#181 – Laura Deming on the science that could keep us healthy in our 80s and beyond
Mar 1, 2024
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Laura Deming, the founder of The Longevity Fund and a venture capitalist in anti-aging technology, discusses transformative ideas around human longevity. She explores how we might manipulate aging in humans, not just accept decline as inevitable. Laura highlights a recent breakthrough in lifespan extension for dogs and emphasizes a social approach to the challenge of aging. She advocates for agency over our health choices and envisions a world where extended lifespans allow us to remain active and engaged well into our later years.
Targeting specific cells, such as senescent cells, can significantly increase lifespan in animals through genetic interventions.
Existing drugs like rapamycin and metformin, which target key genetic pathways, show potential for extending human lifespan.
Dietary modifications like methionine restriction have shown promise in increasing lifespan by targeting specific components.
Empirical data challenging the belief that aging is inevitable highlights the potential for impactful strategies in human longevity.
Challenges in accelerating access to aging drugs involve demonstrating efficacy in extending lifespan and finding suitable biomarkers for regulatory approval.
Recruiting top talent remains a challenge in aging research, emphasizing the need for mission-oriented individuals and appreciation for biology's impact.
Deep dives
Genetic Pathways and Lifespan Extension
In certain studies with mice, the removal of senescent cells increased lifespan by 135%, showing how targeting specific cells could have significant positive effects on lifespan. Moreover, expressing certain factors reprogrammed cells in accelerated aged mice, resulting in unexpected health benefits. These empirical findings suggest that lifespan can be influenced by genetic interventions, even if the mechanisms are not fully understood.
Rapamycin and Metformin Lifespan Extension
The administration of drugs like rapamycin and metformin to mice increased their lifespan by 110% and 106% respectively. These drugs, already approved for human use, target central genetic pathways related to insulin-IGF-1 and nutrient sensing, showcasing potential avenues for extending lifespan through existing pharmaceutical interventions.
Methionine Restriction and Lifespan
Methionine restriction, an alternative to caloric restriction, limited to cutting down on a specific amino acid, has shown promising results in increasing lifespan in animals. By exploring dietary modifications that target individual components like methionine, researchers have unveiled new possibilities for extending lifespan through dietary interventions.
Human Perception and Longevity Research
Longevity research faces skepticism due to the common belief that aging is an inevitable part of life. However, empirical data showcasing the malleability of lifespan in animal studies challenges this perception. The unexpected effectiveness of various interventions in extending lifespan highlights the potential for developing impactful strategies for human longevity, despite initial doubts.
Understanding the Path to Market for Aging Drugs
Challenges in accelerating the access to aging drugs are highlighted. The focus is on demonstrating the efficacy of therapeutics in extending human lifespan, a goal that challenges traditional trial methodologies. Finding biomarkers or physiological proxies indicative of altering aging processes in humans is crucial for regulatory approval.
Exploring Brain Aging Beyond Traditional Research
Differences in studying aging brain within traditional dementia research are noted. Logistical challenges in accessing aged mouse models and human neural tissues hinder comprehensive understanding. Proposal to create new brain cells to replace aging ones in innovative approaches.
Uncovering Talent Bottlenecks in Aging Research
Despite significant funding growth, recruiting top talent remains a major challenge in the aging research field. The need for mission-oriented, educated individuals who can navigate complexities and drive impact is crucial. Overcoming stereotypes and fostering appreciation for the beauty and impact of biology is essential to attract talent.
Tackling Organ Replacement Challenges
Improving access to organ transplants in an efficient and less invasive manner is a key focus in addressing aging challenges. Simplifying the process of organ transplantation and enhancing availability of aged tissues in research are highlighted for progress in the field.
Seeking Answers to the Question, 'What is Life?'
Exploring the fundamental mystery of life and understanding its essence and complexities remains a profound scientific goal. Inquiring into the intricacies of living organisms, cellular interactions, and the multicellular nature of life underpins the curiosity to unravel the enigma of life itself.
Personal Reflections on Mortality and Immortality
Discussing personal perspectives on mortality and immortality, reflecting on the peaceful relationship with death derived from long contemplation and work in the aging field. Acknowledging death as a natural concept and its exploration within scientific endeavors transforming views on mortality.
Dreaming of Solving the Mystery of Life in Scientific Quests
Expressing a profound curiosity in unraveling life's mysteries, particularly the longing to answer the question 'what is life?' The pursuit of exploring life's essence, biological activities, the complexity of living organisms, and multicellular interactions as an intriguing and ultimate scientific endeavor.
"The question I care about is: What do I want to do? Like, when I'm 80, how strong do I want to be? OK, and then if I want to be that strong, how well do my muscles have to work? OK, and then if that's true, what would they have to look like at the cellular level for that to be true? Then what do we have to do to make that happen? In my head, it's much more about agency and what choice do I have over my health. And even if I live the same number of years, can I live as an 80-year-old running every day happily with my grandkids?" — Laura Deming
In today’s episode, host Luisa Rodriguez speaks to Laura Deming — founder of The Longevity Fund — about the challenge of ending ageing.
How lifespan is surprisingly easy to manipulate in animals, which suggests human longevity could be increased too.
Why we irrationally accept age-related health decline as inevitable.
The engineering mindset Laura takes to solving the problem of ageing.
Laura’s thoughts on how ending ageing is primarily a social challenge, not a scientific one.
The recent exciting regulatory breakthrough for an anti-ageing drug for dogs.
Laura’s vision for how increased longevity could positively transform society by giving humans agency over when and how they age.
Why this decade may be the most important decade ever for making progress on anti-ageing research.
The beauty and fascination of biology, which makes it such a compelling field to work in.
And plenty more.
Chapters:
The case for ending ageing (00:04:00)
What might the world look like if this all goes well? (00:21:57)
Reasons not to work on ageing research (00:27:25)
Things that make mice live longer (00:44:12)
Parabiosis, changing the brain, and organ replacement can increase lifespan (00:54:25)
Big wins the field of ageing research (01:11:40)
Talent shortages and other bottlenecks for ageing research (01:17:36)
Producer and editor: Keiran Harris Audio Engineering Lead: Ben Cordell Technical editing: Simon Monsour and Milo McGuire Additional content editing: Katy Moore and Luisa Rodriguez Transcriptions: Katy Moore
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