| Biological clockObviously you need biological clock to | | | | Maybe I read too many science fiction. When I was |
| time and alarm the point when you need to die and | | | | in medschool a saw some mentions of unusual |
| when you need to age. Aging is the same death as in | | | | phenomenon in magnetic radiation. To make story |
| those one-day butterflies, but a little bit prolonged | | | | short, eventually I found a book - 400 pages of fine |
| one. Not immediate kill but gradual shut down of | | | | script. I found the book in Central Medical Library in |
| protection mechanisms - immunological, genetical | | | | Moscow. Even our relatively large library in Russian |
| repair, and just other necessary functions of | | | | State Med U did not have this book. In addition I |
| proliferation. As soon as those functions turned off - | | | | read the dissertation thesis, that were related to that |
| an organism starts to deteriorate and wear | | | | book. Several Russian scientists developed relatively |
| off.Interesting that our organism is not a static thing. | | | | complicated theory, done many hundreds of |
| We probably replace all molecules in our body within | | | | experiments. Theory is a little bit complex, involves |
| relatively short period of time. Obviously water is | | | | discussion of stress and adaptation syndrome. |
| replaced completely every couple months. Water is | | | | Obviously hypothalamic area also discussed. I am not |
| 60% of our body. Other molecules are replaced as | | | | big fan of that theory. But result the authors |
| well. Thus, human being is just some unstable | | | | described were striking: they were able to restore |
| chemical organisation around genetical information. | | | | menopause in rats, prolong rats life span almost twice |
| Molecules swirl and disappear like crazy. DNA in cells | | | | and more important repeat it again and again. By the |
| maybe is not changed so fast, but the cells | | | | description from the book "rejuvenated rats" looked |
| themselves change quickly in most of cases. There is | | | | the same as young, but were just bigger in size. Well, |
| no need to age just because of wearing.Biological | | | | you saw a lab rat, you know that older rats have |
| clocks are necessary and there is no doubt they | | | | rare hair, bleak eyes, are in menopause etc. Young |
| exist.The theories of aging that consider death as a | | | | rat, in opposite, would have bright red eyes, very |
| sequence of events caused by external causes - like | | | | sleek hair, menstruations, etc. This is no surprise - all |
| oxidations and accumulation of genetical errors should | | | | growth of hair, production of oil by skin, production |
| anyway include the idea of Internal Biological Clock as | | | | of moisture in lacrimal glands and so on are regulated |
| well. Simple example is menopause in women. | | | | by the hormones. The same is true for rats as well |
| Somewhere at 40-55 all women undergo menopause. | | | | as for humans.Authors described the methods that |
| Unavoidable. Though there were reports of childbirth | | | | they found mostly empirically. Moreover they tested |
| at 60 yo but considering one chance in billions, it is | | | | some methods on humans and described treatment |
| just a joke. Males have their equivalents too. All | | | | of variety of diseases - asthma, gastritis, peptic |
| people after certain age change their immunological, | | | | ulcers, low grade skin cancers (non-melanoma) just to |
| hormonal, metabolic levels and so on. Majority of | | | | name few. As I understand they did not describe |
| organs decrease their function . Thymus involute. Fat | | | | rejuvenation in humans. Though later there were |
| cells overgrow others, muscle cells degenerate etc. | | | | some mentions in literature. Authors describe zones |
| The same happens to all other multicellular animals | | | | of activation, training and stress. In general the |
| and plants.Now the real question: Is it possible to | | | | methods are difficult to apply - they require |
| break the biological clock or at least slow down and | | | | permanent control of organism condition for many |
| rejuvenate?Possible methods of rejuvenation.1. | | | | months, maybe years. Control of hormonal level and |
| Telomeres lengthening and other genes | | | | control of blood work. In addition parameter would |
| regulation.Several genes that might play role in aging | | | | vary from individual to individual. In modern medicine it |
| described recently. Telomerase encoding genes are | | | | is much faster and more reliable to cut out skin |
| the most discussed. In theory, if we lengthen the | | | | cancer with knife or give powerful proton pump |
| telomeres (these are the ends of chromosomes that | | | | inhibitors for a gastric ulcer.I realized that I used |
| are shortened with each division by very interesting | | | | some of the methods described, even before I read |
| mechanism), we could overcome cell tendency to | | | | that book. Since then I added some more methods |
| lose ability for proliferation. Hence, we have "immortal | | | | for my own use. Mostly I use the methods that I |
