Anti-Aging Human Drug Tests May Start As Early As July

A joint clinical study will soon be conducted by Washington University in St. Louis and Keio University in Japan, it has been announced, and it'll involve a drug that may slow down the aging process in humans. The study may begin by early July, but it first must undergo review by the Research Ethics Committee at Keio University, which will review the plans and determine whether they're suitable for proceeding.

The clinical study will test whether the drug is effective (and safe) when taken by humans, according to The Japan News; it has previously been shown effective in slowing the aging process in animals. The substance in question is NMN, short for nicotinamide mononucleotide. During this study, it'll be given to ten or so healthy adults.

The first part of the study will concern whether it is safe to give the compound to humans. Once that is determined, and assuming no issues arise, the researchers will study whether the drug has the desired anti-aging effects in humans. When tested in mice, researchers found that poor eyesight and metabolism issues resulting from aging were reversed.

Humans have long dreamed about finding a fountain of youth — some substance that slows down or stops aging, or even reverses it if we're lucky, allowing humans to live far longer with less medical issues. As well, anti-aging drugs could have positive effects on society in terms of health care costs, dramatically reducing costs associated with age-related issues.

VIA: Gizmodo