Antidepressant lengthens life span of worms

In the continuing quest to lengthen human life spans, U.S. researchers recently turned their attention to an antidepressant called mianserin, and found that they could extend the life span of a worm with similar biology to humans by around 30 percent. Apparently this is achieved by tricking the brain into believing that it's starving, mimicking the beneficial effects of "caloric restriction" without actually causing the little guy to go hungry:

Many studies have shown that slightly starving certain animals -- reducing how much they eat by about 30 percent -- can cause them to live longer.

It is not entirely clear if this occurs in humans, but researchers are keen to duplicate the beneficial effects of calorie restriction without the misery of going hungry....

[Mianserin] blocks brain cell signaling by the neurotransmitter or message-carrying chemical serotonin, which is linked with mood and appetite. The drug is used in Europe under several brand names, including Bolvidon, Norval and Tolvon but not usually in the United States. It can cause aplastic anemia and other effects on immune system cells.

Buck's team found that in addition to interfering with serotonin in the worm, it also blocked receptors for another neurotransmitter, octopamine.

They said some other research suggests that serotonin and octopamine may complement one another -- with serotonin signaling the presence of food and octopamine signaling starvation.

Buck said it is possible that mianserin drug tips the balance in the direction of octopamine, tricking the brain into thinking it has been starved.

There's no call to run right out and start sucking down mianserin, of course; as one of the researchers points out, "It is a stretch from a worm to a human being." Which, while seemingly obvious, does need to be pointed out I suppose, given the hunger of some to see their mortal coils extended beyond current limits. There's a whole life extension debate waiting to be unpacked behind this story, of course, which I leave for the comments if you're interested; obviously I think this line of research is promising and exciting, though, and am happy to see even modest results along these lines.