Medical Interventions (TRT, HGH, Stem Cells, etc.) For Longevity

Key Takeaways

TRT market has grown significantly in recent years

Used for sexual dysfunction, mental health, building muscle, overall fitness, and vitality

Testosterone is an “abundance mimetic,” signaling the body that times are good for growth and reproduction

Studies show improvements in libido, muscle mass, power, and aerobic capacity

Risks of TRT: worse sleep apnea, larger breasts, bigger prostate, shrinking testicles, increased red blood cell production, blood clots, and potential aggravation of prostate cancer

Eunuchs, who have lower testosterone levels, tend to live longer

Short-term benefits of HGH include feeling better, growing muscle, and having less fat

Long-term use may not be good for health and wellness

Studies show that low levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth hormone signaling can lead to longer lifespans in worms, mice, and humans (e.g., Laron dwarfs)

Abundance mimetics like testosterone and HGH may provide short-term benefits but may not be conducive to long-term health and longevity

Adversity mimetics, which mimic lack of food and exercise, are more likely to promote long-term health and wellness

Growth hormone supplementation can have negative effects

Increased risk of cancer, heart disease, sore joints, carpal tunnel syndrome
Increased insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes risk

Peptides: strings of amino acids, smaller than hormones

Help cells communicate with each other
Can be synthesized or extracted from tissues

Thousands of clinical studies on peptides

Relatively safe, found in the body, metabolized quickly
Can boost regenerative signaling, wound healing, lower blood sugar levels, increase mitochondrial activity

Mots C: lowers blood sugar levels, increases mitochondrial activity, reduces fat in the body, improves fatty liver

BP 157: increases blood flow, lowers inflammation, regenerates neurons for cognitive ability

SS 31: targets mitochondria, improves mitochondrial function, potentially good for the heart and longevity

GHK Copper: helps wound healing, attracts immune cells, stimulates collagen, protects tissues against inflammation, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, promotes hair growth

Some peptides banned in the United States due to potential side effects and lack of knowledge

Thymusin Alpha One

Known since the 1970s
Helps fight bacterial and viral infections
Banned in 2020, movement to bring it back due to potential COVID-19 benefits

Fat loss peptides: Tessamorolin, CJC 1295, Ipamorolin, AOD 964, BPC 157

Humanin: helps against type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases (in mice)
Pinealon: treats memory, attention deficits, brain injury, stroke, chronic fatigue (early research)
Combat fatigue and boost immune system: Dihexa, Cerebralysin, Semax, Selank, BPC 157 with Semax and Cerebralysin

Anecdotal evidence of peptides’ benefits. Need for placebo-controlled double-blind clinical studies. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.

Exosomes: cellular signalers, membrane-bound vesicles containing peptides, DNA, RNA, and microRNAs

Potential uses of exosomes:

Diagnose diseases, including cancer, through blood tests
Help with injury and aging by rejuvenating senescent cells

Research on exosomes

Dongsheng Cai’s study: mice live longer with isolated exosomes
Chinese study: exosomes reverse senescence in ulcer healing

Exosomes not banned in the US, but FDA may have safety concerns

Long-term benefits and side effects unknown

Stem cells: cells that can divide asymmetrically to produce various tissues

Two types of stem cells

Multipotent: can make a few different types of tissues
Pluripotent: can make any type of cell in the body

Stem cells typically obtained from an embryo

Shinya Yamanaka discovered a combination of genes that can turn adult cells into pluripotent stem cells

This breakthrough allows scientists to take a skin cell and reprogram it into a pluripotent stem cell

Banking younger stem cells can be beneficial for future use in regenerative medicine

Researchers are using stem cells to regenerate and repair damaged tissues in various diseases, such as spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer, and arthritis

Stem cells have the potential to replace aging stem cells and create new organs using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or autologous stem cells from children and adults

