DNA Health & Wellness
Longevity Monthly
February issue
‘Spotlight on Anti-aging’ drugs; Dr Nas’ top picks
In the longevity world we are all in a perennial search for the fountain of youth—a mythical elixir that grants long life and youthful vitality. Unfortunately, no such cocktail to reverse the aging process has been discovered to date.
However, there is good news for all those longevity enthusiasts out there: lifespan science is revealing a set of compounds that have shown great promise in combatting the aging process. Naturally, as a longevity clinic, we have had the privilege of applying the most cutting-edge compounds to help our patients live healthier and longer.
Continue reading for our top four compounds for slowing the effects of ageing…..
Our top three compounds come in the Interventions Testing Program (ITP), an initiative established by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to investigate the potential of compounds to promote healthy aging, having now tested 100+ candidates over a 20-year period.
‘The ITP has found four blockbuster hits; those that have given more than a 10% increase in lifespan. There have also been some notable failures, such as with resveratrol, fisetin, nicotinamide riboside and metformin.’
Dr Nas’ Regimen
- Rapamycin 6mg once week
- Acarbose 50mg with lunch and dinner
- Astaxanthin 12mg once daily
- Glycine & NAC (3.6 grams & 3.6 grams) once daily
1. Rapamycin
Rapamycin is a drug that is believed to have anti-aging effects through the suppression of mTOR, or mechanistic target of rapamycin, a protein that plays a role in cell growth and metabolism. When mTOR signalling is suppressed, it can lead to reduced cell growth and a slower rate of aging.
Our golden child and the first compound to demonstrate a life extension effect of nearly 15%, which has since been replicated in multiple other independent studies. To put that inperspective, if you had a drug that abolished heart attacks or cancer in over-50s, the median lifespan of humans would go up by 3%.
Rapamycin really seems to broadly enhance function across many different tissues and organs. What is even better, it seems to work well even when given later in life.
Our dosing of Rapamycin
After detailed consultations, we currently recommend the once weekly dosing (5-to-6mg) based on the original proof-of-concept human studies, the observation that once weekly dosing with everolimus (rapamycin-analog) seemed to give similar efficacy with very low potential side-effect risk.
At these doses in our practice, we have cases of improved cognition, reduced aches & pains, more energy and improved body composition, to name just a few.
2. Acarbose
Acarbose is a repurposed out-of-favour type-2 diabetes medication which works by blocking an enzyme, which helps digest and absorb carbohydrates in the small intestine. This slows down the digestion and absorption of carbs, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent spikes in blood glucose. Interesting the benefits seem to be sex-specific, with a 22% increase in median lifespan vs 5% in females.
Mechanistically, acarbose has been suggested to influence the human lifespan by modulating the gut microbiota and controlling insulin levels, leading to a number of favourable sequelae such as reduced inflammation, improve mitochondrial function and lengthening of telomeres..
We see great improvements in markers of metabolic health, particularly in real-time CGM (Continuous glucose monitor) readings.
Our dosing of Acarbose
After detailed consultations, we currently recommend a dose of 50mg-to-100mg with each meal, dosing at the higher-end for particularly carbohydrate-heavy meals.
‘When Rapamycin was administered with Acarbose, ITP researchers found increases in medium lifespan of female and males by 28% and 34%’
3. Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring antioxidant and inflammation modulator. It belongs to the carotenoid family of molecules and gives salmon its pink color. Algae are the original source, and the astaxanthin they contain is passed up the food chain.
Astaxanthin has also been shown to increase lifespan in several non-mammalian model organisms (yeast, roundworms, fruit flies), and the ITP has now extended this finding to mammals, with a 12% increase in males, but yet to be seen in females.
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation may play an important role in aging and age-related diseases and that astaxanthin is a promising longevity candidate due to its “potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity
Our dosing of Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is the first agent in the ITP’s 20-year history to demonstrate a greater than 10% increase in lifespan that is also broadly accessible as a dietary supplement, which, should it be suitable for the patient, recommend using as a 12mg daily dose.
4. Gly-Nac
GlyNAC is a combination of two commonly available amino acids, Glycine and N-Acetyl-Cysteine. It’s beneficial mechanism of action is thought to be through optimising mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative stress via glutathione production, and limiting gene damage & toxicity.
One research study notes that glutathione production increased by up to 231% when senior adults were administered supplemental glycine and cysteine.
According to another study from Nutrients, the proprietary GlyNAC supplement was shown to extend lifespan, albeit in mice, by 24 percent.
Furthermore, a randomized, double-blind human clinical trial Published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, showed that older humans taking GlyNAC for 16-weeks improved many characteristic defects of aging.
This is great news that these studies provide proof-of-concept that another over-the-counter supplement could have important implications for promoting healthy aging and improving both healthspan and lifespan in humans. In our patients so far, we have certainly seen improvements in cellular glutathione levels and reductions in oxidative stress.
Our dosing of GlyNAC
Glycine and N-Acetyl-cysteine are widely available as separate supplements. However our favourite combination is from Pure Encapsulations taken as 2-scoops once daily.