Reverse Aging: A Potential, New Fountain of Youth Drug

To celebrate our Valentine’s Day Anniversary, my husband and I recently went to Florida and to the Miami Boat Show. I have to admit I was blown away by the expensive, million dollar plus cigarette boats that were pure testosterone-driven, ego trips for some financially successful people. When I asked a salesman how individuals from the Middle East picked up their boats from a factory in Missouri, his deadpan answer was “with a cargo plane." One individual had wanted to give a boat to a friend in Dubai as a surprise. 

I am sure my youthfulness would have picked up speed driving one of these fast boats. 

Legend has it that Ponce de Leon was searching for the Fountain of Youth in his exploration of Florida in 1513.  It is in that same city, St. Augustine, that Henry Flagler (of Standard Oil) established his first Florida Hotel to enjoy the beauty of the Sunshine State. The Florida legislature (with Flagler funding) helped Flagler divorce his second wife by establishing a new reason: she was declared insane. This was so he could marry Mary Lilly Kenan 11 days later and a startling 38 years younger. He built the beautiful Whitehall in Palm Beach as a  wedding present to her –  a testimonial to his devotion and her wish to live in a marble house.  Unfortunately, youth did not help Flagler. He died 13 years later at the age of 83. He fell down the marble steps, broke his hip, and passed away shortly thereafter. 

With some dog breeds aging approximately 7 years for every 1 human year, clients often ask me what they can do to keep their pets from aging (beyond the standards of exercise, good diets, and weight control.) One recent article reports promising results with the medication, Rapamycin.

WHAT IS RAPAMYCIN? 

Rapamycin, a rare bacterium (bacteria), is the most promising anti-aging drug in decades. It was first isolated by Suren Sehgal in a soil sample at Ayerst Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company in Montreal. It was found on a Canadian medical expedition under a mysterious stone head on Easter Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Besides its anti-fungal properties, the new medication also suppressed the immune system. This lead to its use in organ transplants to reduce rejection with its new manufacturer, Wyeth. Cardiac stents have a coating of the medication on heart stents to reduce rejection and lower the risk of scarring and blocking. 

TELL MORE ABOUT THE ANTI-AGING PROPERTIES, PLEASE!

Novartis pharmaceuticals is eyeing its use to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart disease, and to improve the immune system of elderly patients. Life expectancy in studies was extended by 9 to 40%. 

ARE THERE ANY OTHER DRUGS IN THE WORKS? 

Metformin, taken by millions of human diabetics,  appears to have a 15% decrease in mortality rate. Mimagrumab (Novartis) is a medication intended to reverse muscle loss. 

WHAT OBSTACLES ARE THERE TO DEVELOPING A DRUG THAT IS “ANTI-AGING”? 

The FDA does not consider aging a disease, and thus it will be extremely difficult to approve a medication for such a purpose. In addition, high safety standards would be required for any medication to treat healthy people. 

WHERE ARE THE CLINICAL TRIALS FOR DOGS BEING CONDUCTED?

At the University of Washington researchers are conducting clinical trials on dogs to see if the medication delays heart disease and cancer.

I would like to thank you for your kind words and support of the clinic blog. Please let me know of a subject of interest to you that I may address in future columns. 

Betsy T. Sigmon DVM, Diplomate ABVP, Canine and Feline

Creature Comforts Animal Hospital

Cary, NC