3 Likes
Lowering birth rates is worrying if this is the cause
1 Like
The use of estriol (the pregnancy hormone) or 17 alpha estradiol can make up for the lifespan difference in mice though, so it does appear likely that the evolutionary activation of pro-lifespan traits (particularly like those evolved to be activated in pregnancy) can be done to a large part hormonally. I asked chatGPT to givemajor effects that estriol can have through various pathways:
| Axis | Mechanism | Possible subjective correlate |
|---|---|---|
| ER-β → Nrf2/FOXO3A | antioxidant and stress-response genes, mitochondrial efficiency | sense of calm and clarity after hyperarousal fades |
| ER-β → eNOS | nitric-oxide synthesis, vasodilation | warmth, relief of vascular tension |
| ER-β → oxytocin / vasopressin modulation | social soothing, safety signaling | reduced urge to fight/compete, gentler self-talk |
| ER-α inhibition (partial antagonism by E3) | dampens aggressive/anabolic cues | less “prove-my-worth” drive, more maintenance mindset |
1 Like