replicate inside cancer cells and kill cancer cells by employing special RNA-stabilizing elements.

A study has been published Cancers. It reports that two new adenoviruses, with genetic material from two human genes and an adenovirus replicating gene, were both found to replicate inside and kill cancer cells in the laboratory, while they hardly affected normal cells.

Protein Can Inhibit Cancer Growth

Researchers led by University of Copenhagen have discovered how a protein can inhibit tumor growth in mice. The protein turns off an enzyme that stimulates cell growth, thus inhibiting the development of cancer in laboratory mice.

The research results were published in EMBO Journal. They include detailed insights on how the protein PP2A, known as a tumor suppressor, regulates proteins in order to inhibit cancer.

The researchers hope that their new cancer discovery will also apply to human tumors.

Remdesivir Benefits Patients with COVID-19

Data from the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT), sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, indicate that the investigational antiviral remdesivir is superior to the standard of care for the treatment of COVID-19.

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine reports that remdesivir was most beneficial for hospitalized patients with severe disease who required supplemental oxygen.

In related news, researchers at Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine suggest that combining Remdesivir with a powerful anti-inflammatory could be the key to treating the most severe COVID-19 cases.

New Laser for Better Eye and Heart Surgery

Scientists at University of Sydney have developed a new type of laser that can deliver high amounts of energy in very short bursts of time. It has potential applications in eye and heart surgery.

One application of the new laser is described in a research paper published in Nature Photonics. According to the paper, the laser could be used in corneal surgery, which relies on gently removing material from the eye. This requires strong, short light pulses that do not heat and damage the surface.

Originally published at thrivous.com on June 02, 2020 at 01:08PM.

[thrivous]

The first COVID-19 vaccine to reach phase 1 clinical trial has been found to be safe, well-tolerated, and able to generate an immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in humans, according to a study by Chinese researchers published in The Lancet. The open-label trial in 108 healthy adults demonstrates promising results after 28 days. The final results will be evaluated in six months. Further trials are needed to tell whether the immune response it elicits effectively protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The new COVID-19 vaccine evaluated in this trial is the first to be tested in humans. It uses adenovirus type 5, a weakened common cold virus that infects human cells readily but is incapable of causing disease, to deliver genetic material that encourages cells to produce coronavirus-related proteins. These proteins are recognized by the immune system, which will then produce antibodies.

“These results represent an important milestone. The trial demonstrates that a single dose of the new adenovirus type 5 vectored COVID-19 (Ad5-nCoV) vaccine produces virus-specific antibodies and T cells in 14 days, making it a potential candidate for further investigation", says Professor Wei Chen from the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology in Beijing.

Legal Cannabis Reduces Pain in Mice

Researchers at The University of New Mexico (UNM) have shown that legal cannabis hemp oil reduced mechanical pain sensitivity 10-fold for several hours in mice.

A study published in Life describes how the researchers induced chronic post-operative neuropathic pain in laboratory mice and found that, for several hours after cannabis consumption, the mice demonstrated effective pain relief.

Exercise Improves Memory

Scientists at UT Southwestern have found that exercise boosts blood flow into two key regions of the brain associated with memory.

A study published in Journal of Alzheimer's Disease indicates that this blood flow can help even older people with memory issues improve cognition. Scientists say this finding could guide future Alzheimer's disease research.

Aging from Decline in Mitochondrial Signals

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute have suggested that decreased levels of energy, mobility, and activity in older people may be due in part to a decline in mitochondria. They are tiny powerhouses inside of our cells that provide energy and regulate metabolism.

A research paper published in Nature Metabolism suggests that communication between mitochondria and other parts of the cell plays a key role in how mitochondrial function is diminished with age.

The scientists are hopeful that these research results could help find factors that prevent this aging process.

Optogenetics Connect the Artificial to the Biological

Researchers led by University of Tokio have found a way for artificial neural networks to communicate with biological neural networks. The new system converts artificial electrical spiking signals to a visual pattern that is then used to entrain biological neurons via optogenetic stimulation.

Optogenetics is a technology that permits using light to stimulate biological neurons that have been modified with light-sensitive proteins.