| cells". Hence, immortality or at least longevity is | | | | feel safe and efficient. For example transplanting of |
| reached - cells divide indefinitely and repair organism. | | | | hypothalamus would be out of question. It is a |
| Basically, to restore telomeres length we need to | | | | wacking unsafe procedure. Recently there were |
| activate production of or to introduce into the cell an | | | | reports that DHEA, melatonin or other hormones |
| enzyme named telomerase. To reach each cell in the | | | | could make miracles: older people feel as young. I |
| body we would use viral vectors or smallRNA. | | | | would wait confirmation of the effects. Some |
| Working with virus production and then cell | | | | authors suggest rejuvenation may be reached by |
| transduction I would say it is difficult, very difficult. | | | | individually designed cocktails of hormones. I would |
| There are too many obstacles to use them | | | | think that any hormone given makes more mess |
| efficiently. SmallRNAs would be more promising. In | | | | than regulation. Practically every hormone described |
| any case, when you go from theory to practice | | | | have loops and pathways that prevent |
| problems rise exponentially. Biggest question: will it | | | | overproduction. If you just replace the hormones by |
| work? Immortal cell (cell which is able to divide | | | | giving the substitute, you wack the production of |
| indefinitely) does not mean immortal body. One of | | | | your own hormones those that injected as well as |
| the outcomes would be uncontrollable cell growth | | | | many others. All hormones are complexly interrelated. |
| and, hence, cancer. Actually scenists discuss | | | | Individual cocktails would be better, but the doses |
| telomeres mostly in connection with cancer. They are | | | | described in literature are wacking. Again I might be |
| very cautious saying about the rejuvenation. Mass | | | | wrong. Maybe everything is so simple - just get |
| media extrapolates the findings to possibility of | | | | cocktail and you will jump as a newborn |
| longevity and further rejuvenation.My guess would be | | | | bunny.Considering different information from different |
| that telomeres are some of the "final cogwheels" in | | | | sources, I would propose following theory:To |
| the Internal biological clock. It is useful to divide the | | | | rejuvenate yourself you need to recreate the |
| clock on intracellular and whole body levels just for | | | | hormonal and metabolic level of young organism.This |
| understanding. But in reality the levels are not | | | | is actually very difficult to reach: your organism have |
| separable, they continue one into another. It is easy | | | | all the means to produce all the necessary hormones. |
| to understand that intracellular production of any | | | | Levels of hormones in elderly are not so far from the |
| protein, any enzyme depends on transmembrane | | | | levels in youth actually. The difference is several |
| regulation. Hormones activate receptors that activate | | | | percentages, not several folds. But biological clock |
| DNA transcription and protein production. Other | | | | switch to underproduction. The idea is to cheat the |
| genes that play role in cellular aging are described | | | | biological clock and to restore the youth levels. The |
| recently as well. I do not know how to use this | | | | most difficult part is to get into the window of |
| method at present time2. Hormone | | | | optimal production. You can not go too low - just |
| replacement.When I studied in med school, several | | | | wouldn't have any effect on rejuvenation. You can |
| time I met mentions about hormonal side effects | | | | not go above the optimal level - it will cause stress |
| that cause a person to look much younger. Well | | | | and even more deterioration. So approach is very |
| known for example are: If a woman in menopause | | | | individual. There is no quick effect - you can not |
| suddenly resumes menstrual cycles and looks | | | | rejuvenate from looking 50 to looking 30 overnight. |
| younger than her age, we might suspect an ovarian | | | | You really need a lot of commitment and time. The |
| Tumour producing excess of estrogen. If a person | | | | methods which you choose are not of so great |
| has thyrotoxicosis - excess of hormone thyroxine - | | | | importance. Practically any action toward your body |
| he/she loses weight and looks much younger Persons | | | | would cause changes in your metabolic and hormonal |
| with manic phases of bipolar disorder look younger, | | | | status. Physical exercise, herbs, yoga, hormones (low |
| more energetic. Certain hormones - corticosteroids | | | | doses) etc - we could list thousands.Personally I used |
| for example - might be increased or decreased in | | | | available antioxidants, slight caloric restrictions, herbs |
| elderly. Couples that look younger were shown to | | | | (some of substances in herbs like ginseng, Echinacea, |
| have increased level of sexual relationships. Again, | | | | etc mimics hormones in their chemical structure), |
