[ExI] Live long and be happy, take a pill

[Stathis Papaioannou]

On 23/11/2007, John K Clark <jonkc at att.net> wrote:
> It's been found that a human antidepressant, Mianserin, extends the life of
> worms by 30%; it seems to work by mimicking the effects of caloric
> restriction.
>
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071121144946.htm

Mianserin (now rarely used) along with some other antidepressants and
antipsychotics cause increased appetite and weight gain in human
patients. This is presumed to lead to a decreased lifespan, although I
don't know that this has ever been specifically studied with mianserin
for humans. Perhaps if mianserin were to increase lifespan you would
have to resist the desire to eat, so that you felt as if you were
starving. Does the original Nature paper say if the worms were allowed
to eat as much as they wanted?

The SSRI's such as fluoxetine generally have little effect on or
decrease appetite.




-- 
Stathis Papaioannou