This advance is described in a paper published in Scientific Reports. It could be important for future neuroprosthetic devices that replace damaged neurons with artificial neural circuitry.

Cheap GPS-like Tracking for Robots in the Body

Roboticists at UC San Diego have developed an affordable and easy to use GPS-like system to track the location of flexible surgical robots inside the human body. The researchers used standard localization methods, which work very much like GPS, to develop a computer model that predicts the robot's location.

The system, described in a paper published in IEEE Robotics and Automation, performs as well as current state of the art methods, but is much less expensive. Many current methods also require exposure to radiation, while this system does not.

Enzyme Could Repair Age-Related DNA Damage

MIT neuroscientists have discovered that an enzyme called HDAC1 is critical for repairing age-related DNA damage to genes involved in memory and other cognitive functions.

The results of a study with laboratory mice were published in Nature Communications. They indicate that, when HDAC1 is lost, a specific type of DNA damage builds up as the mice age.

The neuroscientists also showed that they could reverse this damage and improve cognitive function with a drug that activates HDAC1.

HDAC1 is often diminished in both Alzheimer's patients and in normally aging adults. And the study suggests restoring it could have positive benefits for both groups.

Originally published at thrivous.com on May 25, 2020 at 01:05PM.

[thrivous]

Aging and shortening of life result from the body’s decreasing ability to refresh and repair itself over time. As the human body ages, it becomes less capable of rebuilding bone and muscle. And it becomes less capable of suppressing oxidation and clearing away unhealthy cellular contents (autophagy). By maintaining the body’s ability to repair itself, it may be possible to extend life.

There are various ways to support the body's repair function and adopt a longevity lifestyle. They include changes to exercise and diet. According to anti-aging research, substances known as “geroprotectors” may also support the body's repair function. They include the supplement Berberine and the drug Metformin.

What Is Berberine?

Berberine is a natural compound found in various plants such as the barberry shrub.

What does Berberine do? Berberine benefits have been shown to include support for healthy blood sugar. And Berberine supplements have also been observed to support healthy heart function. Some people use it for weight loss or PCOS.

How does Berberine work? It may work by slowing a metabolic pathway that causes inflammation and increasing activity of the AMPK enzyme.

Berberine reviews typically note that the compound may not be well absorbed when taken as an oral supplement. And that may contribute to Berberine side effects related to digestive discomfort.

Studies are being done to improve absorption. Methods to increase absorption include:

additives such as Milk Thistle

encapsulation in nanotubes

water soluble derivatives

Is Berberine anti-aging? Berberine has increased lifespan in flies. This has motivated researchers to explore the use of Berberine to combat aging in humans.

What Is Metformin?

Metformin (sometimes misspelled “metaformin”) is a synthetic compound derived from French lilac.

What does Metformin do? Although some people use Metformin for weight loss or PCOS, the most common Metformin use is related to blood glucose control. Therefore, most of the human research on Metformin includes participants with type 2 diabetes.

How does Metformin work? Like Berberine, Metformin may increase activity of the AMPK enzyme.

Metformin reviews typically note that the most common Metformin side effects are related to digestion. They may include abdominal discomfort, lack of appetite, bloating, and diarrhea.

Is Metformin anti-aging? Researchers have observed that Metformin treatment may decrease mortality in people with type 2 diabetes. Metformin has been shown to improve healthspan and lifespan in mice. And the TAME study (Targeting Aging with Metformin) is testing the potential to extend healthy years of life for humans.

Comparing Berberine vs Metformin

As noted above, Berberine and Metformin may both support healthy blood sugar. They are also similar in their mechanisms of action and cellular level effects.

Both compounds appear to increase AMPK enzyme activity. AMPK is activated when there is a deficit of energy, like during fasting or exercise.

Cells activate AMPK to increase their access to energy. This facilitates glucose and fatty acid uptake from the blood. It also increases fat and glycogen breakdown, and inhibits both glucose and fat storage.

AMPK acts in at least two ways. First, it directly phosphorylates enzymes, resulting in an immediate effect. And second, it phosphorylates the transcription factors of enzymes, resulting in a longer lasting effect.