| that supposedly should significantly change the | | | | self-hypnosis, neurolinguistic programming (NLP), |
| hormonal levels.If we give a person some of those | | | | auto-training, different exercises, lactic bacteria, etc. |
| synthetic hormones - estrogen, thyroxine - we can | | | | Important is the ability to adjust the level of |
| sometime reproduce the younger looks.It is not the | | | | treatment - reduce the dose of herbs or increase |
| same as plastic surgery or skin creams and | | | | dose of exercise etc.Methods of control are of much |
| massages. It invigorates whole body. Skin as well. | | | | great importance. The described methods include |
| There is heavy price - recent debates are waxing | | | | measurement of hormonal level and of certain |
| and waning - if estrogen replacement increases or | | | | fractions of cells in the blood work(that is also |
| decreases risks of cancers (uterine, breast, ovarian | | | | regulated by hormonal and metabolic reactions)If I |
| etc.) Thyroxine excess takes heavy tall on | | | | would have a clinic of rejuvenation therapy I would |
| cardiovascular system. Psychiatric disorders (mania | | | | probably use many of those methods - they are |
| for example) was linked to ceratin changes in | | | | objective and reproducible. But they require blood |
| neurotransmitter levels. Certain psycho tropic drugs | | | | work.For individual use there some subjective |
| change the ratios. Supposedly they can be employed | | | | methods exist. They are described in literature as: If |
| for rejuvenation. Unfortunately, you would rather | | | | you are in the condition of rejuvenation you feel |
| receive a psychosis than younger look.On internet | | | | great energy, hunger, restlessness. Your sleep would |
| you can find massive information about hormones | | | | be normalised, you are fighting regular infections |
| that rejuvenate you. I saw some websites that list | | | | much more efficiently - inflammatory reaction might |
| practically any major | | | | be exaggerated, but they last shorter time. Your |
| hormone:estrogenandrogenscorticosteroidsgrowth | | | | eyes would glisten as in youth. You will feel constant |
| hormonethyroxineDHEAmelatoninand some others as | | | | euphoria and need in doing something. There are |
| a drug that leads to rejuvenation.The websites often | | | | some other subjective criteria. Personally, I would |
| have references to scientific literature. Most of the | | | | add: you will notice that your nails and hair grow like |
| websites just sell you those hormones or offer | | | | crazy in those conditions.The biggest problem is how |
| courses of hormone therapy.My personal opinion | | | | to hold in this condition of rejuvenation for a |
| would be that blind replacement can cause more | | | | prolonged period of time. You really can not go |
| harm than lead to any desired rejuvenation.Useful | | | | overboard - super activation would just wack all your |
| information that I would extract from the item is | | | | system. You can not go under activation - just no |
| that A) Practically every hormone in the body is | | | | any useful effect. You need to get it is just right. |
| involved. B) Certain means of rejuvenation are | | | | Solution is tight, continuos control. Boy, it's really |
| actually documented. That gives hope.I do not use | | | | tough in the modern stressful environment (would |
| hormones personally. If I would employ them, I | | | | not describe all the junk that I had in recent years), |
| would use them in very small quantities to mimic | | | | but it is possible. Dedication is your solution. Some |
| physiology and in special controlled conditions that I | | | | formulas to calculate doses of stimuli are described in |
| will describe below. The doses that are used in | | | | the literature, but I feel it is easier to go with |
| regular therapy are actually way to high compare to | | | | individual subjective feelings. Below there is an |
| the natural levels of a healthy organism.3. Antioxidant | | | | animation that contains some simple elements of NLP |
| therapy.As we discussed, in the best case | | | | and might help to tune a brain a little.Now, what did I |
| antioxidants are the method for longevity, not | | | | get by using those methods? Well not much, but I |
| rejuvenation. I use mega-doses of antioxidants | | | | hope for more. At present time I am 35 yo I do not |
| available over the counter. I use only those that I | | | | really have good control group in my personal |
| consider safe. I have a lot of doubts they give | | | | experiment. Sometime people asked me if I am |
| measurable effect. Anyway I use them. Would not | | | | younger than my brother (He is younger than me for |
| throw away.4. Caloric restriction.I use it as well. 60% | | | | several years). Maybe it is some sort of control |
| of regular meal - is way to much - you would barely | | | | group. When I come into a bar (can not say often, |
| move your feet. I regulate it. My opinion: if you | | | | maybe once in a year with friends) waiter often asks |
| increase your activity, you can eat more. Just balance | | | | my ID. It is funny also because I do not use alcohol. |
