Turning Back Time? By Mrs Vera West

     This may be of interest for those of us, facing eternity; experiments with a drug cocktails have allegedly been able to reverse ageing. With controversial topics like this, it is best to quote directly from the research paper, but here are some media summaries:
  https://futurism.com/neoscope/study-drug-cocktail-reverse-genetic-age
  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02638-w
  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acel.13028

“Epigenetic “clocks” can now surpass chronological age in accuracy for estimating biological age. Here, we use four such age estimators to show that epigenetic aging can be reversed in humans. Using a protocol intended to regenerate the thymus, we observed protective immunological changes, improved risk indices for many age-related diseases, and a mean epigenetic age approximately 1.5 years less than baseline after 1 year of treatment (-2.5-year change compared to no treatment at the end of the study). The rate of epigenetic aging reversal relative to chronological age accelerated from -1.6 year/year from 0–9 month to -6.5 year/year from 9–12 month. The Grim Age predictor of human morbidity and mortality showed a 2-year decrease in epigenetic vs. chronological age that persisted six months after discontinuing treatment. This is to our knowledge the first report of an increase, based on an epigenetic age estimator, in predicted human lifespan by means of a currently accessible aging intervention.”

     The main drug used was growth hormone, which can promote diabetes, so the drugs DHEA and metformin were added to counter this. However, the sample size was small, and there were no adequate controls, so the study is limited, but suggestive. There is also the added question of the ill-health effects from administration of growth hormone in otherwise healthy subjects:
  https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/growth-hormone/art-20045735

“Human growth hormone might cause a number of side effects for healthy adults, including:
•    Carpal tunnel syndrome
•    Increased insulin resistance
•    Swelling in the arms and legs (edema)
•    Joint and muscle pain
•    For men, enlargement of breast tissue (gynecomastia)

Human growth hormone might also contribute to conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease and possibly an increased risk of some cancers. Some research suggests that side effects of human growth hormone treatments might be more likely in older adults than in younger people. Because the studies of healthy adults taking human growth hormone have been short term, it isn't clear whether the side effects could eventually dissipate or become worse.”

     If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is.