What You Need to Know About the New AI-Generated “Longevity Molecule”
Did artificial intelligence just discover a novel anti-aging molecule? Should you start taking it?
I’ve fielded dozens of questions about the AI-generated therapeutic rentosertib from Insilico Medicine. Here's what you need to know.
- AI indeed created Rentosertib to treat Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
- It appears to slow or reverse aging as measured by multiple proteomic aging clocks, including those from Stanford, Harvard, and Peking University. Not bad!
- If confirmed, rentosertib may be one of the most powerful anti-aging substances ever discovered.
That said, let’s make sure we don’t let the hype overtake the facts on the ground.
Here’s what we’re telling our Buckhead Longevity patients:
- These results are based on short-term studies of a small population. We don't know what happens over time or in more representative samples.
- We don't know whether rentosertib slows aging or makes aging appear to slow as measured by the biological clocks. In other words, rentosertib may target how the clocks view aging rather than change the underlying biology.
- Even if it does slow aging, that doesn't mean that rentosertib extends lifespan or healthspan. Biology is complex.
It's entirely possible that rentosertib slows aging AND increases the risk of cancer, stroke, or other dangerous disorders. If so, it may slow aging but still cause us to die younger. We can’t confuse speed of aging with life expectancy.
What should we do? We need larger, longer-term clinical trials in otherwise healthy people.
Don't misunderstand. I'm excited about rentosertib, just as I'm thrilled about any longevity solution. However, common sense and evidence are our North Stars. Before we celebrate, we need more clinical trials.
Dr. Gregory Charlop here, longevity and retirement medicine physician in Buckhead. We use lifestyle medicine (which combines exercise, sleep, nutrition, deep social relationships, and select medications) to help our executive patients look and feel better.
Do you live in the Atlanta, Buckhead, or Alpharetta area and have questions about wellness and healthy retirement? Let’s chat. We also serve patients in California and Texas via telemedicine.
