Some Beneficial Off-Label Uses of Some Common Drugs

I have been using interventions for many decades. My conclusion is that I have extended my healthspan. There is zero evidence at this time that I have extended my lifespan.
I still have not reached my mother’s age of 93 or significantly passed the age of her siblings, all of whom lived into their 80’s. My father was an orphan, which means I have little information about his family background.

IMO, most interventions (rapamycin, metformin, etc.) are far less effective than eliminating harmful habits like smoking or obesity. They merely extend our healthspan. I hope I am wrong on this.

"Thus, the NECS and other studies hypothesize that exceptional longevity is a complex trait influenced by multiple genetic variants that individually have modest effects, but as a group can exert a strong effect. Using a Bayesian analytic approach to construct a genetic model that predicts exceptional longevity, we have found that with older and older age beyond 100 years, this genetic influence appears to get stronger and stronger."

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This tracks. Exceptional longevity is almost exclusively genetic based. The evidence clearly points to this. There are pretty much no health freaks and exercise fanatics among supercentenarians - and if health habits were the deciding factors, you would expect health fanatics to be overrepresented in that group. That is most definitely not true. Their lifestyle, diet, exercise and even vices like smoking are quite poor.

Health habits can get you to your full lifespan potential, whatever it may be, for most people that’s 80’s and 90’s. To go much beyond that, you need lucky genes. That’s the truth. This is where drugs and longevity interventions come in, hoping to extend that range a bit, a jerryrig until genetic engineering makes the real advances.

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Hi LaraPo,
Sounds like you’re doing all the right things. I can’t use a vibration plate as have superior canal dehiscence (basically hole in the ear) and when I tried one gave me vertigo for 5 days. At least I’m assuming that’s why as never had it before other than a few hours after craniotomy to fix the other hole. (So far this hole not yet needing surgery.) I seem to have a lot of conditions that prevent me from doing positive things for other conditions. C’est la vie. I do have a mushroom mixture I put in hot tea but not familiar with the ones you mentioned. Re skin, I’ll look up what you do, I’ve never had a facial, pedicure, or manicure in my near 71 years. I’ve heard great things about Aquaphor as a moisturizer. Do you use tretinoin? I started it a couple years ago and a couple years of adaptoline before that. Wish I’d known to start at 30 or so. I just remembered I can send a private message, sorry to anyone (mostly guys) whose eyes are glazed over by now.

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My gym has a vibrating platform that I’m increasingly using for single leg workouts. I didn’t realize there was an at-home version. Can you share the brand, if you recommend it? THanks!

I do have much respect for all you’re doing and being so fit going into your 80’s. My dad’s was a remarkable story that I didn’t think much of in my 20’s but now that I’m at the age he was, it absolutely boggles my mind. Sadly, he smoked camels (born 1911 so dangers not known) and although gave it up at 50 or so, when he could barely get up a flight of stairs, he died at near 78 due to lung cancer. I’m sure quitting when he did though gave him many more years, and I would say were the best of his life. You’re setting yourself up for 20 plus more active healthy years. Kudos!

Sol I’ve heard various opinions re vibration plates. Many like the power plate, but there is a Clinton Rubin who invented the Marodyne I think it is, claiming that the Power plates and others on the market can cause brain damage. Margaret Martin a PT promotes it, but two other guys I follow and trust, Yoni Whitten who is a PT and Dr Doug a former orthopedic surgeon who now specializes in bones, say that’s not true, and that Rubin’s plate won’t help bones. Just a bit of info I’m aware of for what it’s worth….

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You never used to say things like this. Indeed, you were a spokesman for, and an example of, our goal of ageless aging.

If you have gone off a cliff in the last six moths or so, the drop may be temporary. It is a surely a sign of things to come, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you regained, at least for a while, almost all of the things that kept you young.

My PCP says that most people suffer a steep decline around 85. What happens, he said, is that they don’t recover–from illness, from injuries, emotional loss, whatever.

I recall a previous thread about the cognitive reserve hypothesis, which basically states that he more you have, the more you have to lose. I think that this applies to both physical and cognitive reserves. You may experience some setbacks, but you’ll also be able to mount a comeback.

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Farm tractors have no suspension, FYI. So some days I feel like I’ve been beat up. Once one of my wife’s watches said I got between 30000 or 40000 steps. I also had a short semi tractor that after a 60 mile drive on a rough road I actually would get sick. It was crazy and I started selling elsewhere just to avoid it.

So here’s the question for anybody. If I’m exhaused does it count as exercise? Is it good to be thrown around all day sometimes? Are there any studies on this?

Vibrating platform. Lymph? ?

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I bought mine directly from China 20+ years ago. I use it every day and it’s still like new. It has several programs and 10 speeds. There’s no name on it even in Chinese. There are many of them, different types, on Alibaba.

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I use neither Aquaphor nor tretinoin. As a moisturizer I prefer to inject HA (meso therapy). I also like castor oil. Castor oil has to be mixed with a carrier oil. I use cera ve for that.

Causes brain damage? I suppose it depends on how hard you shake. Me, I use it as a challenge to my balance, at low vibration, and it does that nicely. I’m not worried about brain damage. (Yet. :smiley: )

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He claims a lot of things but if you want a total rebuttal watch Yoni Whitten’s YouTube called cutting through the BS about whole body vibration. He debunks everything Rubin says. Both he and Dr Doug have the power plate, Dr Doug mentions his particular model but forget what it is. There’s a guy who is working on a much less expensive machine that Dr doug has invested in but he says we just don’t know yet if it’s enough to be effective. Would be great if studies bore out it is as it will be much less expensive. Dr Doug is a great resource for bone health.

Interesting what your doc said re 85, that’s certainly what I saw with my mom.

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Just watched a YouTube on meso therapy - it didn’t do anything for this gal and she had bee sting like pain for a couple days, but has a friend that it’s worked great for and no pain whatsoever. Our bodies are all such different chemistry sets. Thanks for mentioning it. I’ve heard great things about caster oil too.

No worries about brain damage for me too :grinning: It’s great for balance. Good balance prevents falls. I can stand on one leg on a vibrating plate with eyes open for 60+ seconds, which means that I perform better than many 50 year olds. I can stand on a floor on one leg for 2 min. Didn’t try to stand longer because it gets boring.

Typical Balance Times by Age with eyes open

50s ~45 seconds
60s ~35 seconds
70s ~26–30 seconds
80s+ <20 seconds

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I do one legged dance exercises and yoga moves on the vibrating plate. Sometimes I hold onto the bar, sometimes I don’t. Yes, falls are the great risk as we get older, and this is hella good balance training.

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I do pretty much the same - dancing and yoga moves. It allows different groups of muscles to be exercised.

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My friend has a vibrating plate, so now I want to try hers. I have a feeling I’ll hate it…

But for those without access to one, and what you probably already know, my witch doctor PT says engaging your fast twitch muscle fibers through fast and explosive footwork will get you most of the way there to help prevent falls.

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