Interventions to Slow Aging in Humans: Are We Ready?

Aging Cell. 2015 Aug;14(4):497-510. doi: 10.1111/acel.12338. Epub 2015 Apr 22.

Abstract

The workshop entitled 'Interventions to Slow Aging in Humans: Are We Ready?' was held in Erice, Italy, on October 8-13, 2013, to bring together leading experts in the biology and genetics of aging and obtain a consensus related to the discovery and development of safe interventions to slow aging and increase healthy lifespan in humans. There was consensus that there is sufficient evidence that aging interventions will delay and prevent disease onset for many chronic conditions of adult and old age. Essential pathways have been identified, and behavioral, dietary, and pharmacologic approaches have emerged. Although many gene targets and drugs were discussed and there was not complete consensus about all interventions, the participants selected a subset of the most promising strategies that could be tested in humans for their effects on healthspan. These were: (i) dietary interventions mimicking chronic dietary restriction (periodic fasting mimicking diets, protein restriction, etc.); (ii) drugs that inhibit the growth hormone/IGF-I axis; (iii) drugs that inhibit the mTOR-S6K pathway; or (iv) drugs that activate AMPK or specific sirtuins. These choices were based in part on consistent evidence for the pro-longevity effects and ability of these interventions to prevent or delay multiple age-related diseases and improve healthspan in simple model organisms and rodents and their potential to be safe and effective in extending human healthspan. The authors of this manuscript were speakers and discussants invited to the workshop. The following summary highlights the major points addressed and the conclusions of the meeting.

Keywords: aging; anti-aging; centenarians; dietary restriction; lifespan studies; longevity gene; longevity regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Aging / drug effects*
  • Aging / genetics
  • Animals
  • Biological Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Caloric Restriction / methods
  • Diet
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Growth Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Growth Hormone / genetics
  • Growth Hormone / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / genetics
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
  • Longevity / drug effects*
  • Longevity / genetics
  • Mice
  • Prescription Drugs / therapeutic use*
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / genetics
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sirtuins / genetics
  • Sirtuins / metabolism
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Biological Factors
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Growth Hormone
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Sirtuins