| your food and motions. Though I might be wrong.5. | | | | So, to drink a Coke I need to show ID, being 35 yo. |
| Hypothalamic regulation.This is scary level. | | | | Sometime people ask me are you 18 or 19 When I |
| Hypothalamus is the area of your brain that sits on | | | | played water polo at Yale, undergrads told me they |
| the base of your skull. Why do we discuss hormones | | | | thought I was freshman (as I guess also 18 or 19). |
| above? Well, hypothalamus contains hundred of | | | | That time I was 33. Teenagers often start to talk to |
| centres that regulate your metabolism and first of all, | | | | me in the way if I am another teenager. And so |
| hormonal status. Studies of hypothalamus are | | | | on.So, in general it is really hard to measure |
| complicated - mostly there are postmortem studies | | | | rejuvenation. All measurements are mostly subjective. |
| of brain sections. To perform functional study you | | | | Even in well designed scientific trial you find either |
| need to use micro-neurosurgical techniques (still very | | | | some description of biochemical changes (which |
| rude) and try to register changes in a hundred or so | | | | doesn't say you anything about rejuvenation as it is) |
| cells out of several billions. Changes would include | | | | or some subjective descriptions - "patients felt much |
| minuscule production (nano and Pico grams) of poorly | | | | better, felt rejuvenated and invigorate". How much |
| defined neurotransmitters. The infinitely small | | | | rejuvenated? How many years were reversed? It is |
| quantities of those neurotransmitters are produced | | | | very difficult to estimate. If I say to a person that I |
| by only few out of hundreds cell connections and | | | | have MD and PhD, he says "aha". Mentally they |
| exist only several nanoseconds. In general to study | | | | immediately adjust and now they say that I am |
| this area is more difficult than to look for a needle in | | | | probably 30. OK. Sometime they just say: you look |
| a haystack. If you consider that there are only few | | | | so young.Again 35 is not the age where you really |
| centres have appropriate expertise, you would | | | | can brag that the methods worked. I would wait |
| understand why the progress is relatively slow. Even | | | | couple more decades to say that there was |
| fewer labs study rejuvenation. Though there were | | | | measurable effect. Unfortunately. You do not have |
| reports that transplantation of hypothalamic tissue | | | | the right for a mistake. If a method did not work , |
| from younger animals to older could result in | | | | you can not go back and change it. You already are |
| rejuvenation-like effect.I mention this level because | | | | behind for several years.But my personal, subjective |
| A) hypothalamus regulates production of bunch of | | | | feeling is that the methods do work. I believe that it |
| intermediate messengers that in turn activate | | | | is possible by tight control maintain the level of |
| hypophysis, that activate adrenal glands, ovaries, | | | | younger organism. It just requires a lot of |
| thyroid gland etc (maybe many other areas in th | | | | work.Below there is animation that might help to tune |
| body) that in turn produce the hormones discussed | | | | in the desired "optimal rejuvenation condition". |
| above. (Full description you could find in a textbook | | | | Animation requires Flash file player I use that |
| of Endocrinology) B) because of complexity of | | | | animation for myself. I doubt that it will necessarily |
| hypothalamus it is a good candidate were a "supreme | | | | help you. Maybe 1 out of 10. If you are not sure, |
| cogwheel" of biological clock may reside. One hint | | | | don't' touch it. The animation contains some simple |
| would be proximity of epiphysis - small pea-like gland | | | | NLP information.AnimationBasically looking at the |
| that produce melatonin and regulates circadian | | | | animation couple times a week for 5 min should start |
| rhythms. It would not be surprise that all that is | | | | the tuning process (at least I feel so). You should |
| interconnected in the hypothalamus. One of objection | | | | target at the condition when you feel inexhaustible |
| - what is about worms? They do not have | | | | energy, euphoria, normalized sleep, and some feelings |
| hypothalamus as it is. But they age and die as well as | | | | that is hard to describe - like a fine tingling in your |
| humans. Explanation would be that worms also have | | | | fingertips, subjectively it feels like a pouring energy. It |
| nervous system and some other part of it may play | | | | is difficult to explain, but when you feel you |
| the central role in the biological clocks. Another | | | | understand it. If you do not feel anything, it means it |
| explanation would be that there is no such centre at | | | | did not work, forget it.So to finish I would say that |
| all, everything happens on the lower levels.I was | | | | Rejuvenation is difficult but probably possible to reach |
| interested in methods of rejuvenation since childhood. | | | | - at least in a certain degree. A.K. |