Metformin and Berberine may also increase glucose consumption. They can each inhibit complex 1 of the electron transport chain. When they do that, the process becomes less efficient at producing ATP. And that results in a use of energy that mimics a restricted calorie diet.

Scientists have done research to compare Berberine and Metformin. For example, some have found that “the hypoglycemic effect of berberine was similar to that of metformin.” And others have observed that “metformin and berberine share many features in actions despite different structure.”

Can you take Berberine and Metformin together? Although some may consider Berberine to be a Metformin alternative, the two may actually complement each other. For example, when using Berberine with Metformin, Berberine may support healthy levels of lactic acid. It helped in mice, at least, when using Berberine and Metformin together.

In summary, reviewing Berberine compared to Metformin, the two compounds share some general effects, while varying in mechanisms of action. Both are worth including in studies related to human longevity. And both are worth considering for their anti-aging potential.

Using Berberine and Metformin

More research is required to confirm the extent to which Berberine and Metformin may contribute to healthy life extension. However, they appear to be among the most promising geroprotectors presently available. And clinical studies demonstrate they may support healthy body function in the near term.

Metformin is a drug that requires a prescription in the United States. Metformin dosage varies, but people commonly take Metformin 500 mg once or twice per day. Brands include Glucophage, Glumetza, and Fortamet. If you're interested in using them, talk with your doctor.

Berberine supplements are readily available on the market without a prescription. People usually take Berberine HCl 500 mg one to four times per day. When selecting a Berberine supplement, look for one that incorporates a method to increase absorption. And buy it from a company that responsibly seeks out quality suppliers.

Thrivous Vitality Geroprotector

Thrivous developed Vitality Geroprotector to promote better aging. It is formulated to support healthy blood sugar and protect cells and DNA from oxidation.

Vitality provides a clinical dose of Berberine, paired with Milk Thistle for better absorption. It also provides clinical doses of Blueberry anthocyanin and Coenzyme Q10. The benefits of each nutrient and dose are backed by multiple human studies. You may download study summaries from the product webpage.

Like all Thrivous products, Vitality has an open source formula with all nutrients and doses fully disclosed on its label. We also publish all quality control documents from suppliers, manufacturing, and third-parties. They are available for download from the product webpage. This is an exceptional practice in the supplement industry.

Vitality Geroprotector is available to purchase online. Get yours today.

Originally published at thrivous.com on May 25, 2020 at 09:43AM.

[thrivous]

A draft research paper is making the rounds in the Internet circles of life extension fans and enthusiasts of anti-aging medicine. Titled “Reversing age: dual species measurement of epigenetic age with a single clock,” the paper claims that a treatment with young blood plasma “more than halved the epigenetic ages of blood, heart, and liver tissue” in laboratory rats.

“The treatment was accompanied by progressive improvement in the function of these organs as ascertained through numerous biochemical/physiological biomarkers and behavioral responses to assess cognitive functions. Cellular senescence, which is not associated with epigenetic aging, was also considerably reduced in vital organs.”

“Overall, this study demonstrates that a plasma-derived treatment markedly reverses aging according to epigenetic clocks and benchmark biomarkers of aging.”

Epigenetics studies the changes that affect gene activity and expression. An epigenetic clock is a biochemical test that can be used to measure age.

“I believe major rejuvenation has been achieved in a mammal, using a relatively benign intervention that shows promise of scaling up to humans,” said Josh Mitteldorf, a biologist who has authored several books on aging. “I’m going to stake my reputation on it.”

Whether these results are rock solid and can scale from mice to humans, and from the lab to medical practice, is likely too early to tell. But it’s encouraging to see that scientists are excited and enthusiastic.

Blind People See Shapes After Brain Stimulation

Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine have advanced toward the development of a device that could restore sight by bypassing damaged eyes and delivering visual information from a camera directly to the brain.

In a study published in Cell, the researchers describe an approach in which implanted electrodes are stimulated in a dynamic sequence. They essentially “traced” shapes on the surface of the visual cortex that participants were able to “see.”

According to the researchers, this demonstrates that it could be possible for blind people to regain the ability to detect and recognize visual forms by using technology that inputs visual information directly into the brain.

