From Mighty Mice to Mighty Humans
On Tuesday, I wrote a post about studies that have been done by researchers that have, either accidentally or purposefully, modified mice to have extraordinary characteristics beyond those of their wild counterparts. In one study on metabolism, scientists modified the genes in their subjects to yield a mouse that displayed evidence of increased athletic capability, a higher lifespan, and better quality of life at old age. In another study, the research team created a mouse that was resistant to even the most aggressive forms of cancers. Though both are encouraging, it is difficult to imagine any human solutions will result from this research for a number of years. To read more about these studies, you can read my full post here.
Scientists at Sirtris Pharmaceuticals Inc., however, believe they are ready to unveil a pill that will produce above-average human function now and bring us one step closer to the elusive fountain of youth we strive to reach. In an article posted on Boston.com today, the company claims they have created a drug that mimics the compound in red wine that is linked to longevity, resveratrol, and the cell structures that promote endurance.
Resveratrol is believed to be responsible for some of the benefits of red wine and is found in the skin of red grapes, though in small amounts. The new molecule created by Sirtris is 1,000 times more powerful than the naturally occurring chemical, and according to the authors of the study, could be a catalyst to solutions for the diseases of aging, such as cancer and diabetes. Their research will be published in today’s issue of the journal Nature.
The team indicated that hundreds of thousands of compounds were tested for the best able to activate the immune-system booster enzyme SIRT1, associated with an effect of increased lifespans of 30 to 70 percent in a variety of plants, insects and smaller organisms such as mice. The article indicated that the most promising of the compounds will be evaluated in human trials starting next year.
Experiments on mice showed an increased insulin sensitivity, lower blood-sugar levels and more powerful mitochondria, the energy plants of the cell that typically decline with age. If you give resveratrol to a normal mouse, it can run twice its typical distance, said David Sinclair, the author of the study. The results are supported in humans because tests on David Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner, show that he has extra mitochondria that increase his endurance. However, Sinclair was careful to point out that the new drug was not intended for abuse:
“The goal is not to make Lance Armstrongs of everyone, but you can imagine that it would boost the energy of someone who is frail and weak,” Sinclair said. (1)
Could it be that we’ve discovered a drug that would combat the effects of aging? Only in the last 6 or 7 years has the issue become one that concerns me. I have a son, my hair is thinning, and exercise and weight maintenance are more difficult than they once were. I admit the thought of a pill that could potentially keep me strong and healthy for many more years is a tempting option.
But what of its implications? While indications are that it would ward off physical ailments associated with aging, what about mental ailments? If I were to develop Alzheimer’s disease 5 years into my added lifespan thanks to this drug, I don’t think I would want to continue with a healthy body while my mind continues to degrade. I’d also be curious to know if this study was carried out with mice starting in their youth, or if the drug was administered to mice as they aged. Would the pill even be effective for people past their prime? It’s not clear in this article, and I would want to know more myself.
There are so many other issues that could come up as a result of is prolific use. The infrastructure of our society may have to change as a result of people living longer, and increased lifespan means increased need for living space. With our demands on natural resources already reaching critical mass, how could society compensate for the changes this kind of drug will bring in 50 years? 100 years?
I look forward to your thoughts.
(1) See “Sirtris drug may fight diseases of age,” Bloomberg News on Boston.com
