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Biochemical Insights into Progeria Syndrome Identify Bisphosphonates, Statins as Possible Candidate Drugs to Halt Aging

Simon M. Helfgott, MD  |  Issue: August 2016  |  August 10, 2016

Unlike Mr. Kurzweil, some people hold a more pessimistic view of aging. Although I love his music, I question the Hobbesian choice offered by Neil Young’s lyrics: “It’s better to burn out than it is to rust.” The challenge is to discover the ways to age gracefully. A glass of Merlot, anyone?


Simon M. Helfgott, MD, is associate professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

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References

  1. Merideth MA, Gordon LB, Clauss S, et al. Phenotype and course of Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2008 Feb 7;358(6):592–604.
  2. Kushner GS. When Bad Things Happen to Good People. New York: Random House (1987).
  3. Varela I, Pereira S, Ugalde AP, et al. Combined treatment with statins and aminobisphosphonates extends longevity in a mouse model of human premature aging. Nat Med. 2008 Jul;14(7):767–772.
  4. Gemma C, Vila J, Bachstetter A, et al. Riddle DR, ed. Oxidative stress and the aging brain: From theory to prevention. In Brain Aging: Models, Methods, and Mechanisms. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis (2007).
  5. Harman D. The biologic clock: The mitochondria? J Am Geriatr Soc. 1972 Apr;20(4):145–147.
  6. Semba RD, Ferrucci, L, Bartali B, et al. Resveratrol levels and all-cause mortality in older community-dwelling adults. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Jul;174(7):1077–1084.
  7. Siemann EH, Creasy LL. Concentration of the phytoalexin resveratrol in wine. Am J Enol Vitic. 1992 Jan;43(1):49–52.
  8. Howitz KT, Bitterman KJ, Cohen HY, et al Small molecule activators of sirtuins extend Saccharomyces cerevisiae lifespan. Nature. 2003 Sep 11;425(6854):191–196.
  9. Wade N. Doubt on anti-aging molecule as drug trial stops. The New York Times. 2011 Jan 10.
  10. Timmerman L. GlaxoSmithKline shuts down Sirtris, five years after $720M buyout. Xconomy.com. 2013 Mar 12.
  11. Brodwin E. Here’s the 700-calorie breakfast you should eat if you want to live forever, according to futurist Ray Kurzweil. Business Insider. 2016 Apr 20.

Correction

In the July 2016 issue, page 20 depicts an image of a plain film demonstrating an ankylosed LS spine, not a knee with osteoarthritis. We regret the error.

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Filed under:Career DevelopmentEducation & TrainingProfessional TopicsResearch Rheum Tagged with:agingbisphosphonatesClinicalDrugspatient careResearchrheumatologyStatintherapy

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