X-Message-Number: 3407 Subject: SCI.CRYONICS: Anti-Aging Guide From: (Ben Best) Date: Tue, 15 Nov 1994 01:45:00 -0500 I assume tht cryonics for nearly all cryonicists is a means to an end, namely, a greatly extended youthful life. Therefore, I unhesitatingly give my recommendation and endorsement to Dr. Thomas Donaldson's recent book A GUIDE TO ANTI-AGING DRUGS. Although I am somewhat critical of the title -- I would have preferred that it had been called A GUIDE TO ANTI-AGING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. Deanol, Procaine, Deprenyl, Levodopa, Phenformin and Phenytoin deserve to be called DRUGS, but Vitamin E, Pyridoxine, Pantothenate, Melatonin, Cysteine, Chromium and Coenzyme Q10 do not. Dr. Donaldson gives a careful description of all dietary supplements which have been shown by at least one experiment to extend the lives of laboratory MAMMALS (mice, rats or guinea pigs, usually). Most lifespan extensions are in the range of 10% to 50%, but conceivably a combination of supplements acting by different mechanisms could have an additive effect or greater. The five classes of life-extension mechanisms that Thomas identifies are: (1) Antioxidation (2) Glycation inhibition (ie, prevention of glucose-induced protein cross-linking) (3) Metabolic alteration (the B vitamins) (4) Immune system improvement (Coenzyme Q10) (5) Effect on the brain (many very different actions) Since it is unlikely that conclusive human lifespan studies can be conducted within our own lifespans, these results on small mammals may offer a good chance of extending our lives. The metabolic similarities of small mammals and humans probably greatly outweigh the differences. The greatest difference is probably in brain metabolism. To order Dr. Donaldson's book, send US$24 to: PERIASTRON BOOKS P.O.BOX 2365 SUNNYVALE, CALIF 94087 USA Add shipping costs of US$4 for 1-3 books and US$6 for 4 or more books for all orders within the USA, Canada or Mexico. -- Ben Best () Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=3407