When it comes to life extension and minimizing morbidity and preserving intact cognition as we all age, the best time to address these issues is before we have a problem. This makes sense, preserve it while we still have it rather than try and regain what we have lost and then try and preserve it. Look, we all know what aging entails if we do nothing. Reframing this aging process is all well and good if there existed no options for a more healthful aging, but this is not the case.

We think that we would all hop onboard once some treatment looked fairly safe and had some promising results, but that is not what I have seen, and here are some examples:

Selegiline: Most animal studies addressing the issue have noted Selegiline’s ability to extend the life expectancy of animals by up to 20%. Other studies have shown that it brightens mood, increases attention span, improves cognition, often increases libido in many men, and is neuroprotective. It may also aid in the prevention of some types of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Though the last claims are speculative, the previous claims seem to be well grounded.

This drug is indeed safe for most people and has been FDA approved since 1989 for use in Parkinson’s patients. In fact if it were not for the very fact that many of those making the laws in this country have, or know someone suffering with, Parkinson’s Disease, it is likely that this drug would never have been allowed in this country since it works directly on the neurotransmitter Dopamine. Other such drugs have either been taken off the market, are highly restricted, or have been taken off the world market in an apparent “preemptive strike” to prevent it from entering the United States even as a valuable prescription drug such as Amineptine.

Naltrexone: I’ve long been an advocate of this drug, certainly not without resistance from both physicians and most patients. This drug was first FDA approved in 1984 for opiate drug overdoses such as heroin. It has proven to be extremely safe at its approved dosage of 50mg. When taken at about 1/10th this dose or lower the effects can be astounding on autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s Disease and many other related diseases. In fact, by modulating the immune system, naltrexone is also likely effective alone or in combination, in treating many cancers and very likely AIDS and HIV infection by a very unique mechanism causing many of the HIV cellular binding sites to be withdrawn.

As we age our immune system seems to go awry with more antibodies to ones own body being generated and chronic inflammation being accepted as the normal process of aging. In my opinion, it is likely that naltrexone, in low dosages, should be taken by most people as we enter middle age. Needless to say, please check with your physician before attempting this, though he will more than likely emphatically say “no.” It certainly is a risk to try this before all the data is in, but not to try something is to look forward to aging as we now know it, as a best case scenario.

Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) Shunt: The data has been hinted at since the late 1960’s As we age we produce less CSF, the fluid that bathes our brain, transports neuronal growth factors, and carries away toxins. We may produce less because in “normal” aging, the exit paths for the CSF become calcified thus severely inhibiting youthful drainage. Preliminary evidence seems to show that by implanting a shunt to allow the CSF to drain at a more normal rate, Alzheimer’s Disease can be stopped in its tracks. Having a shunt implanted is not without its risks, but once Alzheimer’s begins it pretty much carries a 100% risk of a pretty bleak future without treatment. Again, as with naltrexone, it is likely that all of us should have a CSF shunt implanted during middle age were it not for the risks. On the other hand, if I knew I had Alzheimer’s Disease and still possessed a decent quality of life, I would think it should be my right to have this implant if I assume the risks myself.

Please do leave your thoughts on this topic.

We are all in the same boat with this issue folks!