Researchers increase life expectancy of mice 30%, uncover key aging mechanism

Why not link to the original Nature article (28 May 2021) rather than that sketchy, overly-ad-ridden site?

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23545-7

Abstract

Aging leads to a gradual decline in physical activity and disrupted energy homeostasis. The NAD+-dependent SIRT6 deacylase regulates aging and metabolism through mechanisms that largely remain unknown. Here, we show that SIRT6 overexpression leads to a reduction in frailty and lifespan extension in both male and female B6 mice. A combination of physiological assays, in vivo multi-omics analyses and 13C lactate tracing identified an age-dependent decline in glucose homeostasis and hepatic glucose output in wild type mice. In contrast, aged SIRT6-transgenic mice preserve hepatic glucose output and glucose homeostasis through an improvement in the utilization of two major gluconeogenic precursors, lactate and glycerol. To mediate these changes, mechanistically, SIRT6 increases hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression, de novo NAD+ synthesis, and systemically enhances glycerol release from adipose tissue. These findings show that SIRT6 optimizes energy homeostasis in old age to delay frailty and preserve healthy aging.

Nature article with similar results from 8 years ago: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10950 It looks like previous results only showed positive benefits in male mice. I would caution any excited, though, since this is only studying mice. Humans are different enough that there's a good chance (high probably) that it won't have similar positive impact in humans. E.g. increasing it might promote cancer or have no meaningful effect.

I think from now on I'll just read all mouse studies as applicable to humans, but without scaling. That sounds like the appropriate amount of excitement to have.

This study suggest the mice lived an extra 1-2 years, if I consider 30% applied to a mouse lifespan. I'm looking forward to the extra 1-2 years this advancement brings me, eventually! :)

Edit: Also, get frequent checkups. We have tons of ways to cure mouse sized bits of cancer, so catch it while small!

A really old rate will be 4 years old when it dies. It would be mind blowing to see some procedure which would allow for a rat to live till 40 years. None, of the rats in this study really even passed 3.4 years. Also, they misquoted the nature article which states, between 15-27% increase that some how becomes 30% in this article.

I see this a a nice to know, but nothing revolutionary here. It's like diet and exercise will add 15-30% to your life, my grandfather smoked till 40, died at 65, my other grandfather quit at 30, now lives till 89 (still going strong, mowing his own lawn, cooking his own food, doing his daily stuff). Which is 30%+ longer.

I'm not holding my breath for these aging technology things. We already know how to add 30% to your life, they are through hard work and determination (not smoking, not drinking too much, not eating too much, being happy, social connections, and exercise). And, the other half is catching cancer and heart-disease early through a checkup at the doctor starting at age 40. Then you need to be not unlucky by having something rare.

I'm waiting for the 10x tech, then you have my attention.

One day we may finally achieve the ultimate discovery and conquer immortality to our overlord rats

I get the sense that we are closing in on something, and that in the next 5 years or so we are likely to see the first anti-aging drug or therapy that's been demonstrated to actually work to slow or slightly reverse aging. It ain't going to be biological immortality sci-fi stuff but it might extend your life span or "health span" more than conventional things like diet, exercise, etc. could accomplish alone. It will also mark the start of a new era of medicine.

Relevant SMBC: https://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2881

Conclusion: If u r a mouse, we can make u live longer!

I am always wary of research that increases life span.

It the world we are in, these technologies will be adopted by the rich, most likely be made exclusive and will further make the world an unhappy place to live, further increase inequality and further class based divisions in society.

I am all for research into diseases and reducing suffering.

But increasing life-span, more than current 'longest' records, is not a good thing for society, IMV.