Anticipating The Anti-Aging Revolution

This article was originally published on May 3, 2021 in Reforma in Mexico City. Grupo Reforma is the most prestigious media company in Mexico and the second largest media company in Latin America publishing 10 daily newspapers with a daily circulation of 1.4 million. Margaretta Colangelo translated the article into English with permission from the author Israel Sánchez. To read the original article please click here?Prevén revolución antienvejecimiento

Reforma front page on May 3, 2021 with article on Longevity treatments by Israel Sánchez "Prevén revolución antienvejecimiento" on the bottom right

A revolution in anti-aging medicines and treatments would not only prolong life span, but would also lead to a considerable reduction in diseases that are now common in the elderly. In the last 100 years, life expectancy around the world has increased considerably, from 50 to 70 years and more in some countries, mainly due to improvements in hygiene, sanitation, vaccination, and lifestyle. Today there are one billion people over 60 years of age around the globe. This sector of the population will continue to increase until, for the first time in history, there will be more older people than young people, estimates specialist Margaretta Colangelo.

Faced with this, a huge challenge is evident: How to ensure that these people not only live longer, but also do so without suffering from the diseases that usually come with age including Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, kidney, and cardiovascular diseases. "Although life expectancy in some countries is 72 years, in some countries the last 10 of those years are not healthy, and people are sick and hospitalized," says Colangelo, co-author of the book Longevity Industry. 1.0: Defining the Biggest and Most Complex Industry in Human History.

Science and technology are both fundamental in the development of medicines and anti-aging treatments such as senolytics. One of the consequences of aging is the accumulation of senescent cells, normal cells that stop dividing, contributing to the aging of tissues and secreting substances that induce inflammation. Inflammation has been linked to age related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and Alzheimer's. Colangelo refers to work being carried out at sites like the Mayo Clinic, where, for example, a study on mice showed that the combination of two drugs - daatinib and quercetin - killed senescent cells.

A revolution in anti-aging medicines and treatments would not only prolong life span, but there would also be a considerable reduction in diseases that are now common in the elderly.

Technological advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) will make it possible to identify potential drugs and treatments against aging more quickly, says the specialist, using the work of the biotechnology company Insilico Medicine as an example. "Normally when we try to find drugs to treat a disease it is like looking for a needle in a haystack, and it can take 10 or more years to find a drug that often does not even work. So it is very difficult," remarks Colangelo, who has more than 30 years of experience in the leadership of software companies in Silicon Valley, and is co-founder and CEO of software company Jthereum.

"So what Insilico Medicine is doing is, instead of looking for the needle in the haystack, they are using AI to design the perfect needle, and they have done it successfully. In fact, in September 2019 scientists at Insilico Medicine used AI to design and validate a potential drug candidate in 45 days . This was the first time that the potential for AI in the Pharma industry had been validated in practice, moving from theory into reality." So using AI, instead of waiting 10 years, life saving drugs could be available for patients in as little as two years and be less expensive.

It's not just Artificial Intelligence, Colangelo says, but also the implementation of other advanced technologies such as messenger RNA technology (used in some of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines) and nanomedicine. "For example, there is a company called NaNotics that uses subtractive nanoparticles called NaNots that are injected into humans to deplete inflammatory molecules secreted by senescent cells . These are called third wave treatments, which do not have side effects that harm the body like traditional drugs, and could be available in as soon as four years," she says, pointing out that many projects are currently testing in clinical trials with animals and will move to human trials soon.

In addition, biomarkers will also play an important role, such as the one recently identified by researchers from the Buck Institute for Research in Aging "the number one center for aging research in the world" qualifies Colangelo, which is released when senescent cells are forced to die and it is detectable in blood and urine. This allows non-invasive tests to measure and track senolytic performance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory authorities accelerated processes to release COVID-19 vaccines to the world quicker. Colangelo hopes that regulators will also fast track longevity treatments. "We want to fast track longevity treatments so that we don't have to wait 10 years. Obviously we want regulators to take all the necessary steps to make sure that longevity treatments are safe and effective, but if they reduce the red tape and streamline processes, they might be able to make longevity treatments available sooner."

“In this way,” the specialist emphasizes, “a lot of unnecessary suffering could be avoided for millions and millions of people, which is the ultimate goal behind the longevity industry beyond just seeking to extend life. People usually say: 'Oh, these treatments will help people to live longer; maybe we can live 120 years.' That may be true, but I always think how millions people will avoid suffering with age related diseases. I think it is important to see it that way."

"In the future we won't have to see our parents decline with Alzheimer's and dementia or strokes because they will remain healthy as they age. This will be the first time in all of human history that children do not have to see their parents and grandparents suffer with age related diseases." she emphasizes. "Longevity research is the most positive thing that is happening on the planet."

