http://discovermagazine.com/2010/mar/07-dr-drank-broth-gave-...
Meddling with growth factors and chromosome structure systemically is hardly going to be reversible in anywhere near as controlled a way, and could well end up hurting her (and others who may decide to follow the example), potentially hurting her in a life threatening way by inducing cancer.
Then there's the abstract damage from reckless human experimentation on attitudes and community reactions. Early failures with gene therapy probably delayed the clinical use about a decade. We don't need more of that, and we don't need more excuses for people to dismiss life extension as a crackpot venture.
I hope she turns out at least unharmed. Got to admit the case study could prove to be interesting.
>Fossell, the anti-aging entrepreneur, says even if Parrish were to somehow succeed in slowing the aging of her body, an outcome he rated as unlikely, the experiment would have no impact because of how it was carried out. “The problem is that no one is going to believe them,” he says. “The credibility will be zero even if they are right on the money.”
Also:
> “We as a company have our own ethics,” she says, referring to what she calls the need for inexpensive gene therapy treatments. “I am certainly not going to ask someone’s permission to potentially create new industries and cures.”
Anybody saying "we have our own ethics" is way way out there, it casts doubt on all of the rest of their endeavor.
That's not really true, is it? If she lives to 120, or she lives a normal life span with dramatically "younger" looks and energy, it will have a huge impact. Even if the treatment can't be replicated exactly they'll know where to start looking.
Everybody has slightly different ethics. She's just pointing out that she views the advancement in this field and the millions of people it could give longer life to if it comes about sooner as more important than the arguments against a human trial, and to make sure someone isn't being taken advantage of, she's doing it on herself. I'm not sure how to fault that.