Consider metformin use, especially if diabetic, as it was associated with significantly reduced COVID-19 mortality and potentially lower hospitalization rates in observed cohorts. This suggests a protective effect against severe outcomes.
Older adults can consider low-dose, intermittent mTOR inhibitors (rapalogs) to enhance their immune function and improve response to flu vaccinations. This approach aims to ’turn down’ mTOR, not turn it off, for beneficial effects.
Consider metformin as a tool to target aging and prevent age-related diseases, given its observed ability to increase healthspan and lifespan in animals and its association with reduced incidence of various age-related conditions in humans.
mTOR inhibitors can upregulate antiviral gene expression and reduce the incidence and severity of common coronavirus and other respiratory tract infections in older people. This suggests a role in bolstering the body’s defense against viral pathogens.
Older individuals may benefit from using metformin to enhance their immune system, potentially leading to a better response to vaccines, including those for influenza and new viruses like SARS-CoV-2. This addresses the challenge of vaccines not adequately protecting the elderly.
Consider taking RTB-101 (an mTOR inhibitor) during the four months of peak winter cold and flu season, particularly for individuals aged 70 and older. This seasonal dosing may decrease hospitalizations and severe symptoms during periods of high viral incidence.
For elderly individuals, combining metformin with exercise may lead to less muscle mass gain but maintain muscle function and preserve a ‘young profile’ of muscle at a transcriptional level. This suggests independent benefits of metformin beyond exercise alone.
Explore mTOR inhibitors (RTB, rapalogs, or combinations) to enhance autophagy, which may help with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. This mechanism could aid in clearing toxic protein aggregates in the brain.
For severe immune over-reactions, such as a cytokine storm in critically ill patients, consider high, immunosuppressive doses of rapamycin. This is a distinct application from the low doses used for prevention and aims to temper an excessive immune response.
Understand that metformin’s cellular effects on the aging phenotype may persist even after stopping the drug. This implies that using metformin for prevention, rather than acute treatment, can have sustained benefits.
Adopt a mindset focused on delaying the onset of age-related diseases to emulate centenarians, whose ‘superpower’ is slowed aging and delayed disease onset. This approach prioritizes preventing diseases rather than merely surviving them once they strike.
If you are around age 50, consider it a opportune time to try something new with your career. This perspective suggests that it may be the last significant chance to make a transformative professional change.
Support and advocate for rigorous, large-scale scientific studies to definitively determine the impact of various interventions (e.g., sleep, vitamin D, vitamin C) on immune function. This is crucial for preparedness against future pandemics and understanding foundational health drivers.
Advocate for and contribute to the development of better biomarkers that can quickly predict the effectiveness of aging interventions. This will allow for more efficient and adaptable clinical trials, accelerating the safe delivery of therapies.
If considering rapamycin, be aware of potential side effects such as apthous ulcers and slower fingernail growth. These are observed effects that users may experience.
Be aware that metformin, by inhibiting mitochondrial complex one, can increase baseline lactate levels, which may impact aerobic efficiency metrics during exercise. However, this increase has also been associated with better glucose control.