4 ms·
Again, I emphasize this point: > I would caution you that while you're correct in that repair mechanisms do exist, it's important to remember that these mechan
by lawrenceyan 6y ago
Again, I emphasize this point:
> I would caution you that while you're correct in that repair mechanisms do exist, it's important to remember that these mechanisms are themselves composed from the same components as the rest of your body, i.e. they too will age and begin to fail over time.
The process of nuclear reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells, which is the subject of your referenced paper, is something that I believe to be a great scientific breakthrough, but nevertheless fails to address the accumulated mutations that build up over time in your cells. All those mutations don't just magically disappear.
- pmiller2 6y agoSure, but, presumably, in most cases, you can repeat the therapy. And, if such treatments are shown to provide additional healthy years, who cares, even if they're not repeatable? I'd pay for a treatment that could be shown to add years to my life expectancy.
- lawrenceyan 6y agoThere are drawbacks that you should consider. Many of the repair mechanisms that exist, which later on become deactivated, are turned off for a reason. It's important to understand that renewed growth is synonymous with cancer. The older you are, the greater the risk you face as your fail safes and redundancies begin to fail from corruption due to accumulated mutation. It's often better to completely turn the thing off, which is exactly what your body does, after a certain point. The older you get and the more you age, the more you should focus on preventing the development of cancer over anything else as that will likely have the greatest impact in determining your life expectancy, assuming you continue to stay active, eat properly, and get enough sleep.