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December 9, 2006
CR and the Future?
Gina poses an excellent question:
Well, one could certainly ask why we bother with medicines that extend life, couldn't we? I mean, why should we allow diabetics to inject insulin? What are they going to do for the world with their extended lives? This is just an example of how a CRONer could turn the arguments around to look at the science of medicine -- medicine that trades one problem for another. Statins lowers cholesterol with negative side effects to the muscules (and the heart is a muscle!) and the liver!
I think a valid question to pose re: CRON would be a question about the future of the planet if there was a fullscale CRON movement amongst the youth of our nation. How would this effect jobs, social security, healthcare, etc.? Again, I state that I am not CRON; I am not being negative, but in light of the idiotic questions and comments to which you have been subjected, I would like to see a few that actually encourage real thought about the future of the economy, etc. if a large percentage of future generations were CRON.
Thanks, Gina, for the excellent points and thought-provoking question.
I honestly hope that mine is the last generation that would consider doing CR for life-extension purposes. That's because I hope that biotech will be developed that will actually reverse aging, not just slow it down a little. Even if CR were to get us to 120 (which I think is overly optimistic, btw), I would rather see therapies developed that will get us more than that, and will be available to people outside of that small subset of people willing to make the sacrifices that hardcore CR entails. Aubrey de Grey's website explains the engineering approach to reversing aging and is very readable for the non-scientist. He also addresses some of the social implications you raise here. I think Aubrey does a better job than I could of handling those issues, so I'll let him have the last word.
In this piece, I explain the Methuselah Mouse Prize, and why I think it's a good tool for encouraging research into the fundamental problem of aging. Both MR and I contribute a substantial percentage of our income to the Methuselah Foundation, and MR contributes his entire work life to helping Aubrey de Grey. We're definitely not putting all of our eggs in the CR basket, since we know that even CR'd eggs will rot eventually (Wow, that was a metaphor out of control. I plead stress and exhaustion... please forgive me!) I also spend volunteer time coordinating events for the Methuselah Foundation (I think I have the official title of "events coordinator" now. It's a nice break from my real job.) If you'd like to join the fight, check out the Mprize website and donate now!
I think Gina's earlier points make a lot of sense in the context of age-reversing biotech, just like they make sense when referring to CR. We already have tons of medical interventions that extend life: antibiotics (my new best friends, now that they've saved my mom's life), cancer treatments, sanitation. We're constantly looking for new ways to extend life and minimize suffering. The logical outgrowth of that is looking to extend life indefinitely by addressing the underlying causes of aging, not just the diseases that people tend to get as they age. Research into the former will no doubt have beneficial effects on the later, but it's a tough proposition to get scientists to do research on aging because so many consider to be inevitable, natural, and somehow good --- that is, until it's you or your loved one lying in the hospital bed.
I believe I am optimistic when I hope to make it to the point where some anti-aging technology is available. Feeling more youthful and healthier for as many years as CR will buy me would still be worth the trouble, especially since I don't find CR to be all that much trouble, and I enjoy the short-term side-effects. But if more intense CR can preserve me in a state of health where I might be able to take advantage of that first biotech wave... well, then I'll be very glad that I took my CR to a more serious level instead of hanging out in moderate land where I began. The chances aren't great, but to me, it's worth a try.
I used to say that I'd have to live to at least 100 to see any sort of political change in this country. I started CR in 2004, when things looked pretty grim indeed. My British and Canadian friends are always shocked at how few rights workers have in this country, and how far to the right the discourse in our politics really is. I used to lament that I missed the sixties, and wonder if I would live to see a time when once again people would think about civil rights, equality, justice and all that. Things are looking up a bit this year, but I still think there's a long way to go. I'd like to be around, not just to see the future, but to be an active participant in making it better. For now, CR is all we have in the way of interventions that actually extend maximum lifespan in mammals. But I hope for, donate to, and work towards interventions that will be much, much better.
