Aging. Can We Cure It?

We have blogged before about the idea of aging that is something to be “cured”.  The recent article in the New York Times explained some cutting edge research about fighting aging. Dogs Test Drug Aimed at Humans’ Biggest Killer: Age explains about a clinical trial with dogs that has implications for humans “the trial also represents a new frontier in testing a proposition for improving human health: Rather than only seeking treatments for the individual maladies that come with age, we might do better to target the biology that underlies aging itself.”  The drug being tested on dogs was previously tested on mice and “improved heart health and appeared to delay the onset of some diseases in older mice” but there is no guarantee that the same result will be achieved with dogs.

According to the article, age itself serves as a huge risk factor for a number of fatal diseases, so “[a] drug that slows aging, the logic goes, might instead serve to delay the onset of several major diseases at once.” “Geroscience” that is “the study of aging’s basic biology” according to those quoted in the article, hasn’t received a lot of attention. There’s some genius in the approach of testing this drug with dogs, given American’s love affair with their dog family members.

“Many of us in the biology of aging field feel like it is underfunded relative to the potential impact on human health this could have,” said Dr. Kaeberlein, who helped pay for the study with funds he received from the university for turning down a competing job offer. “If the average pet owner sees there’s a way to significantly delay aging in their pet, maybe it will begin to impact policy decisions.”

The article explains that research has been  more “disease-specific” rather than globally looking at slowing down aging. Although the article does mention some projects that are specifically looking at slowing down or reversing aging.  The article also explains the challenges for research in this field. What would be the results to humans if this research proves successful? A longer, healthier life. And if it isn’t successful? Dr. Kaeberlein, explained: “I would argue we should be willing to tolerate some level of risk if the payoff is 20 to 30 percent increase in healthy longevity,” he said. “If we don’t do anything, we know what the outcome is going to be. You’re going to get sick, and you’re going to die.”