Arterial System Simulation at Subcellular Resolution

Biomedical engineers at Duke University are developing a massive fluid dynamics simulator that can model blood flow through the full human arterial system at subcellular resolution.

One of the goals of the effort is to provide doctors with a virtual reality system that can guide their treatment plans by allowing them to simulate a patient's specific vasculature. This would help them accurately predict how decisions such as stent placement, conduit insertions, and other geometric alterations will affect surgical outcomes.

A study published in Journal of Computational Science describes the first implementation of the new blood flow simulation tool, HARVEY.

Tattoo Electrodes for Brain-Computer Interfaces

Researchers at Graz University of Technology, École Nationale Supérieure des Mines, and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, have developed ultra-light tattoo electrodes that are hardly noticeable on the skin and make long-term measurements of brain activity cheaper and easier.

The new tattoo electrodes are described in a paper published in npj Flexible Electronics. They are suitable for long-term EEG measurements and magneto-encephalography (MEG), a well-established method for monitoring brain activity.

The researchers intend this technology to be used in clinics and in neuroengineering, as well as in the field of brain computer interfaces.

Fasting Plus Vitamin C May Slow Down Cancer

Researchers at University of Southern California and IFOM Cancer Institute have discovered that a fasting-mimicking diet could be more effective at treating some types of cancer when combined with vitamin C.

In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers report that the combined treatment delayed colorectal cancer progression in multiple laboratory mice. In some mice, combined treatment caused disease regression.

The findings suggest that a low-toxicity treatment of fasting-mimicking diet plus vitamin C has the potential to replace more toxic treatments.

3D Tumor Models for New Anti-Cancer Drugs

Scientists at Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute have used 3D models to break down the DNA behavior of cancer cells.

The research results were published in Epigenetics. They indicate that “organoids,” 3D tumor models grown in the lab, can be very useful for the biomedical research community and the pharmaceutical companies developing anti-cancer drugs.

According to the scientists, this could revolutionize cancer treatment.

Originally published at thrivous.com on May 18, 2020 at 06:45PM.

[thrivous]

Nootropics are cognitive technology. They support healthy brain function or enhance mental ability. You might have heard others refer to them as "smart drugs" or "the limitless pill." This is your Nootropics 101.

Nootropics include various foods, supplements, and drugs. Healthy adults use them to improve memory, learning, focus, mood, concentration, processing, motivation, and attention. Older adults also use them to support healthy cognitive aging.

What’s the meaning of the term "nootropic" (pronounced nō-ə-ˈtrō-pik)? Corneliu Giurgea, a Romanian psychologist and chemist, coined the term in 1972. He combined the Greek words for "mind" and "turn." So if we transliterate the meaning of "nootropic" into English, it would be something like "mind-turner."

That may sound strange. Can recreational nootropics get you high? Generally, no. But that's also not their purpose. Their purpose is much more practical.

Giurgea identified substances with these six features as nootropics:

"Enhancement of learning acquisition" – improve learning and memory

"Resistance to impairing agents" – support brain health

"Facilitation of interhemispheric transfer of information" – improve processing

"Enhanced resistance to brain 'aggressions'" – protect the brain

"Increased tonic, cortico-subcortical 'control'" – improve focus and attention

"Absence of usual pharmacological effects of neuro psychotropic drugs" – safe

To summarize Giurgea, a nootropic should safely support and improve cognitive performance. If a substance doesn’t have these features, it’s not a nootropic.

That doesn’t mean that everything anyone calls a “nootropic” actually lives up to the name. Some Scientists haven’t studied some substances enough to know whether claims are more than anecdotal. And research demonstrates that some substances have little to no effect or may even pose significant health risks. But studies have shown the efficacy and safety of other substances to varying extents.

History of Nootropics

The history of cognitive enhancement began thousands of years before Giurgea. After all, we didn't need to know anything about brain cells to use our brains. And humanity had already begun exploring ways to modify cognition for purposes of religion, medicine, and recreation.

Our prehistoric ancestors may have used psychoactive substances to inspire their artwork. Indian Ayurvedic medicine, known for adaptogenic herbs like Ashwagandha, may have begun as an oral tradition around 5000 BCE. And as early as 1500 BCE, Ancient Egyptians cataloged hundreds of stimulants, sedatives, motor excitants, motor depressants, narcotics, and hypnotics.