Will we make it? Nobody knows. As people seem to like to point out, I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. But I'd rather do all I can to maximize my chances, meanwhile enjoying more energy, a stronger immune system, decreased risk of disease, and the love of my life (I guess he can't be classified as a side-effect of CR, but I did meet him through the CR Society!) We eat our kale and we take our chances. For me, it's a win-win.
If you're interested in further information, I strongly recommend Ray Kurzweil's Fantastic Voyage. Ray does a great job of explaining the various avenues to extended life and health. He's also an extremely nice guy with a super cool collection of cat figurines and a dedication the the music of Alanis Morrissette that rivals my own. Another great source for breaking news is the Longevity Meme and Fight Aging, maintained by core Mprize volunteer Reason.
Posted by april at December 9, 2006 10:33 AM
Comments
Eating lots of fresh vegetables, lean meats, low fat cheese and fish, legumes, nuts and complex carbs like brown rice just make me feel good. I feel healthy, I have more energy, I don't have any digestion problems. So, even if it won't make me live to be 120, at least it will help me live feeling good as long as I do.
Posted by: istanbulwitchy at December 4, 2006 4:22 PM
Hi April,
I saw this article and thought of your mom:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/04/nyregion/05colicnd.html?hp&ex=1165294800&en=a85946f6cd925214&ei=5094&partner=homepage
From what you've said about your mom's diet, I don't picture her hanging out at Taco Bell but I thought I'd mention it just in case there's some sort of connection.
Posted by: Robin at December 4, 2006 6:07 PM
In response to April's critics, I would like to tell the story of my father. He suspected that he would live to be quite old because of his family history and paid an unusual amount of attention to his diet (and ours) from adulthood on. Some of the information he was working with in the 50s was later found to be incorrect, but he did the best he could with the information he had, and we were the only children I knew who ate brewer's yeast and wheat germ, along with lean meats, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. We didn't suffer - we had some treats, and my parents adjusted our diets as new information that became available. Now Dad is 93 and several years ago realized that his shockingly good health would be to no avail if his knees gave out. Never heavy, he lost 30 pounds to lighten his load, and inadvertently (because he wanted to cram all his previous nutrition into fewer calories) practiced CR. I wonder if April's critics would feel better if he ate only white bread and baloney to meet his new, lower calorie level. Here's what Dad has been able to offer the world in his 80s and 90s: He's been the primary caregiver for my mother with dementia, with energy and determination that's kept her happy and safe. He's let all of us know when we are needed and how we all can jointly prepare financially for when she needs more. He's been the patriarch of a huge family, giving guidance and comfort to four generations; he's organized environmentalists in his mountain county to make sure big business repairs strip mining scars; he's taught ecology (a second career) at the college level well into his 80s; he has now organized the over-nineties in his retirement community to demand wholesome food and access to flexibility training like yoga and pilates; he's quietly used his extra earnings from continued employment to send nephews, grand-nephews and immigrant staff at the retirement community money for higher education; and, needless to say, he's been an inspiration for all of us. I suspect he would have lived a long time anyway, given his genes, but he decided long ago to work for a productive old age.
Posted by: Tess Curran at December 4, 2006 6:59 PM
this is more in regards to your last post, and all the fuss about weighing your food.
weighing your food is necessary and good, but,
I am too embarrassed to do it in a restaurant.
today i had SASHIMI for lunch,
I had: 10 pieces of raw tuna, and 10 pieces of raw salmon, and that was it, nothing else, no sauces or condiments whatsoever.
I have no idea of the calories I consumed, I mean, one sushi chef's cut of sashimi cut be quite different from anothers, so a web site guesstimate couldnt be too accurate, could it?
they were about 3/4" pieces each,
I could just imagine, pulling a mini scale out of my purse,
and weighing each piece of sashimi before I put it in my mouth.
sigh...
people are always staring at me anyway, and making rude comments of what I buy at the store or eat for lunch,
but I guess I should be more bold, and pull out that scale at the sushi bar...
