The Clock Logic of Plasma Exchange

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I begin from the paradigm that aging is not a random process but an adaptation, a programmed self-destruction. This was my entree into the field 27 years ago, and has been the theme of much of my research, including two books. For a summary of the evidence, here’s a blog post from 2015, and here’s the … Read more

Longer proteins for longer lifespan?

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It seems too simple to explain much, but according to a study out of Northwestern University, large proteins are more prevalent in young animals compared to old. For those of us who believe that aging is programmed into the life cycle, gene expression seems the most likely transmission of information about age through the body. … Read more

Designing a Methylation Clock that Reliably Evaluates Anti-aging Interventions

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Can methylation clocks be relied on in this context? The earliest clocks were trained on chronological age only, and yet they predicted morbidity and mortality better than chronological age. I’ve been enthusiastic about the technology since 2013. But recently there have been substantial challenges to the validity of all the existing clocks.  An article published … Read more

Don’t mess with the Genetic Code

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The work of George Church combines a broad knowledge of science with an ambitious imagination. Our world needs visionaries, and Church is one of a kind. His Harvard laboratory is at the cutting edge of several key areas of biochemistry. Please construe the following criticism narrowly. There’s just one of his ideas that I think … Read more

Out with the old blood, in with the young blood

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Rebalancing proteins in the blood is the single most promising strategy for age reversal in the present environment. There are two competing schools for how to approach this. I’m calling on both to put their heads together and develop a strategy that combines their insights. <rant> Please forgive me while I rant for a paragraph … Read more

Not Sickening Enough

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Sickening by John Abramson, MD. Mariner Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1328957818 This book describes the top-to-bottom control over medical research and its dissemination exerted by large drug manufacturers. Of course, they have their own research staff, paid to test their patented drugs and make sure those tests come out favorably. In addition, they are the largest sponsors … Read more

What is in E5? Harold Katcher’s patent

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Harold Katcher’s patent was unveiled last week, and it’s not what I thought it would be. I thought it would be a list of several molecular forms, together with recipes for how to make them and how to administer them intravenously for increased longevity.  I hoped it would inspire laboratories around the world to replicate … Read more

Lifespan of Harold Katcher’s Rats

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Preliminary results from lifespan studies with E5 Harold Katcher has developed a protocol for lab rats using intravenous injection with a blood plasma fraction he calls “E5”. Three years ago, he announced that treated rats evinced many features of rejuvenation, including improvements in grip strength, endurance, and learning capacity. Two years ago, he announced that … Read more

Is there a master timekeeper, upstream of the methylation clock?

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I have promoted the idea that aging is programmed and that the program is epigenetic. Hence epigenetic age is fundamental. But what is it that imprints epigenetic age on the chromosomes and keeps it updated? Is the “methylation clock” responding to a higher authority, a separate clock which coordinates epigenetic age throughout the body? Do … Read more