Editing Life extension (section)

=== Anti-aging drugs ===

There are numerous chemicals intended to slow the aging process under study in [[animal model]]s.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Childs BG, Durik M, Baker DJ, van Deursen JM | title = Cellular senescence in aging and age-related disease: from mechanisms to therapy | journal = Nature Medicine | volume = 21 | issue = 12 | pages = 1424–1435 | date = December 2015 | pmid = 26646499 | pmc = 4748967 | doi = 10.1038/nm.4000 }}</ref> One type of research is related to the observed effects of a [[calorie restriction]] (CR) diet, which has been shown to extend lifespan in some animals.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Anderson RM, Shanmuganayagam D, Weindruch R | title = Caloric restriction and aging: studies in mice and monkeys | journal = Toxicologic Pathology | volume = 37 | issue = 1 | pages = 47–51 | date = January 2009 | pmid = 19075044 | pmc = 3734859 | doi = 10.1177/0192623308329476 }}</ref> Based on that research, there have been attempts to develop drugs that will have the same effect on the aging process as a CR diet, which are known as [[caloric restriction mimetic]] drugs, such as [[rapamycin]]<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Harrison DE, Strong R, Sharp ZD, Nelson JF, Astle CM, Flurkey K, Nadon NL, Wilkinson JE, Frenkel K, Carter CS, Pahor M, Javors MA, Fernandez E, Miller RA | display-authors = 6 | title = Rapamycin fed late in life extends lifespan in genetically heterogeneous mice | journal = Nature | volume = 460 | issue = 7253 | pages = 392–395 | date = July 2009 | pmid = 19587680 | pmc = 2786175 | doi = 10.1038/nature08221 | bibcode = 2009Natur.460..392H }}</ref> and [[metformin]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Dhahbi JM, Mote PL, Fahy GM, Spindler SR | title = Identification of potential caloric restriction mimetics by microarray profiling | journal = Physiological Genomics | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 343–350 | date = November 2005 | pmid = 16189280 | doi = 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00069.2005 | citeseerx = 10.1.1.327.4892 }}</ref>

[[Sirtuin]] activating [[polyphenol]]s, such as [[resveratrol]] and [[pterostilbene]],<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kaeberlein M | title = Resveratrol and rapamycin: are they anti-aging drugs? | journal = BioEssays | volume = 32 | issue = 2 | pages = 96–99 | date = February 2010 | pmid = 20091754 | doi = 10.1002/bies.200900171 | s2cid = 16882387 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Barger JL, Kayo T, Vann JM, Arias EB, Wang J, Hacker TA, Wang Y, Raederstorff D, Morrow JD, Leeuwenburgh C, Allison DB, Saupe KW, Cartee GD, Weindruch R, Prolla TA | display-authors = 6 | title = A low dose of dietary resveratrol partially mimics caloric restriction and retards aging parameters in mice | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 3 | issue = 6 | pages = e2264 | date = June 2008 | pmid = 18523577 | pmc = 2386967 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0002264 | bibcode = 2008PLoSO...3.2264B | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = McCormack D, McFadden D | title = A review of pterostilbene antioxidant activity and disease modification | journal = Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity | volume = 2013 | pages = 575482 | year = 2013 | pmid = 23691264 | pmc = 3649683 | doi = 10.1155/2013/575482 | doi-access = free }}</ref> and [[flavonoid]]s, such as [[quercetin]] and [[fisetin]],<ref name="Martel-2020">{{cite journal | vauthors = Martel J, Ojcius DM, Wu CY, Peng HH, Voisin L, Perfettini JL, Ko YF, Young JD | display-authors = 6 | title = Emerging use of senolytics and senomorphics against aging and chronic diseases | journal = Medicinal Research Reviews | volume = 40 | issue = 6 | pages = 2114–2131 | date = November 2020 | pmid = 32578904 | doi = 10.1002/med.21702 | s2cid = 220047655 }}</ref> as well as [[oleic acid]]<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Mutlu AS, Duffy J, Wang MC | title = Lipid metabolism and lipid signals in aging and longevity | journal = Developmental Cell | volume = 56 | issue = 10 | pages = 1394–1407 | date = May 2021 | pmid = 33891896 | pmc = 8173711 | doi = 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.03.034 }}</ref> are [[dietary supplement]]s that have also been studied in this context. Other common supplements with less clear biological pathways to target aging include [[lipoic acid]],<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Shay KP, Moreau RF, Smith EJ, Smith AR, Hagen TM | title = Alpha-lipoic acid as a dietary supplement: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential | journal = Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects | volume = 1790 | issue = 10 | pages = 1149–1160 | date = October 2009 | pmid = 19664690 | pmc = 2756298 | doi = 10.1016/j.bbagen.2009.07.026 }}</ref> [[senolytic]]s,<ref name="Martel-2020" /> and [[coenzyme Q10]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Arenas-Jal M, Suñé-Negre JM, García-Montoya E | title = Coenzyme Q10 supplementation: Efficacy, safety, and formulation challenges | journal = Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety | volume = 19 | issue = 2 | pages = 574–594 | date = March 2020 | pmid = 33325173 | doi = 10.1111/1541-4337.12539 | doi-access = free | hdl = 2445/181270 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> 

While agents such as these have some limited laboratory evidence of efficacy in animals, there are no studies to date in humans for drugs that may promote life extension, mainly because research investment remains at a low level, and regulatory standards are high.<ref name="aarp">{{cite web |first1=Rachel|last1=Nania |title=A pill to slow aging? |url=https://www.aarp.org/health/drugs-supplements/info-2023/pill-to-slow-aging.html |publisher=AARP |access-date=7 September 2024 |date=15 November 2023}}</ref> Aging is not recognized as a preventable condition by governments, indicating there is no clear pathway to approval of anti-aging medications.<ref name=aarp/> Further, anti-aging drug candidates are under constant review by regulatory authorities like the US [[Food and Drug Administration]], which stated in 2023 that "no medication has been proven to slow or reverse the aging process."<ref name="fda-fraud">{{cite web |title=Medication Health Fraud for Specific Diseases and Conditions |url=https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/medication-health-fraud-specific-diseases-and-conditions |publisher=US Food and Drug Administration |access-date=7 September 2024 |date=9 August 2023}}</ref>