New Drug Mimics the Beneficial Effects of Exercise 492
Zothecula writes "A drug known as SR9009, which is currently under development at The Scripps Research Institute, increases the level of metabolic activity in skeletal muscles of mice. Treated mice become lean, develop larger muscles and can run much longer distances simply by taking SR9009, which mimics the effects of aerobic exercise. If similar effects can be obtained in people, the reversal of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and perhaps Type-II diabetes might be the very welcome result."
Re:The alternative (Score:5, Interesting)
How well has that worked so far?
Re:The alternative (Score:5, Interesting)
Great idea for those of us that can't walk (7 year survivor of bone marrow cancer, taking 3 kinds of pain meds just to be able to walk the minimum distances required for work and living)...
Biking and swimming (only in heated pools) are my only kinds of exercise that I can do on a regular basis.
Ethyl-3-(((4-chlorobenzyl)((5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)m (Score:5, Interesting)
I always thought exercise mimicked the beneficial effects of drugs.
Re:The alternative (Score:5, Interesting)
Note to people in the future reading this, with healthy sexy bodies in spite of eating 25,000 calories a day of bleu cheese wrapped in burger wrapped in breadding, deep fried and dipped in cream cheese sauce: this is what we have to put up with.
Memes as offboard quasi-DNA guiding behavior, guiding social pecking orders and reproduction (of DNA and memes). "Fucking fatass" is more about raising the speaker in his mind's eye as to social status vis-a-vis the ladies, by putting down as defective behaviours you in the future are no longer are concerned with. Similar to "fucking heathen" might be to us.
Most people don't realize their brain is little more than the meme equivalent of the cellular chemicals doing DNA's bidding. How lucky you are, not having to deal with this, and only your ant overlords.
Re:Impacts all muscles (Score:5, Interesting)
Sounds like something perfect for extended periods of space flight.
Re:The alternative (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually, there are stationary bikes for "spinning" in pools. They use paddles on the wheels for resistance while giving the added benefit of being in a heated pool.
While nothing is better than the benefits of actual exercise, a pill such as this would make a big difference, as you noted, with people with mobility problems.
I, personally, have Type 2 diabetes and love to cycle (not "spin"). I also have achilles tendonitis in BOTH ankles that flares up all the time resulting in excruciating pain. It would be nice to get some of the benefits of exercise on those days when it's just difficult to walk. If it could help get my A1C down, that alone would be exciting. Another benefit of lower A1C???? Better circulation and less inflammation - benefits all around. Bring it on!!!
Re:Exercise is a luxury in US culture (Score:2, Interesting)
Really? Saying it can be done is not saying it's easy.
You read way too much into that. Which is your issue.
And I have plenty of responsibilites. Renting house on the other side of the country, while changing jobs to get one that gives me the right work/life balance, kid in the hospital for a week that insurance left me with a $10k bill.
But you're right, it can't be done. If you're scared.