DaveFoster
Member
Lamotrigine, an anticonvulsant used to treat bipolar II disorder (cyclical depression without mania) has been shown to extend lifespan but induce motor retardation as a proxy for brain aging. Other anticonvulsants, including lithium and valproic acid (Depakote) have beneficial effects on both longevity and healthspan. Lithium and valproic acid both induce hypothyroidism, so it's not surprising that lamotrigine has similar metabolic effects, although lamotrigine has not been linked to an elevated TSH unlike lithium and valproic acid.
"The discovery of life extension in Caenorhabditis elegans treated with anticonvulsant medications has raised the question whether these drugs are prospective anti-aging candidate compounds. The impact of these compounds on neural modulation suggests that they might influence the chronic diseases of aging as well. Lamotrigine is a commonly used anticonvulsant with a relatively good adverse-effects profile. In this study, we evaluated the interaction between the impacts of lamotrigine on mortality rate, lifespan, metabolic rate and locomotion. It has been proposed in a wide range of animal models that there is an inverse relationship between longevity, metabolic rate, and locomotion. We hypothesized that the survival benefits displayed by this compound would be associated with deleterious effects on health span, such as depression of locomotion. Using Drosophila as our model system, we found that lamotrigine decreased mortality and increased lifespan in parallel with a reduction in locomotor activity and a trend towards metabolic rate depression. Our findings underscore the view that assessing health span is critical in the pursuit of useful anti-aging compounds."
Reference: Lamotrigine extends lifespan but compromises health span in Drosophila melanogaster. - PubMed - NCBI
Originally posted on the Foster Your Health blog: Lamotrigine Accelerates Brain AgingReference: Lamotrigine extends lifespan but compromises health span in Drosophila melanogaster. - PubMed - NCBI
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