Does gene therapy with klotho or follistatin work against ageing?
Gene therapy with Klotho shows promising results in mice and cells, but there are no human clinical data yet. The available sources say absolutely nothing about follistatin gene therapy in ageing.
Klotho is a protein that naturally declines as you get older. In mice, a deficiency of it leads to accelerated ageing and a shorter lifespan, while higher levels of Klotho actually extend lifespan. That makes it a logical target for therapy, but translating this to humans is a major step.
In cell culture it has already been possible to switch on the Klotho gene using CRISPR, a genetic scissor technique. That proves the approach works in principle, but this is not yet a treatment in humans or even in animals. In mouse models, two more specific applications have now also been tested: a nanoparticle approach in which a single low dose was sufficient to prevent kidney damage and scarring, and a similar system targeting ageing intervertebral discs, in which the disc cells appeared to become healthier again. Both have been studied exclusively in mice.
For the brain, there are multiple animal studies pointing to protective effects of Klotho: better memory, less nerve damage, better recovery of the myelin protective sheath around nerves. Clinical evidence in humans is still entirely absent here. The same applies to broader ageing-related diseases: a review study describes Klotho supplementation as promising, but also warns that the effects are highly context-dependent and that risks and benefits in humans have not been sufficiently studied.
On follistatin gene therapy in ageing, the available sources say absolutely nothing. No conclusions can be drawn on this topic based on this research.
In summary: there is a strong biological rationale for studying Klotho, the first technical steps in cells and mice have been taken, but there are no human clinical data showing that gene therapy with Klotho is safe or effective in people.
All claims are based on animal models (mice) and cell culture studies, supplemented by narrative reviews. No randomised clinical trials in humans are available for this question.
Does quercetin work against ageing and inflammation?
Quercetin shows promising signals in the laboratory and in animals, but in humans there is not yet solid evidence. Taking supplements on the basis of this early-stage research gets too far ahead of the science.
Does alpha-ketoglutarate work against ageing?
In animal research AKG clearly extends lifespan, but solid evidence in humans is still lacking. Wait for the results of the ongoing randomised trial before drawing conclusions or taking supplements.
Does stem cell therapy work against ageing in humans?
For one specific application, physical frailty in older adults, there is a first randomised trial with a positive result; for all other ageing-related applications it is too early for firm statements, and stem cell therapy cannot yet be considered a proven anti-ageing treatment.
Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy help against ageing?
HBOT shows interesting signals in small, early studies regarding telomere length and cerebral blood flow, but the evidence is too thin and too susceptible to bias to recommend it as an anti-ageing treatment. Wait for larger, independent trials before taking on the considerable costs.
Does taking resveratrol make sense as an anti-ageing strategy?
For humans there is no convincing evidence that resveratrol supplements do anything against ageing; the animal research is interesting but has not yet translated into clinical practice, so hold off on supplements until better human data are available.
Does taurine work against ageing?
Taurine supplements as a means of combating ageing in humans have not yet been substantiated. The animal results are promising and mechanistically plausible, but clinical studies in humans are entirely absent.