Premature ageing prevention: limitations and perspectives of pharmacological interventions.

A significant increase of the elderly in populations of developed countries is followed by increase morbidity and mortality from main age-related diseases--cardiovascular and neuro-degenerative, cancer, diabetes mellitus, declining in a resistance to infections. Obviously, the development of means of the prevention of the premature ageing and these diseases in humans are crucial at present. However, data on such type means rather scarce, contradictory and often not reliable from the points of view of the adequacy of the experiments to current scientific requirements, as well as the interpretation of the results and safety. Available data on the life span extension and adverse effects of chemical compounds and drugs suggested as geroprotectors are critically analyzed: antidiabetic drugs, growth and thyroid hormones, glucocorticoids, DHEA, sex steroids and contraceptives, melatonin and peptide preparations modulating the pineal gland, antioxidants, chelate agents and lathyrogens, adaptogens and herbs, neurotropic drugs, inhibitors of monoamine oxidase, immunomodulators and some other. Most of the results could not convincingly evidence the life span extension and safety of the suggested geroprotectors. We believe that it is necessary to establish an international program for the expert evaluation of the life span extension potential of pharmacological interventions for humans. The scope of the program should be to evaluate chemical, immunological, dietary and behavioural interventions that may lead to life span extension or retard premature ageing and the objective--preparation of critical reviews and evaluations on evidence of the life span extending properties of a wide range of potential geroprotectors and strategies by international groups of working experts. The program may assist national and international authorities in devising programs of health promotion and premature ageing prevention.