Drawbacks of using stem cells to live longer

Often don’t find their niche or resting place
Can cause harm if not done correctly (e.g., blindness in Florida patients)

University of Miami study (2017): Harvested stem cells from younger donors given to older, frail patients

Showed improvements in walking distance, lowered cytokine levels, improved mental state, and reported quality of life improvement

Wancheng Lu’s discovery: Set of genes that reverse the age of cells and tissues without negative side effects

Used three Yamanaka factors (o, S, and K) instead of all five
Successfully reversed age in mouse eye cells, skin cells, and muscle cells

Potential for human application

Hope to restore vision in human patients with glaucoma or genetic diseases within a year or year and a half
Future possibility of a pill to reset age of the whole body

More research and work needed to confirm safety and effectiveness of anti-aging treatments

Slowing down the biological clock with lifestyle changes can buy time for therapies to mature

Full Notes

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)

Testosterone decreases as we age, causing concerns for many people
TRT market has grown significantly in recent years
Used for sexual dysfunction, mental health, building muscle, overall fitness, and vitality
Feeling younger does not necessarily mean reversing biological aging
Testosterone is an “abundance mimetic,” signaling the body that times are good for growth and reproduction
Studies show improvements in libido, muscle mass, power, and aerobic capacity
Risks of TRT: worse sleep apnea, larger breasts, bigger prostate, shrinking testicles, increased red blood cell production, blood clots, and potential aggravation of prostate cancer
Eunuchs, who have lower testosterone levels, tend to live longer

Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

Popular for addressing decreased exercise capacity, bone density, muscle mass, and increased body fat
Short-term benefits include feeling better, growing muscle, and having less fat
Long-term use may not be good for health and wellness
Studies show that low levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth hormone signaling can lead to longer lifespans in worms, mice, and humans (e.g., Laron dwarfs)

Key Takeaway

Abundance mimetics like testosterone and HGH may provide short-term benefits but may not be conducive to long-term health and longevity
Adversity mimetics, which mimic lack of food and exercise, are more likely to promote long-term health and wellness
Growth Hormone and Aging
Growth hormone supplementation can have negative effects
- Increased risk of cancer, heart disease, sore joints, carpal tunnel syndrome
- Increased insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes risk
Benefits of maintaining natural, healthy hormone levels
- Exercise and sleep can help regulate growth hormone levels

Peptide Supplementation

Peptides: strings of amino acids, smaller than hormones
- Help cells communicate with each other
- Can be synthesized or extracted from tissues
Thousands of clinical studies on peptides
- Relatively safe, found in the body, metabolized quickly
- Can boost regenerative signaling, wound healing, lower blood sugar levels, increase mitochondrial activity
Examples of peptides:
- Mots C: lowers blood sugar levels, increases mitochondrial activity, reduces fat in the body, improves fatty liver
- BP 157: increases blood flow, lowers inflammation, regenerates neurons for cognitive ability
- SS 31: targets mitochondria, improves mitochondrial function, potentially good for the heart and longevity
- GHK Copper: helps wound healing, attracts immune cells, stimulates collagen, protects tissues against inflammation, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, promotes hair growth
FDA concerns and regulation
- Some peptides banned in the United States due to potential side effects and lack of knowledge
- Side effects can include redness, arthritis-type effects, and immunological reactions

Note: The information provided should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.
Peptides and Exosomes

Anecdotal evidence of peptides’ benefits
- Movement to make peptides more available
Thymusin Alpha One
- Known since the 1970s
- Helps fight bacterial and viral infections
- Banned in 2020, movement to bring it back due to potential COVID-19 benefits
Other peptides
- Fat loss: Tessamorolin, CJC 1295, Ipamorolin, AOD 964, BPC 157
- Humanin: helps against type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases (in mice)
- Pinealon: treats memory, attention deficits, brain injury, stroke, chronic fatigue (early research)
- Combat fatigue and boost immune system: Dihexa, Cerebralysin, Semax, Selank, BPC 157 with Semax and Cerebralysin
Need for placebo-controlled double-blind clinical studies