Margaretta Colangelo speculates that some new drugs and treatments may be available, in as soon as five years. Until then, people should follow basic care measures: healthy diet, regular exercise, minimizing stress, and getting enough sleep. "Many people work under stress, and that causes a whole cycle of diseases. Stress contributes to inflammation" she says.

A factor that could affect life expectancy is COVID-19 since some people have long term effects after recovering. COVID-19 can affect the heart or brain causing neurological problems," reiterates Colangelo. "There can also be kidney failure; many people hospitalized with COVID-19 have needed dialysis. Some people may develop heart or kidney problems that will disable them for life." But even something as simple as persistent insomnia in those who have beaten the coronavirus can have a damaging impact, as sleep is essential for healthy longevity. "We are supposed to have 8 hours of sleep every night, and those who have regular periods of sleep live longer. That is a very important part for healthy longevity," insists the specialist.

Colangelo feels a special fascination for the influence of the social environment in Mexico on longevity, especially since Mexico has the highest proportion of people over 100 years old living with their families . 800 centenarians live in Mexico City and 95% of them live with their families. Most other countries worldwide report that 60% of centenarians live in nursing homes. "That's amazing! Living with relatives can help older people stay healthy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The people who lived in nursing homes during the pandemic were very vulnerable. First, because of the disease itself, but also because they couldn't have visitors for a whole year; they couldn't see their family so they were alone. Mexican society stands out for taking the greatest care of its elderly " she acknowledges.

Finally, Colangelo, who recently participated in the 2021 Innovation Week, organized by the Mexican Association of Pharmaceutical Research Industries (AMIIF), highlights that Mexico has the highest average retirement age for men (72 years) and the second-highest for women (69 years) in all OECD countries. In Mexico one in four men over 80 years of age continues to work. Giving these people access to longevity treatments could allow them greater functionality; "They would be 80 years old, but biologically they would be younger of healthier" Colangelo highlighted at Innovation Week. "If the (Mexican) government recognizes early that in 10 or 20 years Mexico will have more people living longer, it could develop public policies to help the population, and it could save a lot of money on healthcare" she said.

From her experience as a member of the advisory boards of multiple companies and speaking closely with scientists and disseminating the results of their research, Margaretta Colangelo has absolute confidence in something: the future is going to be better than anyone anticipates. "The future will be better because we will have incredible technology. These technologies will be so good that companies will be able to develop treatments to slow down, delay, and maybe even reverse aging. Companies that develop these treatments will become the most valuable companies in human history and they will also help the largest number of people in history" says the specialist. "Drugs are usually developed to target a specific disease such as cancer or cardiovascular disease. But everyone ages. All 7 billion people on earth are aging. So everyone will benefit from longevity treatments at some point. This is very positive. "

In her opinion, most people don't understand the incredible potential of technology to help us solve the world's biggest problems. "Many people who work with technology want to use it to help solve problems to improve life for everyone. So it is important to understand that this is not just for people in Silicon Valley and not just for billionaires. No. Many scientists I know want to make these advanced technologies accessible to every human on all continents, " she says. "The most important thing in the world is access to knowledge. If people spent time learning about science and technology they could update their mental model and understand that we are already in the middle of a scientific revolution."

99% of the people in the world don't realize that we are in the middle of a scientific transformation that will change everything. The most important thing for people to do is to read about science and technology. They should read about AI, quantum computing, and messenger RNA. And, she explains, when they read about technological advancements they will feel more comfortable with technology and discard some old beliefs. "I think there are many people who fear that AI is going to hurt us. No, cancer is going to hurt us; AI is going to help us beat cancer. "The world is going to be very surprised when they see how good the future is going to be," she concludes.

To read the original article by Israel Sánchez please click here

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About Reforma

This article was originally published on May 3, 2021 in Reforma. Grupo Rerforma is the most prestigious and trustworthy media company in Mexico and the second largest printed media company in?Latin America. It publishes ten daily newspapers in five cities, including the leading newspapers in Mexico's largest cities with a daily circulation of 1.4 million. Grupo Reforma’s investigative reporting has been key in the modern transformation of Mexico. It was instrumental in the fights to get clean democratic elections, for citizen’s rights to freely access public information, in the application of student and teacher’s evaluations and the implementation of an open oral judicial system in the country. The Group has alliances the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times and is syndicated to over 100 media companies in Mexico and the US.?

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Copyright ? 2021 Margaretta Colangelo. All Rights Reserved.

This article was written by?Margaretta Colangelo. ?Margaretta is a leading AI analyst based in San Francisco. She serves on the advisory board of the AI Precision Health Institute at the University of Hawai?i?Cancer Center.?

Twitter?@realmargaretta