During the last few centuries, our modern ancestors have been working toward more powerful, dependable, and flexible ways to enhance cognition. As the scientific method matured, alchemy became chemistry. In the eighteenth century, James Lind conducted what may have been the first clinical trial. And in the nineteenth century, Richard Canton observed electrical impulses in brains.

In the twentieth century, scientists greatly expanded efforts to address the challenges of mental health. Doctors began diagnosing Alzheimer's and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) early in the century. And by mid-century, chemists had introduced many new drug interventions.

Also in the twentieth century, science fiction and emerging technology sparked imagination. A fun example appeared in "Our New Age" comic strip on 26 December 1965. It predicted that humanity would develop nootropic smart drugs and brain computer interfaces by 2016.

In 2011, the Limitless movie brought nootropics to popular attention. You might remember. In the movie, the main character uses NZT-48. It’s a fictional smart drug that activates 100% of his brain and radically increases his intelligence.

As it turns out, you already use your whole brain. And smart drugs aren’t (yet) as powerful as NZT-48. But that hasn’t stopped them from becoming popular. For example, see Google searches for “nootropics” compared to "mnemonics" (the study of systems to improve memory).

Given humanity's ancient and persistent interest in cognitive enhancement, it seems unlikely that scientists will stop researching it any time soon. And who knows? Maybe right now, someone in a silicon valley garage is integrating a smart drug with a brain computer interface. And the powerful brain boosting drugs of the future are just an epiphany away.

Nootropic Examples

Perhaps the most well known cognitive enhancers are the Afinil wakefulness drugs. They were first developed in France in the late 1970s. And they are sold in the United States as prescriptions under various brand names. These drugs are artificial, but they appear to have a low risk of side effects.

Afinils are particularly notable for reducing mental fatigue, according to multiple human studies. They may also provide subtle improvements to mental performance, such as short term memory and reaction time. And they may provide other benefits, although the evidence may not be as reliable.

Other well known cognitive enhancers include the Racetams. They are legally available in the United States, although the FDA does not allow vendors to market Racetams as dietary supplements.

First developed by Giurgea in Romania in the early 1970s, Racetams are artificial smart drugs. They may provide a notable decrease to cognitive decline, according to multiple human studies. They may also provide other benefits, although evidence for them may not be as reliable. And they appear to have a low risk of side effects.

Many nootropics with the best evidence and notable effect come from herbs, amino acids, vitamins, and other natural substances. As dietary supplements, these are widely available and legal nootropics in the USA. You can buy nootropics in stores or online without a prescription. Here are some examples:

Ashwagandha may decrease stress.

Bacopa Monnieri may increase memory.

Creatine may increase energy.

Feverfew may decrease migraine.

Fish Oil (omega-3 fatty acids) may support mood.

Ginkgo Biloba may support healthy cognitive aging.

Inositol may decrease stress.

Melatonin may promote sleep.

Rhodiola Rosea may increase energy and improve focus.

L Theanine may promote relaxation.

Vitamin B2 may decrease migraine.

Zinc may support mood.

Nootropic Effects

Do nootropics work? Everyone's different, but some nootropics work for most healthy people. For example, my list of real smart drugs references more than 100 studies for more than 12 substances.

Most of the studies are peer reviewed, double blind, placebo controlled trials. Some are meta analyses or cohort studies. All are the formal work of credentialed scientists – not just journalists writing news articles or enthusiasts tapping out blog posts.

All of the studies are related to clinical trials on humans – not just on mice or in test tubes. And most of the studies found significant statistical support for notable effect. The few that didn’t are still helpful for scoping effective applications, dosages, and timelines.

How do nootropics work? And how well do they work? Different substances have different effects on different timelines and at different magnitudes. So the answers depend in part on the effect you’re looking for: focus, memory, mood, or otherwise.

The answers also depend in part on how disciplined you think you can be. Some, such as Caffeine, work best when you use them only for a short term. And there are others that you can take daily, like Bacopa, which becomes more effective over the long term.

