RAADFest 2024 recently finished in Anaheim, CA. It was an exciting anti-aging conference with many astounding announcements. Instead of the usual, eat, sleep, exercise, and see your doctor longevity advice that most health-conscious people know, RAADFest’s subject matter is more targeted to people who want to live forever. That’s not a metaphor or poetic license. People at RAADFest are willing to try almost anything to live forever, and many of them have substantial budgets to fund this highly optimistic research endeavor. This article will focus on the highlights and what speakers announced at RAADFest.
Interlukin-11 Inhibition
Interlukin-11 (IL11) inhibition is a hot topic. Bill Faloon, the founder of Life Extension, talked about the potential of this pathway in his talk. IL11 is highly involved in inflammatory reactions and fibrotic growth in the body. A recent study announced that mice that have knocked out IL11 had a 25% longer median lifespan than controls. IL11 inhibition is also considered a possible anti-cancer therapy. The fact that the experiment knocked out IL-11 in the longer-lived mice is interesting to me because it means that there don’t appear to be any negatives in suppressing it, making it possible that small molecule drugs could potentially suppress it without serious side effects. The RAADFest presentation discussed these studies using IL11-specific antibodies to suppress IL11. No IL11 antibodies are currently approved. Currently, the IL11 inhibitor drugs in phase 1 FDA trials are 9MW3811, LASN01, and BI765423. Here’s a recent X thread on IL-11 and its possibilities.
The Possible Rejuvenation Potential of Anti-Cancer Drugs
Elizabeth Parrish of Bioviva and James R Williams of the Williams Cancer Center took the stage and proposed that anti-cancer drugs rejuvenate patients. They showed examples of spinal disc regeneration after cancer treatments. The presenters did not elaborate in exhaustive detail on what drugs they used. Mrs. Parrish speculated that gene therapy won’t be for longevity because these small molecule cancer drugs would probably handle that, and instead, we’d use gene therapy solely for human enhancement. Cytokines associated with aging and cancer are IL-1, IL-6, IL-11, and TGF-B. Inhibiting IL-1 is more antiaging than young plasma transfusions. In the future, everyone can be in their 20s if you treat them early and keep their immune system alert the presenters surmised.
Young Plasma
Continuing a thread from earlier RAADFests, the recent flurry of medical research into the potential of young plasma transfusions to extend life was discussed. These transfusions are rich in exosomes which seem to be a major emerging factor in epiginetically reprogramming cells to act younger. Interestingly enough, median lifespan was increased, but maximum lifespan was not with young plasma transfusions.
OSK/Yamanaka Factors
Yamanaka factors have been known to revert cells to pluripotency. Bill Faloon talked about how the 4 Yamanaka factors could be reduced to 3 for better effects: OCT4,SOX2,KLF4. These would be delivered by a viral vector.
The results are impressive with 100% increase in median remaining lifespan for middle aged mice. The next steps are primate research and testing by brave self experimenters. The full presentation of Mr. Faloon is available at http://age-reversal.net.
Other Interesting Developments
- Dr. Sheldon Jordan claims that focused ultrasound directed at the brain can more efficiently deliver exosomes to the hypothalamus. This treatment can have broad-spectrum anti-aging effects since researchers proposed that the hypothalamus contains the master epigenetic clock.
- Dr Vince C. Giampapa, MD, talked about gene therapies for anti-aging among various modalities. These gene therapies currently include: HTERT – Immunosenescence RX, KLOTHO – Enhanced Cognition RX, FOLLISTATIN – Scaropenia RX, GDF-11 Vascular Regrowth, PGC1-ALPHA – Increased Mitochondrial Biogenesis, PARP – DNA REPAIR.
- Aubrey De Gray talked about his research into multiple interventions to slow aging. Rapamycin generally had the most benefit of all the factors tested, especially for women.
- Greg Fahy talked about the TRIM protocol: HgH, DHEA, and Metformin. HGH does most of the work, but DHEA and Metformin also help rejuvenate the thymus.
- Dr. Kenneth Schwartz talked about C60 and its SOD/Catalase mimetic properties, making it an anti-oxidant of note.