Posted by: sheila at December 4, 2006 9:23 PM
this is more in regards to your last post, and all the fuss about weighing your food.
weighing your food is necessary and good, but,
I am too embarrassed to do it in a restaurant.
today i had SASHIMI for lunch,
I had: 10 pieces of raw tuna, and 10 pieces of raw salmon, and that was it, nothing else, no sauces or condiments whatsoever. (sashimi=no rice)
I have no idea of the calories I consumed, I mean, one sushi chef's cut of sashimi cut be quite different from anothers, so a web site guesstimate couldnt be too accurate, could it?
they were about 3/4" pieces each,
I could just imagine, pulling a mini scale out of my purse,
and weighing each piece of sashimi before I put it in my mouth.
sigh...
people are always staring at me anyway, and making rude comments of what I buy at the store or eat for lunch,
but I guess I should be more bold, and pull out that scale at the sushi bar...
Posted by: sheila at December 4, 2006 9:25 PM
Hi Shelia,
I don't weigh in restaurants either (though I did in January, when I was doing an exact experiment, and it was pretty entertaining!) I just assume that whenever I go out, I'm eating much more than I would at home, so I make the meals on either side of the restaurant meal a lot smaller, and I focus (just like you did) on lean protein and veggies, steering away from sugar and bread and creamy sauces of unknown origin.
That's why my 1300 is an average, not an exact. Most days are actually lower than 1300, but when I eat out, I know I'm getting more.
For those interested in the January experiement when I weighed and measured everything, no exceptions, it is chronicled in the blog in depth. It was a trip to fine the average size of a restaurant wine pour!
Take care,april
Posted by: April at December 5, 2006 4:05 AM
If you worry about what goes into you then you ought to worry about what goes on around you.
The CR community doesn't think about the potential life-threatening influences in the environment because CR, by definition, is a personal discipline.
But if the goal is longevity then we have to admit that external influences could undermine all of our internal efforts. You could die from exposure to asbestos despite eating egg whites and flax seed.
Me, I worry about impacts from big rocks from outer space. When I try to bring this up in public forums people treat me like I'm insane. But I'm sure that there is no reason to extend my lifespan longer than the probabilistic certainty that this little Sun-orbiting-rock will collide with another rock out there.
My point, despite my insane worry, is that there is no good reason to practice CR without a corresponding political interest. If you can't save your environment, there's no reason to save youreself.
Posted by: Edison Maxwell at December 5, 2006 4:12 AM
Tess, Thank you for that awesome motivational post about your father! Maybe not all of us want to take it to the level that April does, but I think many, many people would love to have the extra years of vibrancy and energy that your dad has.
Sheila, If you weigh your food at home regularly, you can do a better job of eyeballing it in resteraunts. But if I get away from weighing completely my estimation skills start to fade. BTW: Most sashimi is about 0.5oz per piece. And while you're at it, have an oyster, they're PACKED with zinc.
Posted by: thatgirljj at December 5, 2006 9:46 AM
April, thank you for your response. Again, I want you to know that I'm not being antigonistic at all. And let's be honest, it's not as if a flood of CRONers are going to be draining the Social Security Bank in the next 30 years!
I agree with you. I'd like to see biotech developing ways to make living healthier and easier on all of us -- most especially those who cannot afford it. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of CRON is that it is not a socio-economic movement. Much of the tools are free, and maybe the cost of eating more fresh fruits and veggies is more than that of eating from a Dollar Menu, but really...anyone can do CRON without extreme costs.
Particularly, I think everyone should be more aware of the ON part of CRON. Your blog has made me more interested in the quality (nutritional and otherwise) of the food that I put in my body. Thanks!
Posted by: Gina at December 5, 2006 10:00 AM
April, thanks for everything... You keep me inspired and thinking, and I'm so glad your mother is doing well! I am too excited to see my family during the holidays!
Tess, your story is incredible... You are so lucky to live with such a vibrant man. Thanks for sharing your story.
Posted by: Catherine at December 6, 2006 2:43 PM