In 2013, a study quantified the magnitude of effect for a popular nootropic drug. The scientists used Cohen’s D, which is a standard statistical method from behavioral science. The method generates outputs on a scale of 0 to 1:

0 is no effect

.2 is small effect

.5 is medium effect

.8 is large effect.

The scientists applied this method to the results of seven human studies. They found that the nootropic drug had a magnitude of effect of .77, which was nearly a large effect. The study also used the nootropic drug as a benchmark for assessing two natural nootropic herbs.

One of the herbs was Panax Ginseng and the other was Bacopa Monnieri. When the scientists applied Cohen's D to nine studies of Ginseng, they found that the Ginseng magnitude of effect was .86. And when they applied the method to seven studies of Bacopa, they found that the Bacopa magnitude of effect was .95.

These results indicate that Ginseng and Bacopa may both have large effects. And their effects may be larger than the effect of the nootropic drug. However, each affects different cognitive functions on different timelines. The study concluded:

"Neurocognitive enhancement from well characterized nutraceuticals can produce cognition enhancing effects of similar magnitude to those from pharmaceutical interventions."

How to Buy Nootropics

Brain supplements come in many formats. Natural nootropics are available in foods. And both artificial and natural nootropics are available in powders, liquids, and pills – capsules, tablets, softgels, caplets, and chewables.

If you’re looking for flexible dosage and low cost, powders may be the way to go. And for some like Creatine, which require high doses measured in grams, powders are also practical. For others, which require smaller doses, nootropic pills may save you a lot of time and frustration.

People often combine two or more ingredients into a "stack." A stack may include ingredients that are more effective together, such as Caffeine for energy and Theanine for relaxation. Both are components of green tea, for example. And a stack may include ingredients that simply complement each other, such as Bacopa for memory and Rhodiola for focus.

You can make your own stack by purchasing ingredients separately. Or you can purchase a pre-made stack.

Pre-made stacks are the most convenient, but the market is full of stack products with all too typical problems. Many contain ingredients that don't work, or for which there's little or no supporting evidence in scientific studies.

Some contain ingredients that could work, but they provide tiny ineffective doses. And more often than not, it's difficult if not impossible to tell, because they hide their doses behind secret formulas.

On top of that, stack products tend to be expensive, with many vendors charging exorbitant prices for their secretive ineffective products.

Thrivous

At Thrivous, we’re proud to offer better alternatives. We develop high quality natural nootropic supplements. They combine nutrients and doses with the highest levels of scientific evidence for the greatest magnitudes of enhanced cognitive function.

Clarity Daily Nootropic is designed to enhance memory, focus, and mood. Each bottle contains a month supply (60 capsules) of Synapsa® Bacopa Monnieri, L Theanine, Rhodiola Rosea, Vitamin B Complex, and Zinc Picolinate.

Alpha Neuroprotector is designed to enhance brain and nerve function for better aging. Each bottle contains a month supply (120 capsules) of Acetyl L Carnitine, Alpha GPC, Ginkgo Biloba, and SerinAid® Phosphatidylserine.

Serenity Nightly Nootropic is designed to enhance relaxation, sleep, and next-day focus. Each bottle contains a month supply (60 capsules) of L Theanine, Magnesium Glycinate, and Melatonin.

Surge Acute Nootropic is designed to enhance productivity, energy, and focus. Each bottle contains a multi-month supply (60 capsules) of Caffeine, L Theanine, and Panax Ginseng.

The benefits of each of these supplements complements the others. So Thrivous also provides combination stacks at discounted prices:

Clarity and Serenity Stack includes both Clarity and Serenity.

Clarity and Alpha Stack includes both Clarity and Alpha.

Nootropic Stack includes Clarity, Alpha, and Serenity.

All Thrivous formulas are completely open source. The supplement facts panel on each label fully discloses all ingredients and amounts. And we publish all quality control test results from our suppliers, manufacturing, and third parties. This is an exceptional practice among supplement vendors.

If you’re new to nootropics, Thrivous is an easy and dependable way to get started. If you’ve used them for years, Thrivous is a convenient base on which you can build your stack. Either way, try Thrivous today. It’s a smart choice.

Originally published at thrivous.com on May 18, 2020 at 03:00PM.