Every few weeks or months, the media highlights a new study hinting at the potential of a drug that could lead to longer, healthier lives. The focus of the latest study is a drug targeting interleukin-11, a protein linked to inflammation. Inhibiting this protein seemed to help mice avoid disease and live over 20% longer. The idea of easily defying aging by just taking a pill is enticing. However, the practical importance of these results often doesn’t match the excitement. Chronic inflammation contributes to diseases and speeds up aging, a concept now dubbed “inflammaging.” While short-term inflammation is crucial for fighting infections or healing injuries, ongoing inflammation can be very harmful. Various lifestyle, environmental, and societal factors contribute to chronic inflammation in modern times.
These factors include poor diet, inadequate exercise, obesity, stress, insufficient sleep, weak social bonds, and pollution, which are already known to be linked with illness and aging. Addressing these factors is crucial for tackling chronic inflammation, disease, and aging, but some research teams are also investigating pharmaceutical treatments for chronic inflammation. These efforts aim to alter the molecular and chemical pathways of the inflammation process. The recent interleukin-11 study with mice had several components. In one part, scientists genetically removed interleukin-11 from mice, which stopped these mice from producing the protein altogether. This resulted in extending their lifespan by over 20% on average.
In another part, older mice were given a drug that blocks interleukin-11. Administering this drug to 75-week-old mice (comparable to 55-year-old humans) extended their lives by 22-25%. These treated mice had a lower cancer risk, decreased cholesterol levels, reduced body weight, and improved muscle strength and metabolism. Based on these results, the authors suggested that blocking interleukin-11 could potentially reduce age-related health issues and enhance lifespan in both mice and humans. However, there are several reasons to be cautious. Most importantly, the study was conducted on mice, and mice are quite different from humans. Findings from animal models are considered lower on the evidence hierarchy.
Research indicates that only about 5% of promising animal-based findings apply to humans, meaning about 95% might not translate into human therapies. Secondly, this is just one study. We would need other researchers to validate these findings before moving forward in the research process and considering human applicability. More substantial evidence is generally required before becoming too hopeful about new research and contemplating human trials. Thirdly, even if subsequent studies confirm these findings, it could take decades to develop successful human therapies. Meanwhile, we can focus on practices known to significantly impact health and longevity: healthy eating, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, stress management, and fostering strong social connections.