Thread

1. dyauspitr · 1790966547 · focus · HN ↗

   So chronic stress is one of the main contributors to aging. I hope I make it to my 40s.

   Do we currently have the ability to do targeted methylation or de methylation at sites in cells?

   1. everdrive · 1790972335 · focus · HN ↗

      I just don't understand. Wouldn't we have evolved in an environment with constant stress? Constant fear of disease, starvation, predation, attacks by neighboring tribes? Why would our body's natural response to our environment be to immediately grenade itself.

      1. kulahan · 1790986820 · focus · HN ↗

         You only need to get to reproduction once, regularly, for a gene to keep getting passed on.

         Other mitigating factors: not eating much of the ultra-processed garbage we have today, regular high-intensity exercise, and a vastly-more interconnected community. Multigenerational homes make it easier to dump the kids off with grandma and go for a long hike with the wife or a party with the village or whatever. Etc. etc. etc.

         Were safer and healthier, but I don’t think we’re necessarily happier.

         1. Alive-in-2025 · 1791007237 · focus · HN ↗

            Yes, we damage ourselves with lack of exercise and bad food choices, likely much more stress (I guess fear of getting eaten by an animal is less than our modern stress about our quarterly reviews?). But also, because we can fix ourselves or repair or prevent/recover from many illnesses, we live vastly longer on average than earlier humans did.

            I'll take today.

            1. kulahan · 1791054754 · focus · HN ↗

               Again, you’re choosing health over unknowns. I am not saying this is bad, but I do hope you can at least see how the choice is not as obvious as we act like it is! We don’t necessarily have to go back to chasing mammoths with sticks to reach peak happiness. Maybe we just don’t need weight loss peptides and $4M in end-of-life care, for instance.

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