Fight to Stop Aging Has Been a Losing Battle

(Jan. 19) -- More Americans than ever are approaching old age, with the Census Bureau projecting that the number of elderly in our country will double by 2030. That, combined with advances in biotechnology, might explain the surge in anti-aging discoveries -- and subsequent failures -- over the last decade.

Last year, resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, was the most buzzed about anti-aging remedy. A handful of biotech companies started producing and marketing resveratrol supplements, which are now commonplace online and in drugstores. Dr. Christoph Westphal, who is developing a resveratrol-based drug, speculated that the compound "has the chance to change health care."

But, like most anti-aging "breakthroughs," this one seems to be fizzling. Two separate studies have concluded that earlier tests linking resveratrol to longevity turned up false positives.

Efforts at immortality have long been the subject of fantasy, religious doctrine and scientific debate. Today, some researchers -- the ubiquitous Aubrey de Grey, for one -- say that attaining immortality is only a matter of time. But despite our best attempts, we've yet to figure it out. And the clock keeps ticking.

Here is a look at some of the most promising scientific anti-aging developments in the last decade, and how they went from fad to failure:

DHEA: In the mid-1990s, the DHEA trend took off. Proponents swore that the compound, sold as a natural supplement, could slow aging, boost muscle and bone strength and even help out in the bedroom. DHEA is a hormonal precursor, which the human body converts to estrogen and testosterone. Boosting those hormones back to youthful levels was supposed to restore vigor. The reality? A 2006 study in The New England Journal of Medicine found "no demonstrable benefit."

Human growth hormone: In 2003, estimates suggested that one-third of sales in the $695 million HGH market were for "off-label" uses. The biggest was anti-aging: the supplement, initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat childhood dwarfism, was shown to boost muscle mass and decrease fat in a 1990 trial of elderly men. But the National Institute on Aging warns that HGH hasn't been proved beneficial -- and is more likely to be dangerous. Side effects may include diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome and cancer.

Açaí: The açaí berry was the super-food of 2008, thanks to Oprah Winfrey's in-house doc. Mehmet Oz called the berries an anti-aging breakthrough. Sales took off, and online companies claimed the berries could burn fat, boost immunity and turn back the clock. Too bad there's not a single long-term study to bolster the berry, and açaí supplements have yet to be evaluated by the FDA. Even Dr. Oz has backed off: Last year, he sued several açaí companies for using his name in their marketing.

Calorie restriction (CR): Evidence to support CR diets is accumulating. Studies in the last decade have linked the lifestyle to lower levels of cholesterol, reduced risk of heart disease and healthier body fat percentages. But risks and questions remain. Taken to the extreme, the diets lead to lethargy, malnourishment and menstrual irregularities. And one group of researchers is convinced that less-complex organisms, like mice, benefit more from CR than humans would.

Resveratrol: Those not willing to give up dessert were quick to get behind resveratrol last year, when research suggested that the red wine compound might mimic the effects of calorie restriction. Scientists seemed convinced that resveratrol could activate SIRT1, a protein that boosts cellular lifespan. But a study published in December debunks the resveratrol-SIRT1 connection.

Rapamycin: The anti-aging trend of 2010? A recent study published in Nature found that rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug, boosted lifespan in mice by 28 to 38 percent. The compound may have human potential -- with a definite downside. Because rapamycin is designed to suppress the immune system, patients could boost their lifespan only within the confines of a pathogen-free environment.