Exosomes

Cellular signalers, membrane-bound vesicles containing peptides, DNA, RNA, and microRNAs
Potential uses:
- Diagnose diseases, including cancer, through blood tests
- Help with injury and aging by rejuvenating senescent cells
Research on exosomes
- Dongsheng Cai’s study: mice live longer with isolated exosomes
- Chinese study: exosomes reverse senescence in ulcer healing
Current availability and caution
- Exosomes not banned in the US, but FDA may have safety concerns
- Long-term benefits and side effects unknown

Stem Cells

Cells that can divide asymmetrically to produce various tissues
Two main classes:
- Multipotent: can make a few different types of tissues
- Pluripotent: can make any type of cell in the body
  Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Cells typically obtained from an embryo
Pluripotent stem cells can make any type of cell in any tissue
Multipotent cells can transition into several different kinds of cells, but not all

Yamanaka Factors

Shinya Yamanaka discovered a combination of genes that can turn adult cells into pluripotent stem cells
These genes are KLF4, Sox2, c‑Myc, and Lin28
This breakthrough allows scientists to take a skin cell and reprogram it into a pluripotent stem cell

Stem Cell Aging

Stem cells age and undergo epigenetic changes, making them less able to regenerate new tissues
Banking younger stem cells can be beneficial for future use in regenerative medicine

Stem Cell Therapies

Researchers are using stem cells to regenerate and repair damaged tissues in various diseases, such as spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer, and arthritis
Stem cells have the potential to replace aging stem cells and create new organs using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or autologous stem cells from children and adults
Stem Cells and Aging
Drawbacks of using stem cells to live longer
- Often don’t find their niche or resting place
- Can cause harm if not done correctly (e.g., blindness in Florida patients)
Rejuvenating existing stem cells
- Reprogramming technology to reverse aging of stem cells
Studies on stem cell therapy
- University of Miami (2017): Harvested stem cells from younger donors given to older, frail patients
  - Showed improvements in walking distance, lowered cytokine levels, improved mental state, and reported quality of life improvement
- Mesenchymal stem cells used for joint issues
  - Therapeutic for a short amount of time, unclear if due to stem cells staying in place or secreting exosomes/peptides

Cellular Reprogramming

Yamanaka factors: Reset the age of a cell back to zero
- Can cause cancer and death in mice
Wancheng Lu’s discovery: Set of genes that reverse the age of cells and tissues without negative side effects
- Used three Yamanaka factors (o, S, and K) instead of all five
- Successfully reversed age in mouse eye cells, skin cells, and muscle cells
Potential for human application
- Hope to restore vision in human patients with glaucoma or genetic diseases within a year or year and a half
- Future possibility of a pill to reset age of the whole body

Treatment Regimen with Metformin

Dr. Greg Fahey’s triple treatment
- Growth hormone, DHEA (depleted during aging), and metformin
- Mitigates negative effects of growth hormone
- Tested on 10 healthy men aged 51–65 for 12 months
- Result: Biological clock of men went back 2.5 years
  Reversing Aging with Combinatory Therapy
Small scale trial using human growth hormone (HGH), metformin, and DHEA
- HGH shown to reconstitute the thymus, important for the immune system
- Metformin and DHEA help control blood glucose levels
Measuring the clock in the blood may not indicate whole body rejuvenation
- Other clocks to consider: proteomic clock, glycan age, immuno age
Repeated treatments over a year show reduced age based on blood clock
- Jury still out on whether this is truly reversing aging or just some aspects of blood aging

Eagerness for Anti-Aging Treatments

People are eager to access potential anti-aging treatments
- Going overseas, finding doctors and suppliers online
More research and work needed to confirm safety and effectiveness
Slowing down the biological clock with lifestyle changes can buy time for therapies to mature