Viraj's Weblog

So I'm browsing through Discover magazine and notice an advertisement for Juvenon, supposedly an anti-aging drug. I decided to do some more reading into it. I've been reading alot about cognitive enhancement drugs, and also trying some, and a common theme about these drugs is they offer some sort of anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-epileptic, or anti-Alzheimer's disease effects. I would not be surprised if anti-aging drugs are actually cognitive enhancers as well. They are ultimately affecting cells, including neurons.

Juvenon was developed by a biochemist named Bruce Ames. Here is a highly respected person, who also created a widely used test to identify cancer-causing substances, now developing an anti-aging drug. After doing some more reading, this does not look like quack technology, and is based on sound studies. Here is an interesting quote from one of the articles linked above:

In his lab, he and his colleagues have been systematically depriving human cells of one essential nutrient after another and then looking to see what happens. What they've observed isn't pretty. When cells fall short on any one of a handful of nutrients that have been tested so far, Ames has discovered symptoms of severe genetic damage - the kinds of mutations in DNA that are believed to lead to cancer. Nutrient deficiencies also appear to disrupt the function of mitochondria - the tiny organs that provide cells with fuel. The result: premature aging of cells.

What they are essentially saying is a lack of nutrients can result in cancer. Ames attacks current diets of most Americans, stating that we do not get the proper nutrients. You are doing yourself a disservice if you do not take a multivitamin daily. I agree with that completely. You are literally what you eat. If you are not taking vitamins, go buy some. Most are water-soluble, so any 'extra' nutrients would be removed by the kidneys. It's insurance for your body.

I'm fascinated with mitochondria. These are small organelles within each cell that have an evolutionary origin of bacterial cells. It is supposed that at some point, these mitochondrial bacteria came into the animal cells and an endosymbiosis took place. They even have their own DNA and replicate on their own. These machinery supply 98% of the energy for our cells. So the familiar ancestral evolutionary tree sort of breaks down, and rather you have separate organisms fusing into one. I find that pretty amazing.

So what is this Juvenon? First of all the proceeds for selling the drug claim to support research on the drug, and there is no profit for Ames in this. That is the claim anyhow. Juvenon is a combination of Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic Acid. There has been alot of research on both of these, and there are positive effects. Essentially, carnitine is required for mitochondria function, and ALA is like a catalytic converter. Mitochondria release free radicals when functioning properly, and even more so when given carnitine. ALA acts to remove those. The goal of Juvenon is to keep these mitochondria in top condition, avoiding deterioration.

My opinion? It can't hurt to try. The fact that this was created by a well-respected biochemist gives it some credibility. There are some good interviews with Ames and he gives very good advice. I've ordered a bottle of this and will see if I notice any effects.

For a funny anti-Juvenon critique, check here.